Put the books aside and discover how easy and rewarding it is to tell children stories creatively. Sue Learner hears how from experienced tellers.

Telling stories to children, rather than reading to them, really brings a story to life and turns them from passive listeners into active listeners.

Cath Little, a storyteller based in South Wales, says, 'The first time I told, rather than read, a story to a group of young children, I was amazed at how well they listened to me.

'They listened more attentively and, without a book in the way, I was free to watch them and see the effect the story was having. The eye-to-eye contact is one of the things that makes storytelling such a special, shared activity.

'It is a creative act and in turn, it helps the children to be creative. The positive experience of listening to stories and telling stories helps the children look forward to the treat of being able to read and write stories for themselves.'

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