Folktales Aloud

April 1, 2014

Folktales are an integral part of children's literature and are the basis for many classic books librarians use daily in their work. These much loved tales are also the backbone of the art of storytelling. Unlike reading aloud and singing rhymes and finger plays in a storytime, storytelling is a way to engage and captivate your audience on another level. Del Negro leads novice tellers through the nuances of successful storytelling. She discusses how to best select tales that are appropriate for particular age groups, and how to turn simple words on a page into an engaging presentation that will capture your audience's attention and imagination. While storytelling may feel intimidating for many, Del Negro's assurances will impart confidence that those new to this practice may seek. The author provides more than 15 popular folktales that she has adapted and retold. These tales are captioned as Storycoaching and Del Negro does just that; coach readers on how to verbally interpret the tale in a way that they feel comfortable. Each chapter is broken out by age group. Advice is offered in a very practical way on how to approach this group and suggestions are made as to how to grab and hold their interest with pacing, movement and suspense. If you have even a passing interest in the art of storytelling, this guide is not to be missed.-Allison Santos, Princeton Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2014
This excellent resource aims to show that storytelling is still vital in librarianship and throughout the greater community. Author Del Negro brings authority to this volume through her roles as librarian, professor, and professional storyteller. The text provides useful information for novice and seasoned storytellers alike while engaging the reader with its conversational tone. The chapters are broken down by audience age ( Storyplay: Ages 3 to 6; Cooperation and Community: Ages 6 to 9; Surprise and Laughter: Ages 9 to 12; and Intensity and Honor: Ages 12 to 14 ) and include information about audience needs and wants, stories, and resource information. Guidance is given for how readers can find their own stories and how to learn them. The breakout feature of this work is the outstanding Storycoaching lesson in each chapter. For each age range, Del Negro adapts a classic tale (for example, Three Billy Goats Gruff for ages 36) and offers direction for storytellingperformance suggestions given after sections of each story allow readers to imagine tone, movement, and connection with their audiencealong with cultural and historical background information for the story. The text of four additional age-appropriate tales rounds out each chapter. With Del Negro's selections and a substantial References and Resources section at the end, readers will have stories and collections to consult for years. Highly recommended for anyone involved in storytelling and children's services.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)