The Whole Story Handbook: Using Imagery to Complete the Story Experience
Reading a story quietly to yourself feels like a private adventure. But hearing someone tell a story out loud is something we experience together. Just like music on a page becomes real when someone plays it, a story becomes richer when it’s shared with a group.
Carol Birch—who has spent her life as a storyteller, children’s librarian, and teacher—explores the tricky difference between simply memorizing a story and truly telling it so listeners feel connected and excited.
We all know the difference when we hear it. But how do you make that leap? Birch says it starts with really knowing the story. A storyteller has to understand the characters, imagine the setting, and feel the emotions long before speaking the first word. After all, how can you describe a character’s journey if you don’t know them well? How can you bring a place to life if you haven’t pictured it clearly in your mind?
