My job?
Encouraging folks to tell stories. To make this happen I do three things.
1.I shape folktale texts into "tellable" formats which I shape further through telling to many groups of children. Then I put these sure-fire tales in books in the hopes that other tellers will find them easy-to-learn and fun to tell...so much so that they will keep telling stories.
2.I travel the world offering workshops on "Playing with Story" and "Learning a Story in One Hour." Using a hands-on method, I teach folks several short, audience-participationfolktales. They leave ready to tell. After only one hour they have at least two stories they can tell. After a full day they have six or more tales ready to go!
3.I tell these playful, audience-participation folktales wherever I can, so that parents, kids, and other tellers can discover how much fun it is to share tales.
Data:
Ph.D. in Folklore, Children’s Librarian with King County Library System Bothell Branch,author of over 30 books on folklore topics including TWENTY TELLABLE TALES; THE STORYTELLER’S START-UP BOOK; A PARENT’S GUIDE TO STORYTELLING; and PEACE TALES; EARTH CARE. Plus tellable picture books: TUCK-ME-IN-TALES (with cassette); SLOP!; THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A VINEGAR BOTTLE; FAT CAT; MABELA THE CLEVER; THE GIRL WHO WORE TOO MUCH; and PICKIN’ PEAS!
