The United States of Storytelling: Folktales and True Stories from the Western States

(Hardback)

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Description

This diverse collection of American folktales and true stories showcases the history and lore of the western states. Capturing the spirit of legendary figures like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson and events like the Gold Rush, stories animate American history. Experiencing these tales allows students to enjoy a vibrant aspect of history that is rarely represented and communicated: the hopes, fears, joys, and trials of the people who came before us. The United States of Storytelling: Folktales and True Stories from the Western States contains lore about early pioneers and settlers, Native Americans, and later immigrants of the states west of the Mississippi as well as the Commonwealths and Territories. Each chapter focuses on an individual state and includes approximately six folktales or true stories from that state, plus the date it entered the union. Appropriate for students in third through eighth grade, this guide is specifically suited for children studying the states in grades four through six, serving as a valuable storytime resource as well as a research springboard for these age groups.

Reviews

These volumes will be useful as resources for storytellers and for U.S. history classes. * Booklist Online *
The stories are short and easy to understand, making for a productive filler when learning about the states. * Library Media Connection *
Each tale takes only a page or two, and mood ranges from tall-tale funny to ghost-story creepy to factually informative, with a useful variety in each section. * Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books *

Author Bio

Dan Keding is an award-winning storyteller, author, and musician who serves as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science.