Iii Types of Stories to Tell

Stories for telling may be found everywhere—in a thousand children’s books, magazines, periodicals, poems, novels, histories. They may be recalled from those heard in childhood. They may be “made up” from the memory of one’s own past history or the adventures of friends. Or they can readily be woven out of a vivid imagination. Such stories may afford children passing amusement and a degree of profit, but such stories rarely have the permanent, cultural value that comes from an acquaintance with the old classics. Emerson said, “We love the classics, not because they are ancient, but because they are true to life.” Every child has a right to his literary and esthetic inheritance, and these classics, these great world stories, should be given him for their cultural, moral, and religious values before his twelfth year.

An understanding of the normal interests of child-nature is the first step in the selection of suitable stories to tell. The second step is the actual selection. The selection, of course, will depend on these factors—the story-teller’s purpose, his available material, and his taste. The purpose of telling a story may be pure enjoyment, or the impression of an ethical principle, or some cultural or educational aim. The available material may be supplied by many books of short stories retold. Such is the purpose of the present volume. The taste of the story-teller must not be permitted to dominate the real life interests and needs of the child’s nature. Nor will this be the case if we realize the child’s story interests, and permit the child to vote on the kinds of stories he likes. An understanding of the different types of stories to tell will be of value to all who desire to secure the best results. Some of the different types of stories may be classified as follows: