Seventh-graders at Millstadt (Ill.) Consolidated School are competing to be the best storyteller in their class. Their award will include more than a good grade.

The best class storytellers will get a chance to perform at the 2005 St. Louis Storytelling Festival. The 4-day festival is scheduled for May 4-7 at several St. Louis locations.

Dozens of adult storytellers will perform at this 26th annual event.

But, young storytellers have their own special performance on Saturday, May 7, starting at 11 a.m. in the Cowboy section of the museum under the Gateway Arch.

(For a complete festival schedule, visit www.umsl.edu/~conted/storyfes/)

Thirteen-year-old Shelley Fishbein said she's going to work on a story with a moral. "You should read stories that provide a life lesson," she said.

But, 12-year-old Kyle Acker and 13-year-old Brian Sourbeck said they plan to tell stories that are funny but have "good endings."

Last month, the kids were introduced to the art of verbal storytelling by Mary Lu Bretsch. Ms. Bretsch is the librarian at the Millstadt school and will be one of the adult storytellers at the May festival.

She said most professional storytellers use material based on folk and tall tales and ancient myths.

Professional storytellers don't read their tales and don't even have notes. She said they may use an old story but "they always adapt it to make it their own."

She showed how this was done by adapting an ancient fairy tale of "The Princess and the Pea." That's a story about a princess who was so sensitive that she could feel a pea even if it were under a number of mattresses on her bed.

Ms. Bretsch's adaptation was titled, "The Cowboy and the Black-Eyed Pea." This "fractured fairy tale"tells how a cowboy wins the hand of a beautiful, rich ranch owner. He proves his sensitivity by being able to feel a pea even when it was under several saddle blankets.

She said stories can be improved by good hand gestures. Also, she also demonstrated how changing the tone or cadence of your voice will add emphasis to the story.

Teacher Ken Kinsella pointed out that when Ms. Bretsch talked softly, "oftentimes it encourages the audience to pay close attention."

He said it will be important for the kids to make their presentations "more than just reading a story from a book."

Ms. Bretsch said it's also important for the storyteller to "make eye contact with members of the audience."

She urged the kids to pick a story "that appeals to you." Also, a storytellers' performance is strengthened if the story has a "neat twist at the end."

Kids in Mr. Ken Kinsella's class then spent time looking through books of stories, trying to find one they'd like to adapt. The kids will pick either a story that's already been written or they can make up their own tale.

Then, the kids will tell their stories in class. Each entry will be five minutes long.

Mindi Haas and Shelley Fishbein

Thirteen-year-old Mindi Haas said she's had some experience with torytelling. "I've told some scary stories around the campfire" when the family goes camping, she said.

"Each time I tell a story it's always different," she said.

She also said, "When I got to movies, I'll tell my friends about them." Ms. Bretsch said this would be an example of "adapting" a story, telling things about the movie that interests you the most.

Ms. Bretsch said many movies are "adaptations" from longer, printed books.

Shelley Fishbein said she's had experience with telling stories "to my little sister and my younger cousins."

She said reading is her favorite subject in school because "I'm good at it."

Kyle Acker said he'll probably pick a story and write out the main

Kyle Acker and Brian Sourbeck

points. "Then, I'll add more details," he said. "Finally, I'll try to tell it without using any paper," he said.

Brian Sourbeck said he'll probably pick a story from one of the books he has at home. "I read a lot and I'll probably use one of those that I know," he said.

Brian said his father tells stories around a campfire. "He makes them scary and funny," Brian said.

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