The Background and History of Story Telling

            Storytelling is an art that has been around for a very long time. Storytellers would tell stories that had a purpose… to teach lessons, pass along history, and to entertain. The book, Story Telling: Art and Technique, explains that story telling could be considered as the oldest and the newest of the arts (Green & Negro, 2010, p.3). Story telling originated in tribal regions, with chanting, rhythms, and dancing. They would be improvised and usually celebrated bravery. As time moved on, stories developed and progressed, making storytellers important keepers of history, culture, and entertainment. Storytelling played an important role in many societies including the Native Americans and the Roman Empire. Thanks to storytellers, stories spread throughout the world! (Green & Negro, 2010, p.3-4).

https://www.alison-morton.com/2017/01/06/telling-roman-stories-the-audio-of-its-day/

https://jsydsjourney.wordpress.com/2015/06/27/storytelling/

            Just when storytelling seemed to be at an all time high, things started to change. An invention called the printing press was developed. This meant that stories were being printed instead of told. The art of using storytelling to pass along history died down. Stories were now told more to amuse and entertain. However, in 1812 and 1815, two men by the name of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm sparked a revival in storytelling. They collected a selection of oral stories and tales. This encouraged many in the storytelling community and had a great effect on children. Their work helped parents of children to understand the importance of telling stories. This later affected how children were taught in school, with storytelling being a main component of their education. This set the foundation for many leagues, organizations, and associations that still agree that storytelling is extremely important to children's development. (Green & Negro, 2010, p.4-5)

            Librarians are appointed with the role of storytelling. As a storyteller, the importance of bringing children and books together is significant. There is a great connection between reading and storytelling. Library hours provided oral literature which challenged children to use their imagination. The story hour was used to help children spark an interest in reading and books, and to help them learn to read. Librarians knew the importance of these interactions with students. This ideal has grown with time and is still instilled in librarians and educators today (Green & Negro, 2010, p.23-24). Storytelling is a shared experience that established a since of community. Listeners receive the gift to use their imaginations and immerse themselves in the story being told. Librarians have the amazing opportunity to tell stories and share the magic they can bring with young learners. The right story can lead to choosing the right kind of book, which can lead to helping a child develop a life-long love for reading. 

Picture Books and Fables

            Reading picture books can warm a person’s heart, no matter their age. They can provide a magical escape for the reader or listener to be transported to. I have always loved reading picture books. Early in life, I was always drawn to their colorful illustrations and predictable dialogue. As a kid, listening to a grown-up read a children’s book would be such an exciting experience. Picture books have the power to completely immerse a reader or listener into a story. There are such a variety of different picture books that everyone can find one they would be interested in. Picture books not only can meet the varied interests of readers, but also their reading levels. This ensures that everyone has the opportunity to become a reader and storyteller.  

I would definitely use this genre as a form of storytelling. As a teacher, I have been able to see the benefits of reading picture books to my students. The article, Best Practices in School Libraries, describes the 4 Cs: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. These 4 Cs are supported by telling stories to young learners. It explains that no matter the focus of the book, teachers and students can use the 4 Cs as the story is told (Cherry, Jr., 2017, p.52). Using picture books as a form of storytelling is a way to have deeper conversations and teach students skills they will use throughout their lives.

Fables have been around for a long time. As I was researching and reading fables this week, I found that I recognized some of the stories, but never realized they were considered to be fables. While reading the fables, the storyteller whose name comes up the most is Aesop. He can be credited with writing a large variety of fables that have surpassed many generations that have been used to teach lessons to many people. Fables are written in a simple manner; however, they can be used as an incredible tool for storytellers. Because of their simplicity, the fable can be told in a variety of ways, best fitting the needs of the storyteller and audience. Fables are a great match for oral storytelling, where the reader must memorize enough of the story to maintain eye contact with the audience (Venkat, 2020, p.55). The shortness of the fable may allow the storyteller to learn the story better, giving room for more artistic liberties as the story is told. Fables are certainly a genre worth using for storytelling. Because of their simplistic focus on morals and life lessons, listeners can make connections to their own lives and be deeply impacted. 

https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/aesop-greek-aesops-fables/

            Link to The Library of Congress' Collection of Aesop's Fables: (the illustrations move and are animated which are great in engaging young students!) https://read.gov/aesop/001.html

References

Cherry Jr., W. R. (2017, November/December). Our place in the universe, the

importance of story and storytelling in the classroom. Knowledge Quest,

46(2), pp. 50-55.

Greene, E., & Negro, J. D. (2010). Storytelling: Art and technique. Libraries Unlimited.

Venkat, S. (2020, May/June).  Using oral storytelling techniques in reading

sessions.  Knowledge Quest, 48(5), pp. 54-56.

 

Current Reads

Picture Books:                                                                                              Fables:

Truman                                                                                                          The Hare and The Tortoise

The Pigeon Has To Go To School                                                                 The Lion and The Mouse

Rulers of the Playground                                                                               The Fox and The Crow

Do Unto Otters                                                                                              The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Who You Were Made To Be                                                                          The Two Goats

The Day The Crayons Quit                                                                            The Plane Tree

The Magical Yet                                                                                             The Gnat and The Bull