This famous book on storytelling is really the story of the great storyteller Ruth Sawyer, who was also a great listener, for she believed the art of telling always has been close to the art of listening. For her, it all began many years ago when there came from Donegal a young Irish woman to be nurse to a very little girl. Johanna's was the art of the ancient storytellers of Ireland and of course she made the child love her stories. Her influence runs like a bright thread through this book of a delightful group of eleven well-tried, well-loved stories each with a meaty little introduction---suggestion or comment-- that could come only from a long and richly satisfying experience in telling them. I especially recommend this book to children's librarians everywhere, but reading it will nourish anyone who wishes to develop the art of storytelling in himself/herself. Of all the books on storytelling, this one is the most human. I loved it, when I encountered it in a long ago class in children's literature, and even translated one tale into Spanish.

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