Diane recommends: The Horse Boy
Directed and photographed by Michel Orion Scott, 2009. Produced and narrated by Rupert Isaacson. Edited by Rita K. Sanders. Original music by Kim Carroll and Lili Haydn. Adapted from the book by Rupert Isaacson. Released in the United States by Zeitgeist Films (DVD now available). Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes. No MPAA rating. A family finds part of a cure for autism by really looking at their child and their child’s inclinations and so journeys to Mongolia — a world of...
Read MoreThe Elsie Piddock Skipping Contest Winner for 2009…
…is Tuleh Sonne (pictured above with Diane), age 7! Tuleh loves animals, tennis, math, and, of course, skipping rope. She’s also a real trooper: She fell on her way to the Statue while skipping rope. With two big bruises on her knees, she still skipped. And won!! Tuleh received a copy of the CD Hans Christian Andersen: Classic Stories. Brava, Tuleh! Share with friends and family:Tweet
Read MoreStory of the Month Podcast: The Cow-Tail Switch
The heat of summer has finally found New York. To get your mind off the high temperatures and into a story, we bring you a tale from Liberia: “The Cow-Tail Switch” collected by Harold Courlander, published by Henry Holt and Company. Today we bring you this African folktale to life with Jim Bartow on guitar and Andre Fisher on congas. We hope you enjoy it and that you come out to see Diane and other master storytellers live in Central Park for Stories at the Statue – every Saturday...
Read MoreStory of the Month Podcast: The Way to Start a Day
We greet both the Summer and YOU with a beautiful story by naturalist and author Byrd Baylor told by Diane Wolkstein with music by Michael Moss: The Way to Start a Day, published by Aladdin. Just in time for the Summer Solstice on June 21st. This lovely tale shares how people all over the world celebrate the sunrise. You can celebrate by joining Diane and other master storytellers in Central Park for Stories at the Statue — now in it’s 53rd year! Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version...
Read MoreConnecting to Children through Storytelling
Here is a recent essay on children and storytelling that I wrote for the Parents League of New York Review in 2009: “Let me tell you a story.” When we hear these words, our response is usually an immediate slowing down of the breath and an opening of the heart. Throughout the world, parents from diverse cultures relate to their children through story. Surprisingly, the importance of story in transforming children’s lives is often more appreciated in non-literate cultures. But...
Read MoreStory of the Month Podcast: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
The weather outside has been frightful. Things could always be worse – it could be the forecast from our story for March: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Enjoy this story by Judi Barrett, read by Diane Wolkstein. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Download the story here Share with friends and...
Read MoreStory of the Month Podcast: Psyche & Eros
Psyche and Eros, considered by Carl Jung to be “the seminal myth of western civilization” is also a great love story. The beautiful princess Psyche has everything; unfortunately, she and her parents do not pay proper respect to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. Slighted, Aphrodite sets Psyche four impossible tasks. As she journeys toward love, Psyche also moves toward (psyche) becoming herself. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download...
Read MoreDiane at President Obama’s Inauguration
How could I miss this most historic, heartwarming moment in our history? I walked to the Inauguration with my friends J. Vic and Judy Funderburk. It was totally silent; there were no cars. We felt we were part of a sacred pilgrimage. People of all ages were walking toward the Inauguration, each with a great happy grin. After Obama was sworn in, the shouting went on and on. I stood between a older black man from Washington DC and a young man from Saudi Arabia. We were all breathing together;...
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