Craftsman Hal Taylor has designed an uncommon rocking chair that's a perfect fit for the whole family. Called the StoryTime Rocking Chair, it is an ingenious twist on convention. The chair has two additional seats flanked on either side of its arms to allow children a perfect view of the book being read. Thanks to this innovative creation, reading and rocking can serve as a comfortable bonding experience for families with multiple kids.
The development of the unique chair came from Taylor’s own dilemma while reading to his children. “I made the first StoryTime Rocking Chair 25 years ago when our third child, Rose, was born and she wanted to be a part of the ‘reading crowd’ very early,” Taylor tells My Modern Met. “Well, I did not have a lap of sufficient size for three children, Rachael, the oldest, had to stand by the chair. So, I thought, ‘I am a rocking chair maker, I can figure this out,’ and I did!” He recalls. “The StoryTime was really built for Rachael so she did not have to stand to hear the stories.”
Taylor had the vision of the chair in his head and built it sans prototype, getting it right on the first try. Since creating the design, he's far from the only one to enjoy this piece of furniture. To date, Taylor has made about 30 of the StoryTime Rocking Chairs—including five that went to the royal family in Abu Dhabi. If you’d like your own StoryTime rocker, Taylor makes them to-order via his website.
Hal Taylor designed the clever StoryTime Rocking Chair that allows comfortable seating for three (or more) readers.
Hal Taylor: Website
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Hal Taylor.
This article has been updated.
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