Why Youth Storytelling?

“Storytelling has inspired me to become more confident and learn to rely on myself as a person. When you first find a story you learn it by yourself. Then you present it to friends and your coach. You don’t stress as much as when you are on stage for a public performance. Storytelling has made me blossom. I am not shy as I used to be, and I have tons of people skills. I know what to say and when to say it.”

— Dawn Escobar, Senior, Hanford High School

"Telling stories helped me become a better writer. By learning the stories (and having to improvise when I forgot a piece) I learned a lot about how stories are formed and effective techniques for narrating. I also learn several different versions of the same fairy tale, which showed me that there is no one right way to do something. We also did stuff that was good for the community. It is an important lesson to learn; if you have a gift, it’s more fun to share it with others than to just amuse yourself."

— Theresa Johnson, Talespinners graduate, 1992
(Youth Storytelling Group)

"Telling stories helps me know me. My story is worth hearing."

— Third Grader

Imagine sitting in a carpet-filled room listening to fifth grade boy retelling an Old Jack tale or a young teenager’s person story relating how she feels about her brother moving to Hawaii. Picture a high school student recounting the classic misadventures of Peter Pan or a twelve-year-old retelling her own version of “The Little Red Hen” to a group of kindergartners. Envision a camping trip on which a Boy or Girl Scout shares a story about a gift that could be held in his or her hand. Marvel, as we have, at the students who speak of their grandmother’s smile, their mother’s heart, or their friend’s kind words. Imagine an older sister and younger brother telling a tale of sibling rivalry in tandem or a petite nine-year-old telling the classic tale of “Little Red Riding Hood” in Arabic. Imagine kids sharing their ideas, building stories, and coming together to enjoy laughing, crying, wondering and appreciating one another.

Now you can do more than imagine. Focusing on the primary adage “everyone has a story to tell,” This site celebrates that:

We listen to Kid’s voices.
We encourage them to RAISE their Voice
And Be Heard.
Because it matters.

“This is excerpted from Kevin Cordi and Judy’s Sima’s award-winning book Raising Voices: Creating +Youth Storytelling Groups and Troupes.”

Get Your Copy Now!