I have many memories of my life as a young parent. Not only those high points, but those exasperating moments as well. A good example is the memories I have of buying gifts for my children. Gifts for the holidays. Gifts for birthdays. Those occasional gifts rewarding good behavior. I spent some serious hours searching for something unique, something meaningful. Most of the time it was rough going. It did not take very long to realize that a good gift is rare gift. A meaningful gift is even harder to find. And whenever I succeeded in finding a gift that I regarded as special, I treasured it. And I hoped my children would do the same.
I am now a grandparent. And I am constantly seeking a unique gift children would treasure. Something that is memorable long after the gift is given. One great gift I have found is a memorable story. And it is suitable for children of all ages. Think of all the pleasurable hours an entire CD of stories can provide. Imagine the trip around the world your progeny can take on the wings of a story!
You can find three CDs listed on the “Recordings” page of my website. Fables in Four Minutes is a collection of ten stories, each one representing a different storytelling genre. World Full of Stories has a dozen stories that will take the listeners on a trip around the world. My latest project is Parking in Manhattan, and it contains a compendium of urban folktales that will tickle the funny bone. To purchase my CDs, just follow the directions on the “Recordings” page to place your order.
Looking for a unique gift children will value and cherish? A unique gift children can grow with? A unique gift children can share with their parents and friends? A memorable gift is the gift of story. The kind of unique gift children will treasure for a long time to come.
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Keep the good blogging coming.
May 24th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Mark Twain Henry Fielding All of them were storytellers. Painting scenes with priceless humor.
Priceless humor. what makes it priceless? There is a simple answer to this question. Priceless humor revolves about common everyday experiences.
May 25th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
One can learn many lessons from epic stories. Think of the difference between an Aesop fable and a tale from the Arabian Nights. Which one appeals to you? My personal penchant is for finding my own lessons when I listen to a story. Check out my World Full of Stories and Fables in Four Minutes CDs for some examples of nifty stories with more subtle lessons.
Nifty stories are stories that teach.
June 11th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Art Buchwald. George Carlin. Russell Baker. Look at history and the humorists that litter the pages. Mark Twain Henry Fielding All of them were storytellers.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Really great information.
June 26th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
And there may be a different message for each listener. This kind of story is generally attractive to a wider audience. The subtler lessons tend to come from longer tales. One can learn many lessons from epic stories. Just compare a tale from the Arabian Nights to a fable by Aesop to see the difference.
July 5th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I noticed that stories with a message stuck in my memory. The messages stuck in the memory, too. The Golden Rule. There is no substitute for honesty. Take time to smell the flowers.
July 11th, 2009 at 11:55 am
This is priceless humor.
Look at the great humorists around us. Dave Barry. Mark Russell. Russell Baker.
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
My kind of post. This blog rocks.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
The subtler lessons tend to come from longer tales. One can learn many lessons from epic stories. Think of the difference between an Aesop fable and a tale from the Arabian Nights. Which one do you prefer to hear? Personally, I like to find my own message when listening to a story. Check out my World Full of Stories and Fables in Four Minutes CDs for some examples of nifty stories with more subtle lessons.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Love the post. Really awesome.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Stories have been told and retold for centuries throughout the world. Why? Because they are entertaining, for one thing. For another, they deal with the human condition. Even animal characters in stories act out the situations of our own humanity.
The struggles of life have been with us for centuries as well.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I was surprised to find how memorable those stories were. To this day I still remember and follow those messages. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Honesty is the best policy. Take time to smell the flowers.
September 12th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Thanks a million for the post.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Liked your blog.
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Which one gives you more freedom to choose your own message? Personally, I like to find my own message when listening to a story. The stories I chose for my Fables in Four Minutes and World Full of Stories CDs are good examples of nifty stories with subtle messages.
Nifty stories are stories that teach. Nifty stories are memorable. Nifty stories carry a message that applies to all people.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
However, the lessons in many other stories may not be as obvious. The characters may act out the meaning of the story. It is up to the listener to decipher the message. And different listeners will carry away different messages. Stories such as these are inclined to be more widely popular.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I have spent a good amount of my time researching stories that offer listeners something more than simply a clever plot. Something that the listener can relate to. Call it a message. It might give the listener a suggestion of a new direction. There could even be an outright moral.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
They include creation stories along with other stories that explain the world.
By contrast, folk tales spawn from daily village life. Naturally, stories of the folk world are couched in rural settings. The world of folktales is also inhabited by fairy tales. The questioning minds of preliterate villagers found apt expression through stories of magic and mystery.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
This was a great post.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels around the world. And each time I visit another country I have the opportunity to learn a bit about it. Rituals and customs. Geography and daily habits. So the world stories I hear have substantial meaning to me.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:09 am
I will come back to this site. Keep the good blogging coming.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:19 am
Great post.
November 7th, 2009 at 3:31 am
For as long as humans could talk throughout the world stories have been told and retold. In the fabric of a culture, they act as vital threads in the weave. In any society they define the roots and significance of the peoples. World stories spread as the culture grows.
I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels around the world.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:32 am
How come? For one thing, they are entertaining. For another, they deal with the human condition. Even stories using animals as characters reflect the situations and actions of our species.
The struggles of life have been with us for centuries as well. Wars.
December 10th, 2009 at 3:46 am
I keep coming back to this blog. Great stuff.
January 3rd, 2010 at 4:45 am
I will use this info.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:18 am
This post was awesome.
February 1st, 2010 at 6:36 am
Lovin this blog. This was a great read.