Recognizing that exposure to storytelling and reading aloud enhance children's language skills and their enjoyment of literature, this book provides a rationale and suggestions for storytelling and reading aloud both in and beyond the classroom. The first chapter explores various nursery rhymes from around the world, and how this oral tradition allowed the author to ease into storytelling in his classroom and as a profession. The second chapter offers guidelines for finding and choosing different kinds of stories that will engage young listeners who are beyond traditional fairy tales, while the third chapter presents suggestions for developing original stories, including plot and characterization. In a question and answer format, the fourth chapter describes the author's experiences and frame of reference when telling stories. The fifth chapter explores reading stories aloud to children, including selecting books, and dealing with single-sitting books, excerpts from longer works, and books that feature the exploration of language. The last chapter discusses (1) helping children explore words and sounds; (2) encouraging them to read closely, paying attention to their own responses and discovering layers of meaning; (3) helping children understand that a story shapes their existing knowledge and can be remade again and again. A list of readings on storytelling is appended. (HTH)