Book excerpt: "Explicit, thorough advice avoids confusion as to how to select, prepare, and deliver stories and poetry via reading aloud, mediated storytelling, and storytelling." "The sequential chapter organization, progressing from easiest to most difficult, and Developmental and Culminating Activities at the end of each skill chapter, enable this text to be used either independently or in conjunction with courses or workshops in story performance." "Unique among story performance texts, instruction is based not only on the author's own extensive experience but also on empirical research related to teaching adults to tell stories."