Saturday is Tell a Story Day

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
― Philip Pullman

There's nothing quite like a good story to remind us of our similarities, stir our emotions, and share valuable information. In honor of National Tell a Story Day, I encourage you to take a break from your everyday life this Saturday to tell a story that's important to you...something from your past, your vision of your future, a lesson you've learned, or anything the listener may enjoy.

Here are a few resources to inspire you:

• The Science of Storytelling: Why Telling a Story is One of the Most Powerful Ways to Activate Our Brains
• Filmaker Andrew Stanton (writer of "Toy Story," "WALL-E") on The Clues to a Great Story (note: contains graphic language) 
• Mark Twain's classic: How to Tell a Story 

For Parents and Teachers

• Lesson Ideas for teachers 
• Tell a Story Day: Activities for Parents and Young Children 
• Storytelling in the Classroom 

Wonderful Collections of Stories from Around the World

• Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales from Around the World (edited by Kathleen Ragan) 
• Favorite Folktales from Around the World (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) by Jane Yolen 
• Best-Loved Folktales of the World (The Anchor folktale library)  by Joanna Cole 
• Three-Minute Tales by Margaret Read MacDonald