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August is always synonym of holidays in my mind, so why not tell stories about holidays this month? It could be something that happened to you or to someone you know on holiday, or maybe a folktale about a character taking a holiday.

As always, feel free to experiment and have fun, because this is what the challenge is about!

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Last month we talked about giants... so it's time to turn the challenge on its head and start telling stories about something (or someone) small!

Small creatures, tiny people, very small objects - as always, the story you choose to tell is up to you. So, magnifying glass at the ready! And let's go looking for stories about something small!

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This is the very first story I told when I started telling stories! It was such a pleasure to revisit it and re-tell it for this challenge :D

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Giants, giants, GIANTS! Let's tell stories featuring giants!

For this month's challenge, the idea is really simple: choosing and telling a story with or about a giant (or more!).

I'm really looking forward to your stories, telling and experimenting together! Please help this little community grow by sharing a story and sharing this invitation with your storytelling friends

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Tommy and the Sunday school - learnt from Cath Edwards

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Tommy and the Sunday school - learnt from Cath Edwards

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I love stories that keep you on your toes till the very end, when you know something is coming, something unexpected that will explain the whole situation... stories with a punchline!!

If you have such a story to tell or if you'd like to learn to tell one, this challenge is for you! Tell your story and have fun!

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Or at least, my version of it!!

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You might have heard of "The Canterbury Tales"... so, why not tell one of these stories as this month's challenge?

As always, how you want to go about the challenge is up to you - you can decide how much you want to stick to the original version or make the story yours, modernising it, changing it, adapting... I'm really looking forward to listening to some wonderful stories this month!

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Here is my not very literal translation of the poem! I hope you enjoy this true story. From a bee lover. I should tell you that one time when I was retelling the story at a picnic there was a little bee lying on the ground and a girl and her mother went and got a flower for it to sup. We couldn't believe the length of its tongue - amazing. And of course we couldn't believe that we had our own Bee Rescue on the day I was reading the poem! But it's true.

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English free telling Foggiebummer Rescue

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This is my friend reading his poem about a little girl rescuing a bee who was trapped and exhausted in a garden outhouse. It is based on a real life event - his daughter was the little girl who helped to rescue the bee. He is using our mother language - Doric. I will retell it in English - but as a story, not a poem. I will post it below.

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Be(e) it a bee, an ant, a ladybug... choose a favourite insect of yours and tell a story that features one! When we think about animals, we don't often think about them - but they are all around us and they are incredibly important; so, why not think about them now and tell stories about them this month?

I'm looking forward to sharing stories with you all this month - join us and tell your tale!

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The Snow Maiden

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Brrrr… it’s COLD!! Is it cold where you are? Well, surely it will be cold in the stories that we’re going to share this month, as the prompt for this month invites us all to tell stories set in a cold place or during a cold winter!

I’m looking forward to sharing stories and listening to your brilliant tales! Please invite everyone who might be interested to take part, let’s experiment and share together!

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Watch Menna here https://youtu.be/jFJyB615J7w?si=oSMXfxzsDdysTnZQ

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A funny story I learnt from the wonderful Alastair K Daniel... with an unexpected twist about new beginnings!

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First challenge of 2026 - are you ready??

Tell a story about a new beginning. I’m so looking forward to another year of experimenting, sharing and telling stories… let’s do it together!

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A story of Kindness with a Christmas vibe!

Merry Christmas! 🤶 🎅

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Here we are, it’s the last monthly challenge of 2026 – and as last December and the one before that, this month we will focus on finding and telling stories to respond to the “Words of Kindess – a storytelling advent calendar” project!

You can tell a story with the same theme as the one you’re responding to, or maybe a different version of the same story, or even, you could tell a story that includes one of the elements of the calendar story (eg. If the story talks about a flower, you can tell your favourite story about a flower!). To make it short: tell the story that one of the tales in the advent calendar inspires you to tell!

As always, I’m really looking forward to listening to all your wonderful stories and I’d like to send out a big thank you to the people who have been taking part – you make this special and unique! Please invite everyone who might be interested to take part, let’s experiment and share together!

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This is the story behind the Italian name for a chestnut burr... and the animal who inspired it!

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Leaves falling, rain, darkness... autumn is in full swing here - so why not tell some tales with an autumnal setting this month?

Voice, video, writing - anything is welcome! Share a story and have fun experimenting with old and new challenges!

Looking forward to it!

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Here's a story I wrote some time ago, turned into an oral telling - I hope you enjoy!!

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I don't know why, but I've always been fascinated by pirates... what about you?

So, for our October Challenge, I would like to invite everyone to share a good pirate story!

AHOY!

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Listen to Cathy's entry for this month's challenge!

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The Two Cats and the Monkey as told by Gana in Gaza

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The Two Cats and the Monkey as told by Gana in Gaza

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Listen to Gana here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CX6Djhx7R/

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When someone eats something they shouldn’t… well, that’s always a prelude to a nice story, ain’t it?

From poisonous plants to out-of-date candies, what happens when someone eats something they are not supposed to eat? Share a story about it!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the chal-lenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

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I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like!

I am sooooo looking forward to riding my bicycle around the South of England later this month, and I was thinking... why not linking this trip of mine with the theme of the August challenge?

So, this month, I would like to invite you all to take part in telling a story in which there's an unusual mean of transport: it could be a bike, or a magic carpet, an eagle, a magic cart, a flying horse... as always, you can choose your favourite!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the chal-lenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

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Little Red Riding Hood - by Cathy Walters

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Little Red Riding Hood - by Cathy Walters

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Listen to Cathy's wonderful story!!

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The Wise Old Man at the Mosque as told by Raha and Rasha in Gaza. I tell it in your names 🤲

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The Wise Old Man at the Mosque as told by Raha and Rasha in Gaza. I tell it in your names 🤲

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What if Jack and his mother had eaten the beans instead of throwing them from the window? What if Cinderella had lost an earring instead of a shoe? What if the wolf had managed to blow down the pig's brick house as well?

What would have happened?

This month I would like to challenge you all to think about a 'what if' moment in a famous folktale and tell that story: what would have happened if...? - ask yourself the question and see where your imagination takes you!

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Can you guess the proverb?

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Proverbs, proverbs, proverbs! Let's play with some proverbs this month!

This month, I'm inviting you all to tell a story that explains a proverb, a story inspired by a proverb, a story whose 'life lesson' is the meaning of the proverb. As always, it's up to each of us to make the challenge our own!!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the challenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

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A heartwarming story I learnt from the wonderful Liz Weir!!

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The beekeeper and the hare - by Jennifer Beattie

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The beekeeper and the hare - by Jennifer Beattie

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The Beekeeper and the Hare - by Jennifer Beattie

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Naughtily I'm not adhering strictly to this month's guidelines, but this is the story I want to share. Even though the story contains the story of a quest, in the story itself I imagine Nasrudin and the young man are in Nasrudin's house so it'll have to do. I won't explain further😉

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How many stories can you think of that are set for the most part inside a house?

This month the challenge is to think about them and tell your favourite one!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the challenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

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Fairytales are – almost by definition – set in an undefined place and time, some far away place, a timeless feeling… but what if we were to bring these stories back to reality? What if we were to choose a definite place and time during which they are set? How would our telling of these stories change? How would the historical setting influence the story?

So, that’s the challenge for the month of April! Choose a fairytale, choose a historical setting… and then let your creativity guide you!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the challenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

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Last minute, as always! But what's important is always taking part and trying something new!

I've tried with a story I've told lots of times, but always from my point of view - this was challenging!

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Hello my friends! Thanks Simona for sparkling imagination into my every day life. I am quite absent-minded and it's no surprise when I can't find something at home. My story was inspired by one of these very common situations.

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Hello my friends! Thanks Simona for sparkling imagination into my every day life. I am quite absent-minded and it's no surprise when I can't find something at home. My story was inspired by one of these very common situations.

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We all tell personal stories – anecdotes of something interesting, fun or meaningful that has happened in our lives. But have we ever tried looking at these stories from the point of view of a secondary character in these stories instead of telling us from our own point of view?

So, the challenge for this month is to do just that! Tell a personal story from the point of view of someone else in the story: it could be another person, it could be an animal, or it can even be an inanimate object! As always, the choice is yours and you can put your creativity to the test and see what you come up with!

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Let me know what you think! I love writing in rhymes, but sometimes they may sound a little strange, particularly to native speakers! I hope it also makes you laugh!

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Hi!! I would like to give you some background of this story. The people who used to live in this part of Mexico were called the Mazahuas. And just like every other culture, they had their own stories. This poem, is based on a story about the Monarch Butterfly which flies from the north of America to different sanctuaries in the centre of Mexico. Otontecuhtli was one of life creators for the Mazahuas and he taught them everything they needed to know about the land.

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Listen to Cathy's story!

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Time to try something new, get the creative juices flowing and put ourselves to the test with our new February challenge!

This month it's time to experiment with poems - ballads, free verse, acrostics... - choose the form you like best and re-tell a famous story in the shape of a poem!! Are you ready??

Soooo looking forward to your contributions, it's always a pleasure to experiment and have fun together!

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I'm retelling this story from the point of view of Ron. I learned the original story from both Tala and Hala in Gaza. Tala tells The Bear and the Two Friends brilliantly at the World Storytelling Cafe Young International Storytellers on 29 December 2020. You can join Tala here - her beautifully expressive story about true friendship begins 33 minutes from the start

https://www.facebook.com/worldstorytellingcafe/videos/389928765439986/

Hala, also from Ga2a and a vibrant Young International Storyteller, tells her lively version of The Bear and the Two Friends at the World Storytelling Cafe on 28 September 2021

https://www.facebook.com/worldstorytellingcafe/videos/576190377142338/?mibextid=zDhOQc

🍉I'm sharing this as part of Tell a Child in Ga2a's Tale

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Listen to Cathy's story!

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This is my story for the January Challenge! I hope you enjoy it - I really had fun thinking about it and telling it!!

Looking forward to listening to your stories!!

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Let's kick off this third year of monthly challenges! This is challenge 25 - a quarter of a century - so roll up your sleeves and get ready to take part and have fun!

This month we're focussing on villains! So, I would like to invite all of you to re-tell a well-known tale... but from the point of view of the villain! You can use first or third person narration, but let's put ourselves in their shoes, how would they narrate the story?

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Dear Simona

Keep shining your light into 2025 - you're making the world brighter for us all🕯️

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Are you searching for light in the darkness this turning of the year? Here's my New Year's message

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This is one of my favourite kindness stories, and a favourite of my students as well - I told it with lots of repetitions, exactly as I do with them, in the hope that you will join in!

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Emily’s Christmas Lantern - by Cathy Walters

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Emily’s Christmas Lantern - by Cathy Walters

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Challenge 24 is coming our way - 24 like the days of the advent calendar!

This month, same as last year in December, the challenge is all about the ‘Words of Kindness – Storytelling Advent Calendar’ project: listen to the stories and choose one to respond to – you can tell a story with the same theme as the one you’re responding to, or maybe a different version of the same story, or even, you could tell a story that includes one of the elements of the calendar story (eg. If the story talks about a flower, you can tell your favourite story about a flower!). To make it short: tell the story that one of the tales in the advent calendar inspires you to tell!

As always, I’m really looking forward to listening to all your wonderful stories and I’d like to send out a big thank you to the people who have been taking part – you make this special and unique! Please invite everyone who might be interested to take part, let’s experiment and share together!

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Cathy's story for the November challenge

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If I were to choose a season when trees are predominant in our collective imagination, I would say autumn: everywhere you go, you notice the presence of trees – the colours, the leaves on the ground…

I love walking in the woods and looking around at the wonderful trees around me!

And so, I thought: why not focus on trees this month? Why not tell the stories that talk about the origins of trees?

So this is my invitation for this month, I hope you enjoy it and join us to tell us a story!

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This is my version of "The pumpkin lady", a story I learnt from storyteller Jan Blake years ago and never had the courage to tell to an audience before... you can maybe tell from my telling that I was nervous to make it justice!

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The magical Pumpkin of Willow Creek - by Veena Hasan

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The magical Pumpkin of Willow Creek - by Veena Hasan

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Listen to Veena's story!!

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Here in Italy autumn has come – it’s getting chillier and the leaves are turning red, brown, yellow… the ground is wet and chestnuts are scattered here and there. There are many seasonal products connected to this wonderful season and one of my favourite is: THE PUMPKIN!!

So, for this month’s challenge, I would like to invite you all to tell some wonderful stories with pumpkins in them!! Looking forward to experimenting and learning new stories about this wonderfully spooky and sweet vegetable

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Listen to Cathy's story for this month's challenge!

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A riddle within a story from Italy I hadn't told for a while, but that I absolutely love!

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I've always loved stories where a child outsmarts a villain. The Fly is a folk tale from Vietnam.

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I've always loved stories where a child outsmarts a villain. The Fly is a folk tale from Vietnam.

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Hi Simona , I am Veena , a storyteller from India. Sending an audio recording of the September story challenge . Hope you like it .Thank you for creating a wonderful platform where we can share stories . Best wishes! 

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Hi Simona , I am Veena , a storyteller from India. Sending an audio recording of the September story challenge . Hope you like it .Thank you for creating a wonderful platform where we can share stories . Best wishes! 

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Having first been a student and now a teacher, September has always been a month of new beginnings for me, but also of wanting to keep up the creative work and thoughts of the summer months while nature turns to autumn.

One thing I really like is how riddles seem to be easier to solve once you put your creativity into it and, as always, the best riddles are the ones presented in stories!

So, for this month's challenge, let's tell some stories with riddles in them! I'm looking forward to all of our guesses!

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Jennifer Beattie

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Let's listen to Cathy's wonderful story!

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Norman Perrin told us this story and this is my current retelling. Let castle walls tumble down so our world can be shared.🍉

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This month we're focussing on... CASTLES! I LOVE CASTLES, don't you? Be it a story about a fairy castle, a castle on the clouds, a medieval one. This month we're going to tell some stories featuring wonderful castles!

I'm looking forward to your wonderful stories!

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I love the scale of this myth.

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David Heathfield (Storyteller) tells The Death of Baldur, a Norse myth

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This recording was made several years ago in a primary school. I wanted to create an atmosphere of wonder.

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David Heathfield (Storyteller) tells The Norse Creation Myth

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I always struggle to tell long stories without an audience... it somehow seems easier to do with with someone helping you live! But this is my telling of one of my favourite myths from norse mythology!

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I'm off to the UK and visiting some places I've never been to - including... JORVIK! Or, in modern terms... York. York was very famously a Viking town before the Norman conquest - founded by the Romans, the Vikings came, saw it, liked it, and conquered it.

So I thought, why not tell some Norse myths this month? Norse mythology is one of my absolute favourite, and I hope you'll find it interesting as well and will want to take part in the challenge!

I'm looking forward to your wonderful stories!

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Cathy's story - The Stone of Invisibility by Giovanni Boccaccio

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Cathy's story - The Stone of Invisibility by Giovanni Boccaccio

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Listen to Cathy's wonderful story!

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Chichibio and the Crane - I learned it from Edoardo Gabbai, a student from Italy

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Chichibio and the Crane - I learned it from Edoardo Gabbai, a student from Italy

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https://youtu.be/isXPx5hxRaA?si=-tORmcPgGb8vok69

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Chichibio and the Crane (Bocaccio) told by David Heathfield

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February 5th marks an important date for the Istituto degli Innocenti in Florence: the arrival of the first child, welcomed in 1445, or more precisely in 1444 according to the Florentine calendar, which began on March 25th and ended on March 24th. That child was given the name Agata Smeralda, as recorded in the "Libro dei fanciugli" and as the history of the Institute has handed down.

The Istituto degli Innocenti is just a few minutes from my university. Every morning on my way to class, and every evening on my way home, I pass by the historic Spedale degli Innocenti, as it was called back then. The arches and loggia, designed by the great Filippo Brunelleschi, stand as a testament to a time when the Renaissance was just beginning to flourish. Sometimes, when the streets of Florence are quiet, I can almost hear the laughter of little Smeralda echoing through the hallways.

One evening, as the sun was setting and casting long shadows across the Cortile delle Donne, I decided to take a detour through the courtyard. The soft twilight painted everything in shades of purple and gold. As I walked, I felt a gentle breeze and heard a faint giggle, almost like a whisper carried by the wind. Turning around, I thought I saw a pair of bright green eyes twinkling at me from the corner of the courtyard, just for a moment, before they vanished into the dusk.

These moments make me feel connected to a rich tapestry of history and humanity. Agata Smeralda’s spirit seems to linger, reminding me of the countless lives touched by the Institute over the centuries. Her story, and the stories of many other children, continue to inspire and remind us of the enduring legacy of compassion and care that the Istituto degli Innocenti represents. This is her story. Listen and enjoy.

Manuela Kelly Calzini

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Telling Jack stories was super fun last month! Thank you for your stories – it’s always fun to share and experiment together! :D

But now, as always… on to the next challenge!! This month I’d like to… invite you all to Italy! As a storyteller, I tend to tell stories from all over the world, but this month I’d like to invite all of you to research and re-tell some stories from Italy – it will be fun to learn and discover more stories from the country I live in!

I’m looking forward to listening to all your amazing stories!

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This is my re-telling of a Jack story I heard once years ago from storyteller Gary Cordingley at the World Storytelling Café. I've spent a lot of time later on trying to find a written version of the story and couldn't find it anywhere! Until recently, telling the story to David, he told me that he knew it not as a Jack story... but as a Chinese folktale! Ha! But I love it in the Jack version, as I first heard it... so here it is!!

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Jack is a kind boy who always does what his mama tells him to do and is a hard worker. However, sometimes, he leaves his smarts in his pocket, as in my telling of Silly Jack. Here, he spends several days going out to find work. Every day, he comes home without his wages because of some foolish thing he does and tries to correct it using Mama's wisdom. He is persistent, and in the end, he wins.

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Here is 18-year-old Hala Munther Salem's family fundraiser.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/luciewoodforHala?utm_term=AbpnYW2a5&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0rO7fRzBBasWQ5AvV1nkXrQuwmJkE6FMNmXIx2JObu9q5xr2UP0te3mn8_aem_Abz9asHtkamf1L-c15LukFRZwpQFhEKScpRw3Aim7g38h2YP3cHHKMvh2xYnV9_21chwQaEA14f8g7kJvE2vmVw9

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Jack Jack Jack! For this month's challenge, we are going to share our favourite Jack stories!

As always, we are going to make the challenge our own, so, we can decide for example if we want to share a traditional Jack story (there are plenty of stories out there about Jack, particularly from the British Isles) or maybe a story where the main character is called Jack!

I'm so looking forward to listening to your fantastic stories, so share them on our padlet!!