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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
HOW TO TELL
STORIES TO CHILDREN
AND SOME STORIES TO
TELL
BY SARA CONE BRYANT
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
To My Mother THE FIRST； BEST STORY…TELLER THIS LITTLE
BOOK IS DEDICATED
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
PREFACE
The stories which are given in the following pages are for the most
part those which I have found to be best liked by the children to whom I
have told these and others。 I have tried to reproduce the form in which I
actually tell them；although that inevitably varies with every repetition；
feeling that it would be of greater value to another story…teller than a more
closely literary form。 For the same reason； I have confined my statements
of theory as to method； to those which reflect my own experience； my
〃rules〃 were drawn from introspection and retrospection； at the urging of
others； long after the instinctive method they exemplify had become
habitual。
These facts are the basis of my hope that the book may be of use to
those who have much to do with children。
It would be impossible； in the space of any pardonable preface； to
name the teachers； mothers； and librarians who have given me hints and
helps during the past few years of story…telling。 But I cannot let these
pages go to press without recording my especial indebtedness to the few
persons without whose interested aid the little book would scarcely have
come to be。 They are： Mrs Elizabeth Young Rutan； at whose generous
instance I first enlarged my own field of entertaining story…telling to
include hers； of educational narrative； and from whom I had many
valuable suggestions at that time； Miss Ella L。 Sweeney； assistant
superintendent of schools； Providence； R。I。； to whom I owe exceptional
opportunities for investigation and experiment； Mrs Root； children's
librarian of Providence Public Library； and Miss Alice M。 Jordan； Boston
Public Library； children's room； to whom I am indebted for much gracious
and efficient aid。
My thanks are due also to Mr David Nutt for permission to make use
of three stories from English Fairy Tales； by Mr Joseph Jacobs； and
Raggylug； from Wild Animals I have Known； by Mr Ernest Thompson
Seton； to Messrs Frederick A。 Stokes Company for Five Little White
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
Heads； by Walter Learned； and for Bird Thoughts； to Messrs Kegan Paul；
Trench； Trubner & Co。 Ltd。 for The Burning of the Ricefields； from
Gleanings in Buddha…Fields； by Mr Lafcadio Hearn； to Messrs H。 R。
Allenson Ltd。 for three stories from The Golden Windows； by Miss Laura
E。 Richards； and to Mr Seumas McManus for Billy Beg and his Bull； from
In Chimney Corners。 S。 C。 B。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
The Story…teller's ArtRecent RevivalThe Difference between telling
a Story and reading it aloudSome Reasons why the Former is more
effective
CHAPTER I THE PURPOSE OF STORY…
TELLING IN SCHOOL
Its immediate Advantages to the Teacher…Its ultimate Gifts to the Child
CHAPTER II SELECTION OF STORIES TO
TELL
The Qualities Children like； and whyQualities necessary for Oral
DeliveryExamples： The Three Bears； The Three Little Pigs； The Old
Woman and her PigSuggestions as to the Type of Story especially useful
in the several primary Grades Selected List of familiar Fairy Tales
CHAPTER III ADAPTATION OF STORIES FOR
TELLING
How to make a long Story shortHow to fill out a short Story
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
General Changes commonly desirable Examples： The Nurnberg Stove；
by Ouida； The King of the Golden River； by Ruskin； The Red Thread of
Courage； The Elf and the DormouseAnalysis of Method
CHAPTER IV HOW TO TELL THE STORY
Essential Nature of the StoryKind of Appreciation necessary
Suggestions for gaining Mastery of Facts Arrangement of Children
The Story…teller's MoodA few Principles of Method； Manner and Voice；
from the Psychological Point of View
CHAPTER V SOME SPECIFIC SCHOOLROOM
USES
Exercise in RetellingIllustrations cut by the Children as Seat…work
Dramatic GamesInfluence of Games on Reading Classes
STORIES SELECTED AND ADAPTED FOR
TELLING
ESPECIALLY FOR KINDERGARTEN AND CLASS I。
Nursery Rhymes Five Little White Heads Bird Thoughts How we
came to have Pink Roses Raggylug The Golden Cobwebs Why the
Morning…Glory climbs The Story of Little Tavwots The Pig Brother The
Cake The Pied Piper of Hamelin Town Why the Evergreen Trees keep
their Leaves in Winter The Star Dollars The Lion and the Gnat
ESPECIALLY FOR CLASSES II。 AND III。
The Cat and the Parrot The Rat Princess The Frog and the Ox The
Fire…Bringer The Burning of the Ricefields The Story of Wylie Little
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
Daylight The Sailor Man The Story of Jairus's Daughter
ESPECIALLY FOR CLASSES IV。 AND V。
Arthur and the Sword Tarpeia The Buckwheat The Judgment of Midas
Why the Sea is salt Billy Beg and his Ball The Little Hero of Haarlem The
Last Lesson The Story of Christmas
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。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
INTRODUCTION
Not long ago； I chanced to open a magazine at a story of Italian life
which dealt with a curious popular custom。 It told of the love of the people
for the performances of a strangely clad； periodically appearing old man
who was a professional story…teller。 This old man repeated whole cycles of
myth and serials of popular history； holding his audience…chamber in
whatever corner of the open court or square he happened upon； and always
surrounded by an eager crowd of listeners。 So great was the respect in
which the story…teller was held； that any interruption was likely to be
resented with violence。
As I read of the absorbed silence and the changing expressions of the
crowd about the old man； I was suddenly reminded of a company of
people I had recently seen。 They were gathered in one of the parlours of a
women's college； and their serious young faces had； habitually； none of the
childlike responsiveness of the Italian populace； they were suggestive；
rather； of a daily experience which precluded over…much surprise or
curiosity about anything。
In the midst of the group stood a frail…looking woman with bright eyes。
She was telling a story； a children's story； about a good and a bad little
mouse。
She had been asked to do that thing； for a purpose； and she did it；
therefore。 But it was easy to see from the expressions of the listeners how
trivial a thing it seemed to them。
That was at first。 But presently the room grew quieter； and yet quieter。
The faces relaxed into amused smiles； sobered in unconscious sympathy；
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