Family Stories

Join the storytelling fun! If you’ve ever wanted to try storytelling, Family Stories, Book #2 in the KidTeller Series, will show you how to get started in an informal, familiar environment.

What are family stories? Are they…
stories you tell to younger brothers, grandparents, aunts or uncles?
stories you learn about your unique family history?
family legends you create with your family while working together on a project?
They are all of the above. But they all have one unique common characteristic. They are all informal stories, adapted for their specific listeners. They are not theatrical performances that are memorized and recited or acted out. They are tales that are learned and modified for each new telling.
Just like writers are advised to “write what they know,” storytellers should “tell to who you know,” know your audience. And, since there’s no audience you know better than your family, you’ll find many beginner storytelling opportunities. Whether you’ve read KidTellers Book 1 Easy Beginner Tales or other beginning instruction, or are just getting started now, Family Stories can help you learn basic storytelling concepts, showing you how to speak to your audience and see their responses to you. You’ll learn how storytelling can be more like a conversation than like theater.

As in all KidTellers Series books, you’ll find complete “TellerPaks,” each with example stories, step-by-step illustrated instructions for easy props to help tell them, fun activities and telling tips, and an “extra surprise” to help 9-12 year olds develop storytelling skills. With an active table of contents and links you can jump directly to each TellerPak and then navigate within each TellerPak to a favorite story or craft. The three Family Stories TellerPaks provide examples of different kinds of family stories:
TellerPak #1: “Tote Bag Tales” shows how to use a tote bag full of props to help tell a tale. It presents one way to capture a young child’s interest with props and hold it while telling a tiny tale. Then it shows how to adapt the tale for senior citizens or other relatives.
TellerPak #2: “Take a Family History StoryQuest” shows how to learn about events and people in your family’s past. Learn to make and put together a family history puzzle, get relatives to tell the tales behind the facts, and discover what makes you and your family unique.
TellerPak #3: “The Fairy Garden Adventures” shows you one way to create stories with your family members while working on a family project together. Learn to create a series of stories that pass on family values, help solve problems, and teach about your family traditions.

You can get started storytelling right now, with the people and stories you know best, your family! Let Family Stories help you find the amazing story treasures you already have right at home. Become a KidTeller today! (9-12 yr olds)