Homespun

The stories, rhymes, story-songs, story-poems, and anecdotes of more than twenty storytellers are featured together with their biographies, a glossary, and a list of storytelling festivals

YA-- This delightful collection of ghost stories, humorous stories, regional and ethnical stories gives insight into the times and peoples of America. The 20-plus authors include such notables as Spalding Gray, Ray Hicks, Diane Wolkstein, Jay O'Callahan, and Brother Blue. Short bibliographic profiles of the storytellers, with photographs, enhance this volume. The stories are great to read aloud or for reading alone. Included is a how-to section on storytelling, creating your own story, and a list of storytellers as resources. Additional information includes a state-by-state listing of storytelling organizations and a list of festivals and other storytelling events.
- Gail Stubblefield, Westbury Christian School, Houston
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ghosts, teachers, preachers, an eccentric old plumber, a dapper hobo and Jack the Mountain Boy are some of the colorful characters in this anthology of oral storytelling. It includes Appalachian yarns, "Down East" stories spiked with Maine's laconic humor, Brer Rabbit improvisations, tales of the supernatural and retellings of English, Irish, Italian, Chinese, Haitian and African folklore. Smith, who organized the first National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee in 1973, distills the activity of the current scene. Unfortunately, most of the selections lose their force in the transition to the printed page; too many are little more than anecdotes or dressed-up personal reminiscences. The success of the best of these stories hinges on the reader's effort to imaginatively reconstruct the teller's voice. This omnibus includes 20 photos of the contributors, tips on story collecting, guidelines on learning and shaping a narrative and a resource guide.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.