Based on proven theory and real-life experience, this guidebook provides a one-stop resource for educators, librarians, and storytellers looking to introduce storytelling programs for young adults.
Storytelling is often associated with storytime and library services to young children, but effective storytelling speaks to all ages—including teens. Engaging Teens with Story: How to Inspire and Educate Youth with Storytelling offers an in-depth look at storytelling for young adults that explains the benefits of storytelling with this audience, what current practices are, and storytelling opportunities to explore with youth. It provides a unique source of expert guidance that youth services librarians, professional storytellers, and middle and high school teachers will appreciate.
Readers will learn how to find stories for teens, apply proven techniques for successful telling of tales to teens, use traditional literature as a basis for creative writing, and establish a teen storytelling club or troupe. The guide also covers how teens can create their own stories with digital media; the connections between traditional folk and fairy tales and today’s film, television, books, and online media; and how storytelling can be successfully used with at-risk youth.
Features
- Covers both traditional techniques as well as methods specific to utilizing new technologies and media
- Brings the power of storytelling to a population that is typically overlooked for these programs
- Backs up practical instructions with concrete examples and research
- Presents valuable information for librarians, teachers, young adult librarians in public libraries, and high school and middle school librarians
Janice M. Del Negro, PhD, is tenured associate professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University in River Forest, IL. An award-winning writer and storyteller, Del Negro has been a featured storyteller, speaker, and workshop leader at the National Storytelling Festival, the Illinois Storytelling Festival, the Northlands Storytelling Conference, the National Storytelling Conference, and many other celebratory events. Del Negro's most recent book, Folktales Aloud: Practical Advice for Playful Storytelling, was published by the American Library Association. She collaborated with Ellin Greene on the fourth edition of Libraries Unlimited's classic storytelling textbook, Storytelling: Art and Technique.
Melanie A. Kimball, PhD, is tenured associate professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons College in Boston, MA. She received her doctorate from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she also earned a master's degree in library and information science. Kimball has published articles in Library Trends, Public Libraries, and Teacher-Librarian, among others.
Awards
2018 Storytelling World Resource Award—Storytelling Magazine, February 28, 2018
2018 Best Professional Resource for School or Youth Librarians—SLC/ARBA, June 13, 2018
Reviews
"Engaging Teens with Story offers a nuanced and refreshing approach to storytelling for the young adult audience. . . . Youth advocates will appreciate this well-researched guidebook that not only explains how brains create and manage stories but also provides real-life techniques, strategies, and action plans. . . . . As one who runs a court-ordered camp for at-risk youth, this reviewer was delighted to find ways to encourage positive behaviors and practices for this often-misunderstood audience. . . . Engaging Teens with Story is a highly recommended resource for young adult advocates."—VOYA, October 1, 2017
"Del Negro and Kimball have compiled essays from an excellent variety of contributors for running storytime programs aimed at young adults. . . . With such a wealth of content, readers can select the projects that fit best with their libraries. The bibliography and further reading are essential and offer valuable ideas, and helpful websites are appended. Recommended for all librarians, especially those new to working with young adults."—School Library Journal, November 1, 2017
