Collected by Randall Grayson, Ph.D. Psychologist
About
Storytelling
Content
The Three Dolls
The Zebra Storyteller
The Parallel
Granny Gifts
Theme:
I
II
II
I
1
3
5
6
X
III
I
I
I
III
III
II
III
II
III
II
II
II
III
II
II
I
15
17
19
24
28
35
42
47
58
63
67
73
77
79
84
89
91
X
X
X
X
X
I
I
I
I
I
99
100
102
91
105
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
108
109
111
113
114
118
121
122
124
128
Beauty
Flowers and Freckle Cream
The Coin and the Cricket
The Owl
The Plain Princess
The Improving Mirror
Theme:
Page
Adventure/Campfire
The Hole That Will Not Stay Filled
A True Story
The Valley of the Blue Mist
How Much Land Does a Man Need?
Lost Face
The Partner
The Hour and the Man
The Most Dangerous Game
The Cask of Amontillado
The Damned Thing
To Build a Fire
The Old Man
Churchhill Killers
A Knock at the Door
Onawandah
The Last Escape
The Plain Princess
Theme:
Age
Compassion/Empathy
Count That Day Lost
The Little Match Girl
The Keys to Calais
No Greater Love
Good Griselle
How Five Little Angels Lost Their Wings
Praying Hands
The New Arrival
The Last Leaf
Forget-me-nuts
God Didn’t Mean for Them to Be Hungry
The Mermaid Who Pitied a Sailor
Theme:
Facing
X
Your
I
II
I
I
159
161
162
163
I
I
II
II
164
167
170
173
I
I
I
175
176
178
I
I
I
I
180
182
183
185
I
I
I
I
I
II
II
II
II
II
III
I
186
189
192
195
197
198
201
202
204
207
209
213
Friendship
The Warm Fuzzy Story
Praying Hands
Damon and Pythias
Two Friends
Theme:
152
155
156
157
Forgiveness
Strawberries
The Second Mile
The Princess and The Dove
Theme:
I
I
I
I
Folklore
The Tale of Dame Ragnel
The Red Thread
Savitri
The Death of the Old Lion
Theme:
133
139
140
145
150
Family
The Clever Wife Of Vietnam
Taps: A Story of Two Brothers
What Bradley Owed
The Island of Purple Fruits
Theme:
I
I
III
II
I
Fears
The Red Lion
I Can Sleep Through A Storm
Mullah and Dervish
The Witch and the Rainbow Cat
Theme:
131
132
Diversity
Kanu Above and Kanu Below
The Animal School
Harrison Bergeron
Onawandah
The Wise Old Shoemaker of Studena
Theme:
I
I
Funny
Stories
How Brer Rabbit Outsmarted the Frogs
The Bee, The Harp, The Mouse, and the Bumclock
The Unwilling Magician
Monkey Business
The Walkin’ Catfish
Morgan and the Pot 'O Brains
A Sure Cure
The Wise Old Shepherd
Not Guilty, your Worship
The Open Window
Cannibals in the Cars
The Ship of Fools
Theme:
Greed
The Gizzard
How Much Land Does a Man Need?
The Magic Pomegranate
The Table Where Rich People Sit
Eyes-All-Over
Forget-Me-Nuts
The Song That Brought Happiness
Theme:
Theme:
Peace/Conflict
Peace
as
Theme:
People
&
II
I
I
244
247
249
II
II
250
252
II
I
II
I
256
260
263
266
I
III
I
267
268
273
I
I
I
II
I
I
I
274
275
276
277
282
284
285
III
I
I
II
II
288
290
293
296
302
Nature
For the Love of a Man
Gluskabi and the Wind Eagle
Strength
Starfish
Pure
Equality
The Animal School
Harrison Bergeron
Three Raindrops
X
Responsibility
The Sword of Damocles
For Want of a Horseshoe Nail
Man Enough for the Job
Onawandah
Pandora
The Island of Purple Fruits
The King and the Beautiful Lamp
Theme:
233
234
236
238
240
243
Legacy
The King's Child
The Peace Daughters of King Capilano
Theme:
I
I
I
I
I
I
Resolution
Strength
The Princess and The Dove
Two Goats on the Bridge
Theme:
215
220
224
227
230
128
232
Honesty
Trader Jim
The Old Man With Big Ears
The Magic Gifts
Little Burnt Face
La Muerta: Godmother Death
A Blind Man Catches a Bird
Theme:
I
I
I
I
II
I
I
Scary/Ghosts
The Hole That Will Not Stay Filled
The Locket
The Stranger
SMEE
The Considerate Hosts
X
The Curse of the Australian Gold
The Candidate
The Certificate
Different Kinds of Dead
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Theme:
X
X
X
X
X
Self-fulfilling
Some
People
Can
Be
True
to
I
II
I
I
339
342
347
348
I
I
I
351
353
355
II
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
357
360
362
364
370
376
377
404
I
I
II
II
II
I
II
III
I
II
379
380
382
383
385
386
198
389
390
393
Yourself
The Black Prince
The Stone Crusher
The Chattering Aspen
The Princess Who Stood on Her Own Two Feet
Hookedy Crookedy
The Dancing Horse
The Star of the Farmyard
The Wooden City
Theme:
327
328
329
332
334
337
Bad
Brer Possum's Dilemma
The Princess and The Dove
Little Burnt Face
Theme:
I
I
I
I
III
I
Prophesy
Sans Soleil
51st Dragon
The Stone Soup Folktale
The Dragon on the Roof
Theme:
308
313
317
319
323
Self-discipline
Boy Wanted
If
The Magic Thread
The King and His Hawk
The Most Obedient Wife
Pandora
Theme:
I
III
III
III
III
Wisdom
The Lionmakers
The Wise Old Shoemaker of Studena
What is the Talmud?
Benjamin and the Caliph
The Grand Inquisitor
Granny Gifts
Morgan and the Pot 'O Brains
Deadly Melody
Panther and Rabbit
The Warmth of a Fire
(alternate version: The Fire on the Mountain)
The Pear Seed
Condemned to the Noose
Catherine, Sly Country Lass
The Fast Road
The Wooden City
Touch the Moon
&
X
Riddles
X
II
395
I
II
I
I
I
I
397
398
399
402
404
406
Content
X = More disturbing than the average fairy or folk tale. Many fairy and folk tales have violence or disturbing
motifs (e.g., Anderson, Grimm, King Arthur, Arabian Knights, etc.), but these tales are either a little more
graphic/realistic, they cover themes that are more mature, or the story is particularly scary.
Age.
Although the stories are categorized by age, please use your discretion and read the story first (or read the
abstract) before using a story you don’t know with children. The tale may have received a higher
recommended age for many reasons, including: what the story addresses, how it addresses it, the language is
advanced, or the concept would be lost on younger children. Two 12 year olds may have very different
abilities and experiences, so these are rough guidelines. Also, of course, adults and teens will surely find some
of their favorite stories in the “I” category!
I
=7–9
II
= 9 – 12
III
= 13 – 122 (oldest person ever)