Chapter I: Preface

In preparing this book the author has sought to awaken a keener perception and a higher appreciation of the artistic and ethical value of story-telling; to simplify some of its problems; to emphasize the true delight which the story-teller may share with her hearers; and to present fresh material which answers to the test of being good in substance as well as in literary form.

Grateful acknowledgment is made to Miss Mabel Bartleson, children’s librarian, and to Miss Ida May Ferguson, of the children’s department of the Minneapolis Public Library, for their thoughtful assistance, and to the authors and publishers of copyrighted stories included in this volume, for their generous aid. Specific credit is given in connection with each story.

J. D. C.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

PART I

I. STORY-TELLING IN THE HOME 1

II. WHY TELL STORIES IN SCHOOL? 16

III. HOW TO CHOOSE STORIES FOR TELLING 22

IV. THE TELLING OF THE STORY 32

V. USE OF THE STORY IN PRIMARY GRADES 41

VI. JINGLES, FABLES, AND FOLK-LORE 52

VII. MYTH AND HERO TALE 67

VIII. HOLIDAY AND VACATION STORIES 84

IX. BIBLE STORIES 89

X. SYSTEMATIC STORY-TELLING 94

XI. THE JOY OF STORY-TELLING 100

XII. STORY-TELLING AS AN ART 104

PART II

SELECTED STORIES TO TELL 113

INDEX OF SELECTED STORIES 263

TOPICAL INDEX OF STORIES 265

BOOKS FOR THE STORY-TELLER 267

“_The Word Painter is the Greatest Human Artist_”