Child storytellers rewarded at festival

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Make-believe campfires were lit around the Las Vegas Valley recently as fourth- and fifth-grade storytellers took to the stage during the first Bristlecone Storytelling Festival.

Approximately 169 students from 56 Clark County schools competed within their schools before two finalists were chosen from each school to participate in five regional showcases the week of Feb. 25.

Students overcame sickness, transportation and language barriers to present their stories.

"Althletics showcase children who are good athletes. Fine arts showcase children. The storytelling showcases the children who are readers," said Stan Fuke, school district library services coordinator. "We really caught some of those kids. It was amazing."

Children researched and chose published fables, folk or fairy tales they could tell in less than five minutes. Many schools opted for student judging along with teachers and faculty.

"They just amaze me," said Jan Coleman, librarian at Cartwright Elementary in the southeast region. "They had so much fun. They get nervous, then they go up and do their thing."

Goldilocks, Rumplestiltskin, the boy who cried wolf, the gingerbread man and Little Red Riding Hood all made appearances in stories told by students in the east region from Beckley, Bracken, Dearing, Earl, Edwards, Goldbarb, Lake and Mendoza. These schools exhibited their stories at the Sunrise Library, 5400 Harris Ave., on Feb. 28.

"Each storyteller who tells a story gives it their own little twist to make it their own," said Rita Botzenhardt, coordinator for the east region and librarian at Morrow in Henderson. "Working with a team is the hardest thing, because you have to know when the other person is ready to share."

Some students spent time looking for their stories while others knew right away what story they'd tell.

Earl fifth-grader April Purcell got her story "The Happiest Man in the World" from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The team of Breana Whitcomb and Samantha Carranza instantly thought of "Rumplestiltskin" when they first heard of the festival.

"I don't know that many stories like that," said Whitcomb, a fifth-grader at Dearing. "It's the first one that came to mind, and it's not a common story for people to tell."

Gary Winger, librarian at Dearing, saw many skills enhanced from preparing for the festival. Learning how to be an audience member, good listening, teamwork, verbalizing, research and sportsmanship were learned by his students.

"It's a wonderful chance for children to share," Botzenhardt said. "Each of those tellers are representing hundreds of kids from their schools."

"That's what was so neat about this. It wasn't like a competition," said Kathy Kelley, librarian at Earl. "Everyone had fun telling the stories."

Kelley encouraged students to learn the importance of family stories, past and present, and keep them going through storytelling.

"I think in the computer age, you don't have much personal contact," Kelley said. "Telling stories is personal contact."

"So you can pass it on," said Carranza, a fifth-grader at Dearing. "They don't have to read the book, and you can tell it in your own version."


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