The Power Of Storytelling | Book Reviews

This bouquet of a book gathers twenty-five folk stories from the deep well of the varied and remarkable cultures that make up our diverse world. They are reimagined and retold by Beatrice Bowles whose abundant imagination suffuses the tales with richness, limpidity, variety, and a blend of the real and unreal, casting her pixie dust upon them with grace, wit, and a genius for capturing the essence of the deep and abiding truths of our species. It will delight readers of all ages.

Your telling of The Leopard and the Jinn was beautiful --the adults and children in the audience were spellbound. Your telling of it captured moments of humor, suspense, and romance. Your rich, melodious voice is a joy to hear. You transformed an all-too-predictable fairy tale ending into an empowerment of girls and opened a window into Afghan culture. We were lucky to hear your performance!

One of the loveliest qualities that Beatrice brings to our classroom is an understanding of different world cultures though the stories she tells and weaves together. If we could, we would have her in every week. Beatrice captivates children of all ages with her storytelling and thread spinning. She is master of her craft.

Beatrice Bowles is a fantastic storyteller. We hired Beatrice to record stories told live for our original collection Story Party: The Complete Collection. With over eight hours of stories to choose from, we elected to start the collection off with one from Beatrice since she has the perfect voice and performance style to help one get lost in the world of stories. Beatrice told tales from different cultures that were both fun and imaginative. We love her stories for both children and adults and endorse her storytelling prowess!

You are a brilliant storyteller!

I love what Beatrice’s stories teach us about nature.

Wow! Not only are you a brilliant storyteller, but your pleasure in telling the tales deepens the power of the performance. My crew and I listened, enthralled.

What an engaging retelling of stories, shimmering with the magic of creation!

Your stories have a real edge, as wonder tales should, which makes them fascinating, a tiny bit scary, and relevant. We are so used to the bland Disney-fication of our stories, it is a pleasure to hear such authenticity. Finally, your storytelling is fantastic. You have such a beautiful voice, do a great job with different characters, and your accompanist underscores the drama beautifully.

Beatrice Bowles is more than just a storyteller. She doesn’t just tell a story. She creates stories and gets you involved in them. You are in and out of the stories. You experience parts of you either that you have forgotten or never knew you had. Healings occur and lessons are learned in a safe container of story. As a seminar organizer/coordinator, I found her to be a very valuable resource person. I recommend her highly.

Your stories are mind boggling, mysterious, thoughtful, exciting, funny, mystical, and off the wall! 

A wonderful CD: what a tremendous selection of stories! I particularly felt the force of the evil teachings (fight, hate, hoard and gamble!) in The Dangerous Journey--and in the current world of politics. The cross-dressing Thor fighting the king of giants made me smile broadly. I will share this with my Eden Project colleagues!

Beatrice Bowles is a fantastic storyteller. We hired Beatrice to record two stories told live for our original collection Story Party: The Complete Collection. With over eight hours of stories to choose from, we elected to start the collection off with one from Beatrice since she has the perfect voice and performance style to help one get lost in the world of stories. Beatrice told tales from different cultures that were both fun and imaginative-we love her stories for both children and adults and endorse her storytelling prowess!

Your telling of The Leopard and the Jinn was beautiful -- both the adults and the children in the audience were spellbound. Your telling of it captured moments of humor, suspense, and romance. Your rich, melodious voice is a joy to hear. More specifically, your research into the story allowed you to transform an all-too-predictable fairy tale ending into an empowerment of women and girls and opened a window into Afghan culture. We were lucky to hear your performance!

Wow! You are so good. Not only are you a brilliant storyteller, but you have beautifully crafted and produced the entire recording. The music and effects are superb. Your pleasure in telling the tales and your delight in commenting on them deepens the power of your performance. I gathered together some of the people working on my film, and we turned off our phones and sat and listened. Enthralled.

Amita listens to Heaven’s A Garden in the Heart every morning on the way to school.She already knows “Monkey King” and “The Perilous Pomegranate” by heart!

You put into voice what all of us really want. You put me right back into the marvelous place of wonder and hope. Thank you so much.

My 8 year old and two friends listened over and over to Bea's stories on a long drive. They even refused to get out until the last story ended…again! Storytelling! Voice, rhythm, all combine to perfection of her CDs. Dramatic, mischievous, funny, sweet, delicate, joyful, Beatrice has all these voices within her! Afterwards I asked the three for comments:
A: I like that the stories tell you about nature and the seasons.
B. Bea has a very clear voice and can make so many voices.
C: I loved everything and there was nothing I did not like!
Q: Any recommendations?
A, B, & C: MORE STORIES! I cannot wait for her next CD!

Oh, the stories are so wonderfully told with such lively imagination. I can imagine the story is very fun for kids because they'll relate to Monkey King--always restless, jumpy, and energetic! A good story takes so much heart and soul and work to put together, so I'm very grateful you shared this with me!

You so clearly voice the questions I have always wondered but never asked out loud. The stories are wonderful arguments for love, acceptance and honoring all people, not just those on our own spiritual path. Your stories are a true gift.

I want you to know how much your stories mean to me. Somehow, since I’ve know you, little bits and pieces of them pop into my mind when I’m in trouble or worried or excited or happy - especially in these troubled times. Stories are important! And you tell them beautifully.

Your wonderful stories gives me hope for my grandchildren. If there are still people like you telling such stories, then maybe the future will not be as bleak as the present.

What an engaging retelling of stories, shimmering with the magic of creation.

The latest CD by Beatrice will take children on a journey of words and music, allowing their imaginations to soar. “Cloudspinner and the Hungry Serpent,” a collaborative project between Bowles and musician/composer Sara MacLean, lets listeners “wander through castles in the clouds.” This collection has the sound that embodies what a storyteller or storytelling event for children should be.

CONGRATULATIONS! Your storytelling resource, Cloudspinner & the Hungry Serpent, will be receiving one of the prestigious 2015 Storytelling World Awards. In addition to being featured in the April 2015 issue of Storytelling World/Storytelling Magazine and on the Storytelling World web site.

I really liked the stories that you told us. You are probably the only person that I have met who really likes their job. You tell the stories with a lot of feeling and it makes me feel like I’m watching a movie or reading a book.

Our audiences flock to the theater when you tell stories. Your repertoire of multicultural nature stories fits in so nicely with the kinds of events we do here. You really know how to captivate children. I always look forward to working with you.

Beatrice’s stories are lively, witty, and chock full of fun!

You have the best stories! We can’t wait to see you again.

As an educator and consultant to schools and families, I know that children, teachers and parents today are keenly aware of the power of traditional wonder tales to help the soul to thrive. In the performances and recordings of storyteller Beatrice Bowles, with Sara MacLean's original music, listeners can enjoy whole, beautiful feasts of classic stories with universal themes. Children instinctively search the world for lessons, archetypal cautions and pearls of wisdom handed down by humanity. Hearing these stories at home or in the car or classroom, children will be fed over and over again, each time gaining more solid footing on their pathways through life.

Ula and I love to travel together on an imaginary journey, transported by Beatrice’s charmingly voiced words and the strains of Sara’s magical music, to conquer “The Little Man No Bigger Than your Thumb with Mustaches Seven Miles Long!

Beatrice’s spirited myths and stories give children a true understanding of Nature’s sacredness in all nations and foster their own “green wisdom”.

Beatrice kept the children absolutely enthralled by her storytelling with the added fun of audience participation--children played simple instruments, danced and sang to Sara’s original music and dazzling piano solos. They thrilled the crowd.

World stories are a treasure of humankind. I love the stories Beatrice brings to us!

We were all – teachers, students, and parents - mesmerized!

You always absolutely enchant the children!

Spellbinding stories to spark young imaginations

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