The Children Sat and Listened: Storytelling on Children's Mobile Libraries

Abstract

Storytelling sessions regularly occur in United Kingdom libraries; however, the storytelling techniques of library staff vary. In order to pinpoint an optimum technique and discover the benefit of storytimes, observations of storytelling sessions on children's mobile libraries were analyzed. The use of participant observation, ethnography, and grounded theory revealed that children's cognizance increased through focused attention and that hearing different storytellers broadens children's learning. Although the techniques of individual storytellers differed, children concentrated well and it was concluded that the combination of deep concentration and variety of experience enriches children's knowledge of language and subsequently their literacy.