National Share-a-Story Month: when is it and best storytelling tips

National Share-a-Story Month is an annual celebration of the power of stories. It takes place every May and has a different theme each year. The theme for 2023 is “Sail Away in a Story.” The Federation of Children’s Book Groups (FCBG) founded National Share-a-Story Month in 1967. The FCBG is a national organisation that supports children’s book groups and libraries. It is a great opportunity to share stories with children of all ages. There are many ways to participate, such as:

Reading aloud to children
Telling stories
Writing stories
Visiting a library or bookstore
Attending a storytime event
Sharing stories online

National Share-a-Story Month is a fun and easy way to encourage children to love reading. By sharing stories with children, we can help them develop a love of reading that will last a lifetime. No matter how you choose to celebrate it, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the power of stories! Telling a story effectively requires a combination of preparation, practice, and effective communication.

How to tell a story effectively on National Share-a-Story Month

Here are some tips that can help:

1. Define your purpose: Before you start telling your story, think about what you want to achieve by telling it. Are you trying to entertain, persuade, educate, or inspire your audience? Knowing your purpose will help you tailor your story to your audience and make it more effective.
2. Know your audience: Understand who your audience is, what they care about, and what their expectations are. This will help you choose the right tone, language, and style for your story.
3. Create a structure: A good story needs a beginning, a middle, and an end. Start by introducing your characters and setting the scene. Build tension and conflict in the middle, and resolve it in the end. Use a clear and simple structure to help your audience follow the story.
4. Use vivid details: Details bring your story to life and help your audience visualise the characters and setting. Use sensory language that appeals to the five senses to create a more immersive experience for your audience.
5. Practice storytelling: Practice telling your story out loud, either to yourself or to a friend. This will help you refine your language, pacing, and delivery.
6. Engage your audience: Use eye contact, gestures, and body language to engage your audience and keep their attention. Ask questions, use humour, and create emotional connections to make your story more memorable.
7. Be authentic: Finally, be true to yourself and your story. Don’t try to be someone you’re not or tell a story that doesn’t resonate with you. Authenticity will help you connect with your audience and make your story more powerful.

Remember that storytelling is an art, and it takes practice to master. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon become a master storyteller. Find out how to tell our untold stories with editors Gabrielle Deonath and Kamini Ramdeen Chaudhury.