📖 Overview
Stories Children Need, published in 1916, serves as a guide for educators and parents on the role of storytelling in child development. The book contains both theoretical frameworks and practical examples of stories suitable for different ages and developmental stages.
Bailey draws from her experience as an educator to outline methods for selecting and telling stories that align with children's psychological and emotional growth. She includes specific recommendations for story types and themes appropriate for various grade levels, from kindergarten through elementary school.
The collection features folk tales, fairy stories, and original narratives, accompanied by notes on their educational application and cultural significance. Each story comes with guidance on presentation techniques and potential discussion points for classroom use.
The work stands as an early example of child-centered educational philosophy, connecting storytelling to moral development and the cultivation of imagination in young minds.
👀 Reviews
This book appears to have limited online reviews and ratings, making it difficult to provide a comprehensive summary of reader opinions. From the few available reviews:
Readers appreciated:
- Collection of traditional folktales and fairy tales organized by age group
- Focus on moral lessons and character development
- Clear guidance for parents and teachers on story selection
- Practical advice for storytelling techniques
Criticisms:
- Some stories reflect outdated social attitudes from the 1940s
- Language can be formal by modern standards
- Print quality in some editions is poor
Available Ratings:
Goodreads: No ratings available
Amazon: No ratings available
WorldCat: Listed but unrated
Note: While this book was published in 1947 and used in education settings, there are very few documented contemporary reader reviews online. Most references are from academic citations or library catalogs rather than reader feedback.
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The Power of Story by Joan Wink A resource that connects storytelling to literacy development and cultural understanding in educational settings.
The Story Cure by Susan Elderkin, Ella Berthoud A collection of book recommendations and reading guidance for children at different developmental stages.
The Children's Story by James Clavell A demonstration of storytelling's influence on young minds through a narrative about education and belief systems.
The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim An examination of fairy tales' psychological impact on child development through traditional stories and their meanings.
The Power of Story by Joan Wink A resource that connects storytelling to literacy development and cultural understanding in educational settings.
The Story Cure by Susan Elderkin, Ella Berthoud A collection of book recommendations and reading guidance for children at different developmental stages.
The Children's Story by James Clavell A demonstration of storytelling's influence on young minds through a narrative about education and belief systems.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔖 Published in 1916, this book was one of the first comprehensive guides for selecting and telling stories to children in educational settings.
🎭 Carolyn Sherwin Bailey worked as a kindergarten teacher before becoming an author, and drew upon her classroom experiences to identify which story elements most captivated young minds.
📚 The book divides children's stories into distinct categories based on age groups and developmental stages, a revolutionary approach for its time.
🌟 Bailey won the 1947 Newbery Medal for "Miss Hickory," demonstrating her lasting influence on children's literature long after writing "Stories Children Need."
📖 The book includes specific guidance on how to modify and adapt traditional folk tales to make them more suitable for modern children, a practice that influenced many later storytellers and educators.