Storytelling with Children

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Summary: party pooper in Brooklyn
Review: I am sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but I did not like this book at all. I am interested in becoming a better weaver of stories for my young children. Instead of a how-to guide, I found a wispy, dreamy meditation on stories. It offered some suggestions for setting the mood and beginning the story, but then, when I really need help, on the development of a story, story-arc, what to do when you get stuck, etc -- nothing at all! Also, the art of storytelling can be taught without deprecating comments about the "coldness" of books. A real turnoff! I skimmed through the second half of the book and promptly deposited it in a give-away pile. I would send it back to amazon but the binding is broken.

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Summary: Can bring parents and children closer together!
Review: Storytelling with Children is a "how to go about storytelling with your children" book. It does NOT provide instruction on how to create a story. It does offer much information about why adults should be telling stories to their children. It also offers much about when we could tell stories. Included is a lot of anecdotal information about how people are actually going about storytelling with their children.

In reading, I found this book to be gentle and encouraging, with a spiritual (not necessarily religious) touch that seems badly needed these days. Children suffer from a real lack of connection with their parents. Parents suffer from a real lack of connection with their children. Although this book won't cure it ALL, it certainly discusses a large piece of the puzzle.

In closing her book, Nancy Mellon comments, "I like to imagine a world in the new millennium in which wise and playful storytelling surrounds all little children..." She goes on to describe this vision as a regular time for the gathering of family and special friends for an evening of storytelling and music. This would be time WELL SPENT!

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Summary: Invitation to Inspiration
Review: Storytelling with Children is an inspiration - with a very practical outlook. As a teacher, therapist and workshop leader, Nancy Mellon shows you how to pull stories from your own experience or a child's, using small anecdotes, memories or observations. She helps you overcome fear and doubt, and discover the wellsprings of your creativity. With a lighthearted touch yet a deep respect for children and the adults who love them, she acts as a guide to one of the oldest and greatest acts of communication and sharing - that of spinning a tale out of shared experience or sometimes (it can seem) out of nowhere.

Parents, grandparents, teachers and anyone with a child in his/her life will discover how to make up stories for birthdays, and for important events such as birth, death, or moving house. They'll learn how to incorporate a child's fears and difficulties - or simply the ups and downs of everyday life - into a story that will help to resolve them. For those who worry that their kids are spending too much time with the TV and computer, this is the perfect antidote. For those who love reading aloud to children, the magic of creative storytelling offers something even more nourishing. Adults who start off feeling tired or uncertain find themselves "enlivened and cared for" as much as the children do. They feel closer to their child and more in touch with themselves. For children, the gift of a story made especially for them, is priceless.

Diana Reynolds Roome...

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Summary: Storytelling with Children
Review: This is an excellent introduction to the subject. It is simple and accessible and I would go so far as to say that it is inspired! It is a pleasure to read and will be a tremendous support to parents wanting to enrich their children's lives through story-telling. I was enriched by reading this book, and received many new and helpful ideas. Although not a "how-to" book, it is full of useful ideas that will get a novice started and sustain them in their efforts. Highly recommended!

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Summary: A terrific "how-to" book plus inspiration and encouragement
Review: This phenomenal book not only explains why telling stories is important, but also gives many examples of how to get started. The author provides lots of inspiration and encouragement and gives you the tools you need to weave stories into your everyday routine - "transition times", traditional reading times, times when children are doing something you'd like them to stop doing, to pass time waiting in lines, in the car, etc. I've learned a wonderful new way to interact with my children. Once you start telling stories - your children will never let you stop - and you won't want to either.