Sometimes well-meaning people stop me and say they don't understand why anyone still reads fables to kids. They claim fables just aren't relevant in today's fast-paced world and since kids don't get the meanings anyway, why bother? After recovering from the initial shock, I typically smile and then explain why I believe fables are so critical for kids, especially in today's turbulent world. This month, as we celebrate the work of co-authors Mitch Weiss and Martha Hamilton, be

Walking along a winding road, a man finds himself the subject of a contest of strength between the sun and the wind. Who can get the man to take his coat off? The howling wind boasts and bullies, but the shivering man tightly clutches his coat. With warmth and light from the sun, the man decides to remove his own coat! Throughout this story, Sun and Wind clash. The wind uses a more forceful means to accomplish the goal, hoping to physically blow the man’s jacket off. On the o

Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss are a husband-and-wife writing and storytelling team known as "Beauty and the Beast Storytellers." They have traveled the world sharing their passion for the oral tradition and the art of telling great stories. Mitch and Martha's story collections include world tales that they tell in a conversational manner so that children can easily comprehend and then share the stories by telling them to other students. Nikki: How did you originally begin w

Inspired by the sounds and rhythms of the West African rainforest, Dylan Pritchett weaves a tale that reveals the music we all have inside us. Elephant stubs his toe on a log, creating a booming noise and initiates what might be considered the first jam session. Monkey begins to dance, Crane plays Crocodile’s scales, until every animal in the forest joins in on the harmonious beat. Finally, King Frog explains that frogs can do nothing except watch and listen due to their shor

Steve Sanfield led an unusually meaningful and adventurous life, packed with insightful, creative work that spanned one of the more turbulent times in our history. Steve’s career also crossed many boundaries ranging from his successful career as a writer, poet and storyteller to his work as a political activist and community organizer during segregation. His books reflect his deep interest and life-long commitment to building bridges between adversaries, who struggle over an