English Folktales

This enchanting collection of traditional English folktales reflects the depth and diversity of the folk heritage of Britain, and illustrates the ties between stories, land, and people. The editors present an enticing assortment of more than 50 tales, gathered from practicing storytellers and organized into sections based on broad themes: "The Fool in All His Glory," "Wily Wagers and Tall Tales," "Holy Days and Days of Heroes," and so forth. There's a story for every listener--from "Teeny Tiny" and "The Pixies' Beds" for young children, to spooky ghost stories and witch tales, such as "Wild Edric" and "Jenny Greenteeth" for older readers and listeners. For each tale, the authors cite a region of origin. Like other titles in the series, the book contains background information--notes on the tales, a brief history of England, a map, photographs, a glossary, and a bibliography of sources. Brief biographies of the tellers are also included. It is a wonderful resource for read-alouds and programs, an indispensable source for storytellers, and a great research tool for students.

Dan Keding has a master's degree in folklore and has written a storytelling column forSing Out: The Folk Music Magazine for almost twenty years. He has been a professional storyteller and ballad singer for thirty years and has traveled throughout the United States and England telling tales at festivals, concert halls, schools, libraries, and coffeehouses. His recordings have won numerous awards including the American Library Association Notable Recording for Children and Storytelling World Winner and Honor Awards. In 2000 he was inducted into the National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence. For more details about Dan's work and award winning recordings, please visit his Web site at www.dankeding.com.

Amy Douglas is a young Englishwoman with a passion for traditional stories and riddles. Although only 29 she already has 14 years of experience working in diverse venues with all ages: from nursery tales and schools to year long reminiscence projects from arts centers to arts consultancy. She has performed at storytelling, literature, and folk festivals throughout Britain, Canada, and the United States. She is a founder member of Tales at the Edge, one of the first modern-day storytelling clubs in England and the associated Festival at the Edge, the first storytelling festival of its kind, as well as having served two years on the board of the Society for Storytelling. For more details about her work and publications please visit Amy's Web site at www.amydouglas.com.