StoryLand: Recent Episodes
MaryAnn Schmidt
MaryAnn Schmidt has enchanted children for years with folktales from around the world. It's difficult to freeze these stories in time because storytelling is a live art embodied by the synergy between the teller and the listener. Now, some of these experiences, recorded live in the classroom have been preserved and shared with children everywhere.
In this traditional Liberian folktale, Mrs. Chicken has to think fast to outwit a hungry Mrs. Chicken.
Dan, Liberia
MaryAnn Schmidt enchants children with Jill Wright's hilarious sequel to the "Little Old Woman and the Willy Nilly Man."
In a special for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, StoryLand releases the old folktale, The Legend of the Big Dipper. The story about kindness imagines the origin of the constellation, which helped guide escaping slaves north to freedom.
In this classic Turkish folktale, a little rooster finds a diamond button and has to deal with the greedy Sultan.
In a special release for Thanksgiving, MaryAnn Schmidt tells the Iroquois legend about how chipmunk got its stripes. Never make fun of anyone.
MaryAnn Schmidt tells the Persian folktale, Fareedah's Carpet. The story is part of a collection of Tale Type 480; folk stories of compassion and greed.
In this special release for Halloween, MaryAnn tells the story of a whiny, brave little girl who is not afraid to face "The Ghost With One Black Eye."
Children love the adventure of roly poly riceball in this Japanese version of tale type 480.
Each of Anansi's six sons are born with a unique difference. In the end, their differences save the day. Anansi is an African folktale character who often takes the shape of a spider. Ashanti, West Africa.
Also known as Anansi Does the impossible, this tale explains why there are so many stories about Kawku Anansi. The popular African folktale character often takes the form of a spider. From Ashanti, West Africa
Children will be "mesmerized" when they hear Turtle and Coyote, a teaching story from the Hopi People in the Southwest Desert. It's also the first story MaryAnn ever learned.
Saving Spring, a fairy tale from Scandinavia, illustrates that everything has its time. Perseverance and remembering who we are saves the day.
MaryAnn takes listeners on an amazing adventure with the traditional Irish folktale, Brave Margaret.
The Ghost with One Black Eye is traditional cumulative tale first heard at a storytelling swap from Priscilla Howe. This short, funny rendition amuses both adults and children.
Get ready to laugh out loud when you hear MaryAnn tell this story, written by Jill Wright. It is one of the few stories in the collection that is not a folktale.
Giant Without a Heart is a Norwegian folktale. It's also MaryAnn Schmidt's most frequently requested story.
MaryAnn is a teacher and professional storyteller. She tells her stories live to children listening. Some of the stories are so old, they come from a time before there was even writing.
Sit back and listen. But don't forget, the best way to tell a story is to tell it. Life can be a fairytale.