You’d think that with today’s global interconnectedness, it would be easier than ever for great stories to “go viral.” Yet somehow, it seems like we’re watching our students become more separated from each other than ever.
Before we had viral videos and live streaming technology, we had stories. Legends. Folktales that taught lessons, transcended cultures, and bonded people to one another despite their many differences.
In their collection Supporting Diversity and Inclusion with Story: Authentic Folktales and Discussion Guides, editors Lyn Ford and Sherry Norfolk assemble a rich tapestry of tales, re-told by scholars and storytellers who share versions of the fables that shaped their own lives and cultural identities. With these vivid folktales, accompanying discussion guides, and additional resource lists, students and educators alike can discover the power of stories to draw us together and discover what we share in common.
For a sample, click below to read the tale, “Why Thunder Is a Friend to the Cherokees,” about the eternal choice between good and evil, as told by Gayle Ross, beloved storyteller and an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation.
This title is published by ABC-CLIO’s Libraries Unlimited, an imprint committed to supporting the life-long professional development of educators and librarians through every phase of their careers. Click here to view this and other Libraries Unlimited titles.
