Lists of Stories and
Programs for Story Hours
Compiled by
The Staff of The Children's Department
St. Louis Public Library
and edited by
EFFIE L. POWER
Revised Edition
NEW YORK
1921
FOREWORD
This story-hour material was first published in the Monthly Bulletin of the St. Louis Public Library in 1914 and was later reprinted in pamphlet form. It has been slightly revised for the present edition but the form and viewpoint has not been changed and most of the notes remain as originally written for the St. Louis Public Library Staff.
The editor has made no attempt to compile a complete handbook on story-telling but has merely brought together in uniform printed form, story lists and programs for story hours as they have been used to meet the needs in the various divisions of the Children's Department of the St. Louis Public Library. No claim is made to originality, but the editor assumes all responsibility for the form and standard of the lists as here presented.
The aim has been to keep the lists brief and to give short, practical outlines which may be extended.
Since library story-telling is directed primarily toward inspirational reading, the selections listed are chiefly from literary sources. A wealth of material in the form of biography and history has not been included, because books in those classes have been fully indexed by subject in the library catalogues. For example: a list of Christmas stories has been included among the lists for special days, but none has been given for Washington's Birthday or Independence Day. There is, however, a list of patriotic and historical narrative poems.
Further explanations will be found in the short paragraphs preceding each list, and in the index to titles of stories.
Effie L. Power,
Director of Work with Children.
Cleveland Public Library,
February 12, 1921.
CONTENTS
STORIES FOR CHILDREN THREE AND FOUR YEARS OLD.
The arrangement is in the order of degree of difficulty. Where the title would naturally appear in the library catalogue, the author's name only is given. Where a title appears in several lists, the source is given only in one, which is indicated by giving the page number in bold face type preceding title in the index at the end of this pamphlet.
Many of the stories listed may be found in simplified form in the primers and readers on the little children's shelves.
Rhymes from Mother Goose.
A was an apple pie.
A was an archer who shot at a frog.
This is the house that Jack built.
Three little kittens lost their mittens.
Old Mother Hubbard.
Sing a song of sixpence.
The Queen of Hearts.
I saw a ship a-sailing.
Tom he was a piper's son.
London Bridge is broken down.
Cock Robin and Jenny Wren.
Who killed Cock Robin?
Best versions of Mother Goose:
Lang. Nursery rhyme book.
Norton. Heart of oak books, v. I.
Book of nursery rhymes; Welsh.
Mother Goose's melodies. Wheeler.
See also the Caldecott picture books.
The old woman and her pig.
Best versions:
Jacobs. English fairy tales.
Lang. Nursery rhyme book.
Other versions:
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour.
Bryant. How to tell stories.
Lansing. Rhymes and stories.
Norton. Heart of oak books, v. I.
O'Shea. Six nursery classics.
Scudder. Book of folk stories.
Wiggin and Smith. Tales of laughter.
Chicken Licken or Henny Penny.
Best versions:
Jacobs. English fairy tales.
Scudder. Book of folk stories.
Other versions:
Arnold and Gilbert. Stepping stones to literature, v. 2. (Chicken Little.)
Asbjoernsen. Fairy tales from the far north.
(Hen who went to Dovrefjeld.)
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour. (Chicken Little.)
Blaisdell. Child life in tale and fable. (Chicken Little.)
Darton. Wonder book of beasts.
Lansing. Rhymes and stories.
Norton. Heart of oak books, v. I.
Scudder. Book of folk stories.
Scudder. Children's book.
Tappan. Folk stories and fables.
Peter Rabbit. Potter.
The gingerbread man.[1]
Three little pigs.[1]
The pancake.[1]
Three goats.
Poulsson. Through the farmyard gate.
[1] For source, see page number preceding title in index.
Golden cobwebs.
Best versions:
Bryant. Best stories to tell.
Bryant. How to tell stories.
Little Black Sambo. Bannerman.
The cock, the mouse and the little red hen.[2] Lefevre.
How Jack went to seek his fortune.
Best version:
Jacobs. English fairy tales.
Three Billy Goats Gruff.[2]
The travels of a fox.[2]
The elves and the shoemaker.
Best versions:
Grimm. Fairy tales; ed. by Lucas.
Scudder. Fables and folk stories.
Other versions:
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour
Bryant. Stories to tell.
Norton. Heart of oak books, v. I.
Scudder. Book of folk stories.
Scudder. Children's book.
The cat and the mouse.
Best version:
Jacobs. English fairy tales.
Other versions:
Arnold and Gilbert. Stepping stones to literature, v. i.
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour.
Darton. Wonder book of beasts.
[2] For source, see page number preceding title in index.
STORIES FOR CHILDREN FIVE AND SIX YEARS OLD.
As I walked over the hills one day. (Poem by Mrs. Carter.)
Best versions:
Chisholm. Golden staircase.
Wiggin and Smith. Pinafore Palace.
Bremen town musicians.
Best versions:
Grimm. Fairy tales; tr. by Lucas.
Scudder. Fables and folk stories.
Dame Wiggin of Lee and her seven wonderful cats.
Best versions:
Dame Wiggin of Lee and seven wonderful cats.
Norton. Heart of oak books, v. 2.
O'Shea. Six nursery classics.
Doll in the grass.
Best versions:
Asbjoernsen. Fairy tales from the far north.
Wiggin and Smith. Fairy ring.
Epaminondas.
Best versions:
Bryant. Stories to tell to children.
Bryant. Best stories to tell.
The Hobyahs.
Best version:
Jacobs. More English fairy tales.
The Half Chick or Medio Pollito.[3]
How the camel got his hump.
Kipling. Just so stories.
[3] For source, see page number preceding title in index.
Johnny cake or Wee bannock.[4]
The Jumblies. (Poem by Lear.)
Lear. Nonsense Songs.
Lambikin.
Best version:
Jacobs. Indian fairy tales.
Other versions:
Bryant. Stories to tell.
Steel. Tales of the Punjab.
Little grey pony.
Lindsay. Mother stories.
Little One-eye, Two-eyes and Three-eyes.[4]
Little red hen and the grain of wheat.
Best version:
Bryant. Stories to tell.
Other versions:
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour.
Blaisdell. Child life in tale and fable.
Mother Hulda or Mother Holle.
Best version:
Grimm. Fairy tales; tr. by Lucas.
Other versions:
Blaisdell. Child life in many lands.
Lang. Red fairy book.
Night before Christmas. (Poem by Clement C. Moore.)
Moore. Night before Christmas; il. by Jessie Wilcox Smith.
Moore. Night before Christmas (linen picture book).
[4] For source, see page number in bold face type in index.
Ole Shut-Eye stories.
Best versions:
Andersen. Wonder stories.
Andersen. Fairy tales.
Peter Rabbit plays a joke.
Burgess. Old Mother West Wind.
Quick running squash.
Aspinwall. Short stories for short people.
Rat princess.
Bryant. How to tell stories.
The sheep and the pig who set up house-keeping.
Best version:
Thomsen. East o' the sun.
Other versions:
Asbjoernsen. Fairy tales from the far north. (Ram and the pig.)
Asbjoernsen. Tales from the fjeld.
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour. (Adapted.)
Wiggin and Smith. Fairy ring.
Snow White and Rose Red. [5]
Spotty the turtle wins a race.
Burgess. Old Mother West Wind.
Stolen charm.
Best version:
Williston. Japanese fairy tales. 1st series.
The straw, the coal and the bean.
Best version:
Grimm. Fairy tales; tr. by Lucas.
[5] For source, see page number preceding title in index.
Other versions:
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour.
(Why the bean wears a stripe.)
Blaisdell. Child life in many lands.
Strong. All the year round; Spring.
The sun and the wind.
Best version:
Aesop. Fables; ed. by Jacobs.
Three bears.[6]
Timothy's shoes.
Ewing. Lob-Lie-by-the-fire; and other tales.(To be adapted)
Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse.
Best version:
Jacobs. English fairy tales.
Tom, the Water baby.
Kingsley. Water babies, Ch. 1. (To be adapted.)
Why all men love the moon.
Best version:
Holbrook. Book of nature myths.
Other versions:
Blaisdell. Child life in tale and fable. (Sun, the moon and the wind.)
Jacobs. Indian fairy tales. (Sun, moon and wind go to dinner.)
Who stole the bird's nest? (Poem by L.M. Child.)
Best version:
Wiggin and Smith. Posy Ring.
Other versions:
Lovejoy. Nature in verse.
Waterman. Graded memory selections.
[6] For source, see page number preceding title in index.
Why the evergreens never lose their leaves.
Best version:
Holbrook. Book of nature myths.
The wise men of Gotham.
Best version:
Jacobs. More English fairy tales.
The wolf and the seven little goats.
Best version:
Grimm. Household stories tr. by Crane.
Other versions:
Blaisdell. Child life in tale and fable. (Adapted.) (Wolf and seven little goslings.)
Grimm. Fairy tales. (Wolf and the seven young kids.)
Mulock. Fairy book. (Wolf and the seven young goslings.)
SUGGESTIONS FOR STORY HOURS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.
The following programs for story hours for the little children are suggestive only. It is desirable that the best folk tales be repeated as often as the children desire, and that poems should be read or recited in connection with the stories where there is a response. The little children should never be held longer than half an hour, and twenty minutes is better. The stories to be told together are numbered 1 and 2. This grouping may be changed and additions may be made from books which have been duplicated freely in the juvenile book collections, but the selection should be kept to the standard of this list. Also, it is not required that the groups of stories should be used in the order listed.
See also lists for special days.
PROGRAMS FOR STORY HOURS.
1. Water of life. (Story of the three sons.)
Best version:
Grimm. Fairy tales; tr. by Lucas.
Other versions:
Grimm. Fairy tales; il. by Folkard.
Grimm. German household tales; tr. by Edwardes.
Jerrold. Reign of King Oberon.
Shaw. Fairy tales for the second school year.
Valentine. Aunt Louisa's book of fairy tales.
Wiggin and Smith. Magic casements.
Alternative
Water of life. (Story of the faithful servant.)
Best version:
Pyle. Wonder clock.
Other versions:
Lang. Golden mermaid.
Lang. Pink fairy book.
2. Princess whom nobody could silence.
Best version:
Thomsen. East o' the sun. (Princess who could not be silenced.)
Other versions:
Asbjoernsen. Fairy tales from the far north.
Wiggin and Smith. Tales of laughter.
Compare with Peter Fiddle-de-dee in
Bay. Danish fairy and folk tales.
1. Princess and the pea.
Best versions:
Andersen. Fairytales; tr. by Lucas.
Andersen. Stories and tales; tr. by Dulcken.
2. Lad who went to the north wind.
Best versions:
Asbjoernsen. Norse fairy tales; tr. by Dasent.
Thomsen. East o' the sun.
Other versions:
Asbjoernsen. Fairy world.
Bay. Danish fairy and folk tales.
Carroll and Brooks. Third reader. (Boy and the north wind.)
Treadwell. Reading-literature, first reader.
1. Tinder box.
Best versions:
Andersen. Fairy tales; tr. by Lucas.
Andersen. Wonder stories; tr. by Dulcken.
Other versions:
Lang. Yellow fairy book.
Welsh. Fairy tales children love.
Winnington. Outlook fairy book.
2. Travels of a fox.
Best version:
Winnington. Outlook story book.
Other versions:
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour.
Johnson. Oak tree fairy book.
1. Robin Goodfellow.
Best version:
Rhys. English fairy book.
Other versions:
Coates. Fireside encyclopaedia of poetry. (Merry pranks of Robin Goodfellow.)
Dana. Household book of poetry. (Merry pranks of Robin Goodfellow.)
Alternative.
1. Presents of the little folk.
Best version:
Grimm. Fairy tales. (Little folks' presents.)
Other versions:
Grimm. German household tales.
Grimm. Household fairy tales; tr. by Boldrey.(The greedy goldsmith's reward.)
2. The fairies. (Poem by Robert Bird.)
Wiggin and Smith. Posy ring.
See other poems about fairies in
Wiggin and Smith. Golden numbers and Posy ring.
1. Snow queen.
Best versions:
Andersen. Fairy tales; tr. by Lucas.
Andersen. Wonder stories; tr. by Dulcken.
Other versions:
Lang. Pink fairy book.
Welsh. Fairy tales children love.
Do not tell a second story.
1. Golden bird.
Best version:
Grimm. Fairy tales; tr. by Lucas.
Other versions:
Asbjoernsen. Fairy tales from the far north.
Asbjoernsen. Tales from the fjeld.
Baldwin. Fairy stories and fables.
Grimm. Best stories.
Grimm. Household fairy tales; tr. by Boldrey.
Lang. Green fairy book.
Marshall. Fairy tales of all nations.
Norton. Heart of oak books, v. 3.
Scudder. Children's book.
Scudder. Fables and folk stories.
Wiggin and Smith. Magic casements.
Compare with Golden mermaid in
Lang. Green fairy book.
2. Husband who was to mind the house.
Best versions:
Asbjoernsen. Norse fairy tales; tr. by Dasent.
Thomsen. East o' the sun.
Other versions:
Asbjoernsen. Fairy world.
Asbjoernsen. Popular tales from the Norse; tr. by Dasent.
Laboulaye. Fairy tales. (Good woman.)
Laboulaye. Last fairy tales. (Grizzled Peter.)
Tappan. Folk stories and fables.
1. Billy Beg and the bull.
Best version:
MacManus. In chimney corners.
Other versions:
Bryant. Best stories to tell.
Bryant. How to tell stories.
Wiggin. Tales of wonder.
2. Cock, the mouse and the little red hen.
Best version:
Lefevre. Cock, the mouse and the little red hen.
Other versions:
Van Sickle. Riverside reader, 2nd. (Adapted.)
Compare with Little red hen in
Blaisdell. Child life, in tale and fable. 2nd reader.
Lansing. Rhymes and stories.
Treadwell. Reading-literature, primer.
1. Ugly duckling.
Best versions:
Andersen. Fairy tales; ed. by Lucas.
Andersen. Wonder stories; tr. by Dulcken.
Other versions:
Arnold and Gilbert. Stepping stones to literature, v. 3.
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour. (Adapted.)
Baldwin. Fairy reader.
Blaisdell. Child life in tale and fable. (Adapted.)
Boston collection of kindergarten stories.
Carroll and Brooks. Third reader.
Coussens. Child's book of stories.
Gibbon. Old King Cole.
Jerrold. Big book of fairy tales.
Lang. Orange fairy book.
Mabie. Fairy tales every child should know.
McMurry. Classic myths.
Norton. Heart of oak books, v. 3. (Adapted.)
Perkins. Twenty best fairy tales.
Scudder. Children's book.
Tappan. Folk stories and fables.
Whittier. Child life in prose.
2. Good little mouse.
Best versions:
D'Aulnoy. Fairy tales; tr. by Planché.
Lang. Red fairy book.
Other versions:
Heller. Little golden hood.
Lang. Snowdrop and other stories.
Valentine. Old, old fairy tales.
Wiggin and Smith. Fairy ring.
1. Necklace of truth.
Best version:
Mace. Home fairy tales.
2. Pancake.
Best version:
Thomsen. East o' the sun.
Other versions:
Asbjoernsen. Fairy world.
Asbjoernsen. Tales from the fjeld.
Brown. Jingle primer.
Coussens. Child's book of stories.
Lansing. Rhymes and stories.
Treadwell. Reading-literature, primer.
Wiggin and Smith. Tales of laughter.
Compare with Gingerbread man in
Bailey and Lewis. For the children's hour.
Bryant. Best stories to tell.
Coussens. Child's book of stories.
Grover. Folk-lore reader, bk. i.
St. Nicholas, v. 2.
Summers. Readers, 1st year.
Treadwell. Reading-literature, primer.
Compare with Johnny cake in
Bailey. Firelight stories.
Baldwin. Second fairy reader.
Jacobs. English fairy tales.
Wiggin and Smith. Tales of laughter.
Compare with Wee bannock in
Jacobs. More English fairy tales.