Tips on Telling Better Stories to Kids at a Library

Choose a Good Story

• Choosing the right story to read at a library story time may seem intimidating. According to renowned storyteller, Sean Buvala, the first step in choosing the right story is to choose a story you enjoy. Telling a story that you both understand and enjoy will help you be a confident and enthusiastic storyteller.

  Choosing a book or story you enjoy will also equip you to answer questions that may come up regarding the context of the story, the characters or the author. Chances are that if you like the story, you know a lot about it.

Use Props

• Props are an appropriate tool to use when telling stories to kids at the library. Props help give children a concrete visual that relates to the story they are hearing. For instance, show children a basket of full of cookies as a prop for the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Use puppets to act out a story or use a puppet as the narrator. Other props include flannel boards and any items mentioned in the featured story. If the story takes place in a specific geographical location, you might use a map to show children where the story location is relative to their location.

Choose a Theme

• Choose a theme for a library story time. Themes are good for drawing all the elements of story time together. For instance, a fall themed story time might include the book "Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf" by Lois Ehlert. Show pictures of fall leaves and serve yummy pumpkin cookies, a fall favorite.

  Other theme inspirations include the seasons and holidays, current events and local festivals. The release of a new book can also inspire a theme. Include props and activities that support the overall theme.

Other Tips for Telling Better Stories

• There are many tips for storytellers. For example, Sean Buvala recommends using a confident voice when reading or telling a story. A confident voice shows authority and gives the audience the impression that the speaker is familiar with the story and text. Change voices for various characters. This adds interest to the story and helps children know who is speaking in a story.

  It's also important to maintain eye contact with the audience. This gives the impression that you are talking to them, rather than at them. It also helps the speaker judge the mood and reaction to the story.