Story Collections for Classroom Teaching and Youth Ministry

The following is a list of story resources and collections for teaching or ministering with teenagers. [Editor's note: See the article "Helping students Get the Most Out of Stories" for ideas on using these stories with young people.] Most items include a page reference to one or more of my favorite stories in that resource and a suggested context or theme for which they might be used.

Aurelio, John R. Fables for God's People. New York: Crossroad, 1988. (P. 25, harboring grudges; p. 10, learning from your parents and becoming your own person)

Bausch, William J. Storytelling: Imagination and Faith. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1989. (A wonderfully readable book that validates the use of story in Christian faith and morality; pp. 36-38, 56-58, reconciliation and the universal need for forgiveness and healing; p. 138, seeing Jesus in one another)

Bennett, William J., ed. The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993. (Pp. 774-775, how little we understand; pp. 803-808, the ultimate self-sacrifice)

---The Book of Virtues for Young People: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories. Parsippany, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1996.

Canfield, Jack, and Mark Victor Hansen. Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, 1993. (P. 69, uncovering our God-given gifts and talents)

Cavanaugh, Brian. The Sower's Seeds: One Hundred Inspiring Stories for Preaching, Teaching, and Public Speaking. New York: Paulist Press, 1990. (Very short stories with a theme index; p. 11, love for others; p. 17, wisdom and sorrow)

Chappell, Stephen. Dragons and Demons, Angels and Eagles: Morality Tales for Teens. Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications, 1990. (May be read as a complete work or as separate stories)

De Mello, Anthony. The Song of the Bird. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1983. (Pp. 108-109, the price of truth)

---Taking Flight: A Book of Story Meditations. New York: Doubleday, 1988. (Pp. 59-60, service)

Feehan, James A. Story Power: Compelling Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching. San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, 1994. (Pp. 33-34, faith in God; pp. 57-59, giving)

Feldman, Christian, and Jack Kornfield, eds. Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart: Parables of the Spiritual Path from Around the World. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991. (P. 219, it could always be worse; p. 245, heaven and hell)

Hays, Edward. Twelve and One-Half Keys. Leavenworth, KS: Forest of Peace Books, 1981. (Pp. 9-10, using prayer for discernment; pp. 139-144, marriage; pp. 19-22, making fortunes come true)

Koch, Carl, ed. I Know Things Now: Stories by Teenagers 1. Winona, MN: Saint Mary's Press, 1996. (Pp. 64-65, homophobia; pp. 78-79, thanksgiving)

Lisante, James P. Of Life and Love. Mineola, NY: Resurrection Press, 1989. (Stories of young people's struggles with modern life, by a columnist dedicated to the Respect Life movement; p. 30, fear of homosexuality and AIDS; p. 23, the dangers of premature sexual intimacy)

McArdle, Jack. 150 More Stories for Preachers and Teachers. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1993. (Very short stories with a helpful thematic index; p. 17, modern miracles; pp. 48 and 58, service; p. 39, resurrection)

White, William R. Speaking in Stories: Resources for Christian Storytellers. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1982. (Pp. 112-113, life is more than material riches; p. 78, objective versus subjective truth; this and the next two sources are very useful, thematically arranged books that offer a fine blend of stories, resources, and suggested methodology)

---Stories for the Journey: A Sourcebook for Christian Storytellers. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1988.

---Stories for Telling: A Treasury for Christian Storytellers. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1986.

Here are other avenues for becoming familiar with storytelling and finding just the right stories:

1. Check with librarians at your local library, not only for story resources, but for information on a story circle in your area to put you in touch with storytellers close to home.
2. Join the National Storytelling Association ($50 a year). Membership includes a subscription to Storytelling Magazine (six issues annually). For more information email: nsn@storynet.org or log onto: www.storynet.org. You can also phone 800-525-4514.