How to Tell Stories to Children and Some Stories to Tell

by Sara Cone Bryant

The difference between the true storyteller, bringing a tale to full and vibrant life with her voice and body and gestures, and the parent or teacher who merely reads the same story aloud from a book is, to paraphrase Mark Twain, the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. And no manual of storytelling technique has ever done a better job of defining that difference, and of outlining a step-by-step path anyone can follow to becoming a mesmerizing master weaver of tales, than Sara Cone Bryant's 1916 classic How to Tell Stories to Children . Whether your intended audience is your own children and family, students in a school or daycare center, or even adults (every aspiring preacher, politician, actor and historical reenactment enthusiast should study this book!), the practical techniques shared in How to Tell Stories to Children are sure to boost your confidence and electrify your performance. Includes 33 tales in ready-to-present dramatic storyteller format.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1905

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as a good overview of storytelling. It wasn't overly detailed or complicated, which is exactly what I was looking for. The author's tips, ideals, and personal stories are plenty of inspiration to work on for awhile, I think. (I only skimmed the stories included at the end but I'm sure they are good, too.)

[Mark Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content and lay out of the book and its information were fine. My only issue was the unnecessary use of complicated language through out the book. I found myself often distracted from the intended message of a given paragraph because of the manner in which it was told. Other than that I found it to be a good book with many helpful points on story telling for children.

[Jimena Patiño · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting to learn how to engage a crowd by telling tales

[Sarra Tebib · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was really cool to read. Gave me a lot more insight into the function of storytelling and tales in teaching and learning. It was also a big bowl of nostalgia, my mom used to read the tales in this book for me when I was little.

[Beth Chambas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was on my grandmother's shelf, having belonged to my great-grandfather, a lifelong educator. As I plan for homeschooling my own children, I think this book will be an invaluable guide.

Sara Cone Bryant gives five chapters of guidance in why and how to tell (rather than just read) stories, how to choose a good story for telling, and how to adapt material from books. She then spends the second half of the book offering a sampling of good stories adapted and ready for telling. I found her advice very practical and well-considered. Storytelling is not a common art form these days, but, as Ms. Bryant reminds us, nothing creates a bond between teller and audience like oral storytelling. Already I have found this to be true telling stories to my 2-year-old son. My repertoire of stories is small right now, but I look forward to building it in the years to come.

In terms of her story selection, many of them are classics--some familiar, some forgotten. They are told a little differently than I remember them, and the perspective is certainly dated--though it makes for a really interesting study of the American perspective before the World Wars (her commentary on the value of patriotic stories, and encouraging "hero-worship" of patriotic figures is foreign and bizarre to my mind).

[Cindy]

DNF. An odd book. The writing style is surprisingly dry and academic for a book about storytelling.The recommended examples I read are the much older and darker versions of familiar stories. A few good pointers about starting nonsense tales and connecting with an audience.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading and telling her stories since I was a child. She was wonderful.