The Kids' Storytelling Club
Reviewed By: Julie Nichols
The Kid’s Storytelling Club was created in 1996 and is updated on a bi-monthly basis. It is designed for children ages 9-12 who are interested in storytelling. From the main page, which has a summary of the topic for that month, clicking on the “Welcome” link takes one to a page with further links within the site and the descriptions of those links. Additionally, this page briefly describes both the upcoming month’s activities and future articles in the Junior Storyteller newsletter. The “Create a Storytelling Story” page provides a sample script for a story and tips on creating the type of story featured that month. “Storytelling Crafts” gives an example of a craft to go with that month’s story. The “Club Activities” page offers a featured story and additionally, provides information on copyright and the importance of giving credit when telling a story. “Parent-Teacher-Leader” gives general information for young storytellers, new items about kids and storytelling, and information about upcoming storytelling conferences. From the “Join the Club” page a visitor can purchase storytelling publications through amazon.com. Links to past issues of the Junior Storyteller newsletter are also provided. This is a commercial site, so visitors have the option of joining the club for $11.95 and receiving a quarterly newsletter subscription. A free copy of the newsletter is also available. Further, the main page describes a number of awards that the site has won. A thorough biography of Vivian Dubrovin, the woman who created the club and the site, is available from the “Meet the Author” link on the “Join” page. Ms. Dubrovin has an extensive background in writing, particularly with children and started the Junior Storyteller newsletter in 1994. An email link, snail mail address and phone number for the site’s creator are provided. This site would be very useful not only for children interested in storytelling, but also for teachers and youth leaders who are including storytelling as part of their classroom or youth group activities.
Reviewed By: Reggie Burns
The awards listed for this site testify that it is a useful, highly esteemed site for children. The site appears to be error free and is edited by the author Vivian Dubrovin. Vivian has been writing for children for more than 30 years. She has conducted writing programs for children and helped them learn composition and computer word processing skills. Vivian earned a degree in journalism and has experience working as a writer. Vivian has also published many short stories for children’s publications and in 1994 published a writing handbook for children. In 1993, Vivian launched Storycraft Publishing with the goal of producing storytelling materials for young storytellers.
This appears to be an objective site, directed towards making storytelling resources available to children, teachers, and parents. Some advertising is visible but is related to the main goal of the site.
The page does not appear dated. There is a monthly topic cited on the Welcome page and a coming soon notice of what the viewers can expect in subsequent months. The most recent copyright is 2003. All links seem to be current.
This site offers children information and direction pertinent to a monthly theme, with appropriate web links they can refer to for further information. There is a craft page and activities that are relevant to the theme. Parents and teachers can refer to the “leader” page where they will find ideas and additional resources such as theme related web sites. Children can view past projects and are invited to subscribe to a “Junior Storyteller” newsletter.
Some examples of themes are: “Window Stories” and learning how to tell stories from window art, “Summer Storytelling Parties” and creating storytelling friendship link chains, “Friendship Boxes,” and “Telling Holiday Tales.”
This site might be especially valuable to the parent teaching a child at home. I can see how this site might be used as a resource for encouraging creative exploration, and/or assisting children with learning to organize their experiences and ideas into new creative activity.