The 2009 Storytelling World Resource Awards


Below are the 2009 winners and honors selected from several hundred nominated stories, books, and recordings. Beneath each award title is a short descriptive phrase about the resource contents. The major evaluative criterion was "story-listener appeal" for the items selected in Categories 1-6, and "usefulness for storytellers" for the resources honored in Category 7. These awards are also featured in the 2009 April/May issue of Storytelling Magazine/Storytelling World. To purchase a copy of this magazine, go to the National Storytelling Network website.

Category 1: Stories for Young Listeners

(See also Categories 2, 5, 6.)

Winners:

 


Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
A witty retelling of a Cuban folktale
by Carmen Agra Deedy
[A Spanish version is also available: Martina una cucarachita muy linda]
Peachtree Publishers, www.peachtree-online.com

The Uglified Ducky
A book/CD combination
by Willy Claflin
August House, www.augusthouse.com

Taming Horrible Harry
A n insight into the pleasures of learning to read
by Lili Chartrand
Tundra Books, www.tundrabooks.com

Honors:


That Book Woman
A young boy’s viewpoint of the importance of books in the 1930s
by Heather Henson
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, TEACH.SimonandSchuster.net

Violet the Pilot
The tale of an underdog’s struggle for respect
by Steve Breen
Penguin Young Readers Group, www.penguin.com/teachersandlibrarians

Willow
A story about creativity and imagination in an art class
by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan
Sleeping Bear Press, www.sleepingbearpress.com

The Hinky-Pink
An old favorite folktale with an Italian twist
by Megan McDonald
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, TEACH.SimonandSchuster.net

Billy Brown and the Belly Button Beastie
A wacky story inspired by a Japanese folktale
by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk
August House, www.augusthouse.com

The Butter Man
A story of hunger, patience, and resourcefulness
by Elizabeth Alalou and Ali Alalou
Charlesbridge Publishing, www.charlesbridge.com

The Monster Who Did My Math
A poetic story about math homework
by Danny Schnitzlein
Peachtree Publishers, www.peachtree-online.com

Arthur and Guen
An original tale of young Camelot
by Jon Koons
Penguin Young Readers Group, www.penguin.com/teachersandlibrarians

The Sweetest Kiss
A spoof on the Frog Prince story
by Maranke Rinck
Boyds Mills Press, www.boydsmillspress.com

The Ghost Catcher
A Bengali folktale
by Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss
August House, www.augusthouse.com


Category 2

Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners

(See also Categories 1, 3, 5, 6.)

Winners:


A Taste of Colored Water
A child’s misunderstanding of the word “colored”
by Matt Faulkner
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, TEACH.SimonandSchuster.net

Running Shoes
An empowering story of hope and determination
by Frederick Lipp
Charlesbridge Publishing, www.charlesbridge.com

Even Higher
A Jewish folktale with lighthearted humor
by Richard Ungar
Tundra Books, www.tundrabooks.com

Honors:


The Lucky Star
A story of heartbreak and optimism during the Great Depression
by Judy Young
Sleeping Bear Press, www.sleepingbearpress.com

Anansi’s Counting Trick
A story about the repercussions of playing tricks on others
On CD U Tell a Tale produced by the National Institute on Media and the Family
www.mediafamily.org

President Pennybaker
A story for young presidential hopefuls who think life is unfair
by Kate Feiffer
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, TEACH.SimonandSchuster.net

The Birdman
The true story of a man who freed caged birds
by Veronika Martenova Charles
Tundra Books, www.tundrabooks.com

The Cleverest Thief
A story of introspection and honesty
by T. V. Padma
August House, www.augusthouse.com

The Magic Pillow
An adapted inspirational Chinese story
by Demi
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, TEACH.SimonandSchuster.net

The Best Eid Ever
A story about the biggest Muslim holiday of the year
by Asma Mobin-Uddin
Boyds Mills Press, www.boydsmillspress.com

The Wolves are Back
A science story about the balance of nature
by Jean Craighead George
Penguin Young Readers Group, www.penguin.com/teachersandlibrarians


Category 3

Stories for Adolescent Listeners

(See also Categories 2, 4, 5, 6.)

Winners:


The Tell-Tale Heart
A chilling delivery of Poe’s classic
On CD Spoooky! by Christopher Leebrick
www.allgoodstories.com

The Errant Knight
A journey of decisions and loyalty
by Ann Tompert
Illumination Arts, www.illumin.com

The Perfect Sword
A story emphasizing the responsibility of power
by Scott Goto
Charlesbridge Publishing, www.charlesbridge.com

Independent Dames
The roles of several American Revolutionary War women (potential for tandem telling)
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, TEACH.SimonandSchuster.net

Honors:


I, Vivaldi
The story of the famous composer
by Janice Shefelman
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, www.eerdmans.com/youngreaders

Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer
An inspiring true story
by Bill Wise
Lee & Low Books, www.leeandlow.com

Naming Liberty
Two interwoven stories relating to the Statue of Liberty
by Jane Yolen
Penguin Young Readers Group, www.penguin.com/teachersandlibrarians

The Stonecutter and the Navajo Maiden
A story of a precious family heirloom, written in both English and Navajo
by Vee F. Browne
Salina Bookshelf, www.salinabookshelf.com


Category 4

Stories for Adult Listeners

(See also Categories 3, 5, 6.)

Winners:


The Beauty Pageant
A story of adult shenanigans at a beauty pageant
On CD Bootsie in Season by Andy Offutt Irwin
www.andyirwin.com

The Line from Here to There
A personal narrative from the West Texas culture
From book with same title
by Rosanna Taylor Herndon
Texas Tech University Press, www.ttup.ttu.edu

Honors:


Kalila and Dimna: Fables of Friendship and Betrayal
Classic Indian fables uniquely interwoven into a book-length story
by Ramsay Wood, www.ramsaywood.com

Fog Woman
An adapted folktale about respect
On DVD Plenty Live! by Rebecca Hom
www.backroadsteller.blogspot.com

A Child’s Playground
A true story about making others feel special
by Tony Gilbert
from Chicken Soup for the Working Mom’s Soul
Health Communications, www.jackcanfield.com

A Letter to the New York Times
A story-reaction to an erroneous billing
On CD Just Hanging Out by Laura J. Bobrow
www.storyteller.net/tellers/lbobrow

Perfect Child
The story of a child who wasn’t viewed as “perfect”
by Diana M. Amadeo
and
This is Bill
A story about the importance of belonging
by Susan Stava
Both from Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, Second Dose
Health Communications, www.jackcanfield.com


Category 5

Storytelling Collections

(See also any story collections listed in Categories 1-4 with specific stories identified.)

Winners:


Elder Tales
Stories of wisdom and courage from around the world
by Dan Keding
Libraries Unlimited, www.lu.com

Mayan Folktales
Cultural stories in both English and Spanish
by Susan Conklin Thompson and others
Libraries Unlimited, www.lu.com

Honors:


The McElderry Book of Greek Myths
Adapted and simplified Greek myths for ages 6-10
by Eric A. Kimmel
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, TEACH.SimonandSchuster.net

A Fire in My Heart
A collection of Kurdish Tales
by Diane Edgecomb
Libraries Unlimited, www.lu.com

Birth of the Fifth Sun
A collection of Mesoamerican Tales
by Jo Harper
Texas Tech University Press, www.ttup.ttu.edu


Category 6

Storytelling Recordings

CDs or DVDs for listening and/or viewing pleasure for any age
(See also the recordings listed in Categories 1-4 with specific stories identified.)

Winners:


Yes to Running
An array of Bill’s favorite stories and songs
DVD by Bill Harley
(A CD set of same material is also available)
Round River Records, www.billharley.com

Abraham and Isaac: Sacrifice at Gettysburg
A true story about President Abraham Lincoln and Private Isaac Taylor
CD by Adrienne B. Lieberman and Syd Lieberman
www.sydlieberman.com





From Black and White to Living In Color

and

It’s All About Cats
CDs of personal stories by Donald Davis
August House, www.augusthouse.com





Here There Be Dragons
A collection of dragon stories
CD by Alan Irvine
www.alanirvine.com

Making the Heart Whole Again
Stories for a Wounded World
CD by Milbre Burch
www.kindcrone.com

Living in Harmony
Seven stories (embedded in a longer one) about the treatment of others
CD by Donna Jacobs Sife
www.livinginharmonystories.com

Honors:


Yarns of the Brothers Grimm
Four adapted stories from the legendary brothers
CD by The Storycrafters, www.storycrafters.com

Cultures in Collision
Stories about conflict and resolution
CD produced by Jeff Gere
www.jeffgere.com

Defeating Giants
NIV Biblical stories about Goliath and other giants
CD by George Sarris
World’s Greatest Stories, www.WorldsGreatestStories.com


Category 7

Special Storytelling Resources

Winners:


Tell the World: Storytelling Across Language Barriers
Stories and information for use with translators and interpreters
by Margaret Read MacDonald
Libraries Unlimited, www.lu.com

Storytelling
An encyclopedia of storytelling, mythology, and folklore (a 3-book set)
by Josepha Sherman
M.E. Sharpe, www.mesharpe.com

Honors:


Arab Folklore: A Handbook
Cultural information and stories
by Dwight F. Reynolds
Greenwood Press, www.greenwood.com

Wonder Kids
The remarkable lives of nine child prodigies
by Charis Cotter
Annick Press, www.annickpress.com

Dangerous Crossings! (Ten Daring Treks Across Land, Sea, and Air)
Interesting text for crafting stories (especially for adolescents)
by Antonia Banyard
Annick Press, www.annickpress.com