Description

How to Tell Stories to Children
and Some Stories to Tell 

Sara Cone Bryant explains the principle behind story telling especially as it is related to children. Various proven methods
are discussed. Additionally, there are sample stories with guidelines on how to tell stories to young people so they can remember them and learn from them.

Contents

INTRODUCTION
PAGE
The Story-teller’s Art
Recent Revival
The Difference between telling a Story and reading it aloud
Some Reasons why the Former is more effective 11

CHAPTER I

THE PURPOSE OF STORY-TELLING IN SCHOOL

Its immediate Advantages to the Teacher
Its ultimate Gifts to the Child 19

CHAPTER II

SELECTION OF STORIES TO TELL

The Qualities Children like, and why
Qualities necessary for Oral Delivery
Examples: The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs,
The Old Woman and her Pig
Suggestions as to the Type of Story
especially useful in the several primary Grades
Selected List of familiar Fairy Tales 43

CHAPTER III

ADAPTATION OF STORIES FOR TELLING

How to make a long Story short
How to fill out a short Story
General Changes commonly desirable
Examples: The Nürnberg Stove, by Ouida;
The King of the Golden River, by Ruskin;
The Red Thread of Courage,
The Elf and the Dormouse
Analysis of Method 67

CHAPTER IV

HOW TO TELL THE STORY

Essential Nature of the Story
Kind of Appreciation necessary
Suggestions for gaining Mastery of Facts
Arrangement of Children
The Story-teller’s Mood
A few Principles of Method, Manner and Voice,
from the psychological Point of View 93

CHAPTER V

SOME SPECIFIC SCHOOLROOM USES

Exercise in Retelling
Illustrations cut by the Children as Seat-work
Dramatic Games
Influence of Games on Reading Classes 117

STORIES SELECTED AND ADAPTED FOR TELLING

ESPECIALLY FOR KINDERGARTEN AND CLASS I.

Nursery Rhymes 133
Five Little White Heads 134
Bird Thoughts 134
How we came to have Pink Roses 135
Raggylug 135
The Golden Cobwebs 138
Why the Morning-Glory climbs 142
The Story of Little Tavwots 143
The Pig Brother 145
The Cake 148
The Pied Piper of Hamelin Town 149
Why the Evergreen Trees keep their Leaves in Winter 156
The Star Dollars 159
The Lion and the Gnat 161

ESPECIALLY FOR CLASSES II. AND III.

The Cat and the Parrot 168
The Rat Princess 172
The Frog and the Ox 175
The Fire-Bringer 176
The Burning of the Ricefields 179
The Story of Wylie 182
Little Daylight 186
The Sailor Man 199
The Story of Jairus’s Daughter 201

ESPECIALLY FOR CLASSES IV. AND V.

Arthur and the Sword 204
Tarpeia 208
The Buckwheat 210
The Judgment of Midas 211
Why the Sea is salt 213
Billy Beg and his Bull 221
The Little Hero of Haarlem 233
The Last Lesson 238
The Story of Christmas 243

HOW TO TELL STORIES

THE CHILD-MIND; AND HOW TO SATISFY IT

A short List of Books in which the Story-teller will find
Stories not too far from the Form in which they are
needed 247