The Storyteller's Start-Up Book: Finding, Learning, Performing and Using Folktales

This is only the second storytelling guide I've read. I'm fairly new to storytelling, and I found this guide full of good tips and ideas. The included stories are not really my style and don't fit what I do, but they made for good practice.Most of the storytelling tips referenced children. Even though my audiences are mostly adult, I found plenty of good information.

I would recommend this book to anyone who tells stories on a regular basis--parents, teachers, care givers--the points touched on will greatly enhance your ability to retell a story as it was meant to be told. The book also provides a wealth of resources. Everything needed to learn about telling styles, performance techniques,unusual and interesting stories, networking, and learning methods are included with additional resources at the end of each chapter. The writing style was enjoyable and informative.

Alright, but it didn't have enough strategies for my high school students. I have to teach a Native American literature unit, and what the Pearson text offers is just lame. Students don't really get much out of the traditional texts, but I don't think this was much better. I believe this is a little more helpful for much younger students.

I'm a substitute teacher and sometimes need quick, short, and attention-holding filler activities, so I decided to learn a few short stories and learn to tell them well. This book is very comprehensive, both teaching you how to do it, and providing a number of stories to get you started. Most of the stories work well with kids, but many or most could also be used in settings with adults.

I had classes with Margret Read McDonald. Wonderful woman that brought these folk tales to life. This is a great book to teach anyone how to tell stories, The book contains many wonderful stories. You want learn how to tell stories, read this book! I used the techniques in my classroom and the students came to life with the story-telling.

Excellent information

My grandkids love for me to tell them stories. I thought I was pretty good until I read this book. The practical help and examples are useful and the discussion of the importance of story telling was fascinating. Anyone who tells stories can benefit from reading this book.

Story example do not fit my reason for stories, but they were good practice and helpful in learning to be a good story-teller.

Some good, useful information in this book.

A good story is the start of a good conversation