Freeman and Bauer’s handbook for storytellers

For Immediate Release
Mon, 03/02/2015

Contact:

Rob Christopher

Marketing Coordinator

ALA Publishing

American Library Association

312-280-5052

rchristopher@ala.org

CHICAGO — Ideal for both beginners and more experienced storytellers, “The Handbook for Storytellers,” published by ALA Editions, is an exhaustive primer including everything adults need to start sharing the wonder of stories with children, from babies to tweens. Judy Freeman and Caroline Feller Bauer impart easy-to-follow guidelines and practical advice on how, when, where and why to tell stories. Each chapter incorporates a wealth of delectable folktales to read and tell, plus the authors’ hand-selected, annotated lists containing hundreds of classic and cutting edge children’s books, professional books and relevant websites. Demonstrating the joy of stories and storytelling, this book:

  • provides an overview of the history and types of storytelling;
  • shows how to select, learn, prepare, and tell stories;
  • begins with more than two dozen easy-to-learn stories that adults can read today and tell to children tomorrow;
  • looks at the major types of folk and fairy tales, including many sample stories and booklists;
  • offers a comprehensive list of stories reworked, reimagined, reinvented, parodied, satirized or recreated from folk and fairy tales;
  • includes “Favorite Stories to Tell,” a compendium of more than 500 suggested tales, easily accessible by subject and theme, from which tellers can find the perfect stories to fit every occasion and begin to build their own repertoire of wonderful tales to tell;
  • provides tips for publicizing and promoting storytelling programs.

Freeman is a former school librarian; an adjunct professor at Pratt Institute in New York, teaching courses in children’s literature and storytelling; an international speaker and performer for children, teachers, librarians and parents; a children’s book reviewer; and the author of more than a dozen professional books about children’s literature and storytelling. She continues to work closely with librarians, teachers and hundreds of students at several elementary schools to test out new books, ideas and ways to incorporate literature into children’s lives.

Bauer (1935–2013) was a public librarian, professor of children’s literature, radio personality, international speaker and performer, author of 19 children’s books and professional books about children’s literature for adults and a tireless cheerleader for literacy and storytelling.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5052 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.