Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One (Picture Puffins)

Aunt Isabel spins a tale to entertain her young guest, and as she does, she explains all the things she'll need to make a good story. At some points, Penelope protests, until Isabel sets her straight as to why these things need to be included.

I have used this with my middletellers troupe to help them gain a sense of how to structure the stories they tell. Even though this is a young child's book, my 12-15 year old tellers seem to enjoy this more than any dull lecture I could give them. And therein lies proof of the value of story itself to teach. A truly delightful book!


Even adult writers will enjoy this book!   March 12, 2004
Chara (Eastern Tennessee)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Several years ago I got this book from our public library to read to our two small children and two others we were babysitting at the time. I don't know whether the children or I enjoyed it more, but later when I went back to borrow the library's copy again, I was disappointed to find it no longer available.

A month or so later, the children and I were invited to visit another home-based daycare in our neighbourhood for the afternoon--the "library lady" was coming for an hour of stories and games. At the end of the visit, she pulled out a stack of discarded picture books and said she was going to give them to the daycare moms, as the library no longer needed them.

"Thank you," I said, "but I'd better not take any--our family already has a lot of books." I suggested that the other mother keep all of them. However, as we walked toward the door I suddenly spotted "Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One" in the pile. I walked back, pointed, and said, "Well actually...can we have THAT one?" Thus we ended up with a copy of our own.

This book would be excellent for teaching ANYONE how to create a story. I'd never seen the process explained so clearly, so concisely, and so humourously. When I write my first book, I'll probably get "Aunt Isabel" out and use her for a template.


Ms.   February 11, 2002
D. Williams (Daytona Beach, Florida USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is an excellent book. It is a great resource to teach story elements.


entertaining way to tell what good stories consist of   December 18, 2006
BIANCA SHEPHERD-GAITHER (Birmingham, AL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book is great for teaching story elements. I always start out the year (when we are teaching narratives) reading this book. I talk about all the parts, and we discuss what makes a really good story. It really motivates the students to write and do it correctly. I allow the student to create their own story step-by-step as I read the book back to them a second time around. They love it!