Telling Tales. An Observational Study of Storytelling for Children in Swedish Public Libraries

Abstract

ABSTRACT An ethnographic observational study of storytelling for children in Swedish public libraries explored participants’ interactions with each other and with other artifacts used in storytelling. Findings suggest that librarians interact with children by asking rhetorical questions, but the use of reflective questions is rarer. Results show that librarians and educators limit children’s participation but children express resistance to activities. Storytime sessions are organized around the spoken and written story, although children show the greatest interest in pictures and artifacts. Interactions between participants and different materials are complex and storytelling practices today are affected by the historical and institutional practices of yesterday.