Stories

Welcome . . . the fire is going, the night has come, and inspired tellers are ready to share with you a tale close to their heart.  They memorized their tale, and are  excited for you to be inspired, moved, touched . . . to laugh, to sing, to ponder, to learn, and perhaps even to cry. 

After reading more than 7000 short stories of all descriptions, here are some of my favorites that are no longer copyrighted.  In addition, a catalog of stories by theme is included below – ask me for one you’re curious about.  And, send me stories you love!!!

At Camp Augusta, we tell stories as they were told several thousand years ago . . . a single teller, a memorized tale, an audience, and the promise of wish, wonder, and surprise.  We tell stories at night during embers, during some Playstations, during weekly campfires, and a special event during two-week sessions -- a dedicated storytelling campfire.  That evening program, where campers listen to nearly two hours of tales on blankets with tiki torches and hot chocolate, is literally our most popular evening program!  Most of the stories told are not any of the below . . . fresh tales each week and each summer!

The below stories are no longer copyrighted.  Enjoy!

Zebra Storyteller

A short tale that itself highlights a key power of stories as teaching tools.

How Much Land Does A Man Need

Leo Tolstoy short story about striving, greed, and wisdom.

Last Leaf

Self-fulfilling prophesy . . . an O’Henry tale that, in story, demonstrates the power of the placebo effect . . . the power of mind.

Princess Who Stood on Her Own Two Feet

Clever tale about a Princess who finds the power in herself.  The tale has numerous cute references to modern times.  :-)  Playful tale with a point!

Strawberries

A Native American tale about a flush of anger, and working through that.

To Build a Fire

Jack London . . . an adventure tale that captivates as any modern movie does.

Fifty-first Dragon

Such a playful satire on self-fulfilling prophesies and one’s own power . . . full of wit and wisdom that will generate numerous wry smiles and a memory.

Short video of storytelling at Camp Augusta

 

151 Stories for Bedside,
Hearth, Classroom, or Campfire

Collected by Randall Grayson, Ph.D. Psychologist

About Storytelling

Content

Age

Page

The Three Dolls

 

I

1

The Zebra Storyteller

 

II

3

The Parallel

 

II

5

Granny Gifts

 

I

6

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Adventure/Campfire

 

 

 

The Hole That Will Not Stay Filled

X

III

15

A True Story

 

I

17

The Valley of the Blue Mist

 

I

19

How Much Land Does a Man Need?

 

I

24

Lost Face

X

III

28

The Partner

X

III

35

The Hour and the Man

 

II

42

The Most Dangerous Game

X

III

47

The Cask of Amontillado

 

II

58

The Damned Thing

X

III

63

To Build a Fire

 

II

67

The Old Man

 

II

73

Churchhill Killers

 

II

77

A Knock at the Door

X

III

79

Onawandah

 

II

84

The Last Escape

 

II

89

The Plain Princess

 

I

91

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Beauty

 

 

 

Flowers and Freckle Cream

 

I

99

The Coin and the Cricket

 

I

100

The Owl

 

I

102

The Plain Princess

 

I

91

The Improving Mirror

 

I

105

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Compassion/Empathy

 

 

 

Count That Day Lost

 

I

108

The Little Match Girl

 

I

109

The Keys to Calais

 

I

111

No Greater Love

 

I

113

Good Griselle

 

I

114

How Five Little Angels Lost Their Wings

 

I

118

Praying Hands

 

I

121

The New Arrival

 

I

122

The Last Leaf

 

I

124

Forget-me-nuts

 

I

128

God Didn’t Mean for Them to Be Hungry

 

I

131

The Mermaid Who Pitied a Sailor

 

I

132

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Diversity

 

 

 

Kanu Above and Kanu Below

 

I

133

The Animal School

 

I

139

Harrison Bergeron

X

III

140

Onawandah

 

II

145

The Wise Old Shoemaker of Studena

 

I

150

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Facing Your Fears

 

 

 

The Red Lion

 

I

152

I Can Sleep Through A Storm

 

I

155

Mullah and Dervish

 

I

156

The Witch and the Rainbow Cat

 

I

157

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Family

 

 

 

The Clever Wife Of Vietnam

 

I

159

Taps: A Story of Two Brothers

 

II

161

What Bradley Owed

 

I

162

The Island of Purple Fruits

 

I

163

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Folklore

 

 

 

The Tale of Dame Ragnel

 

I

164

The Red Thread

 

I

167

Savitri

 

II

170

The Death of the Old Lion

 

II

173

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Forgiveness

 

 

 

Strawberries

 

I

175

The Second Mile

 

I

176

The Princess and The Dove

 

I

178

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Friendship

 

 

 

The Warm Fuzzy Story

 

I

180

Praying Hands

 

I

182

Damon and Pythias

 

I

183

Two Friends

 

I

185

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Funny Stories

 

 

 

How Brer Rabbit Outsmarted the Frogs

 

I

186

The Bee, The Harp, The Mouse, and the Bumclock

 

I

189

The Unwilling Magician

 

I

192

Monkey Business

 

I

195

The Walkin’ Catfish

 

I

197

Morgan and the Pot 'O Brains

 

II

198

A Sure Cure

 

II

201

The Wise Old Shepherd

 

II

202

Not Guilty, your Worship

 

II

204

The Open Window

 

II

207

Cannibals in the Cars

 

III

209

The Ship of Fools

 

I

213

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Greed

 

 

 

The Gizzard

 

I

215

How Much Land Does a Man Need?

 

I

220

The Magic Pomegranate

 

I

224

The Table Where Rich People Sit

 

I

227

Eyes-All-Over

 

II

230

Forget-Me-Nuts

 

I

128

The Song That Brought Happiness

 

I

232

 

 

 

 

Theme: Honesty

 

 

 

Trader Jim

 

I

233

The Old Man With Big Ears

 

I

234

The Magic Gifts

 

I

236

Little Burnt Face

 

I

238

La Muerta:  Godmother Death

 

I

240

A Blind Man Catches a Bird

 

I

243

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Peace/Conflict Resolution

 

 

 

Strength

 

II

244

The Princess and The Dove

 

I

247

Two Goats on the Bridge

 

I

249

 

 

 

 

Theme: Peace as Legacy

 

 

 

The King's Child

 

II

250

The Peace Daughters of King Capilano

 

II

252

 

 

 

 

Theme:  People & Nature

 

 

 

For the Love of a Man

 

II

256

Gluskabi and the Wind Eagle

 

I

260

Strength

 

II

263

Starfish

 

I

266

 

 

 

 

Theme: Pure Equality

 

 

 

The Animal School

 

I

267

Harrison Bergeron

X

III

268

Three Raindrops

 

I

273

 

 

 

 

Theme: Responsibility

 

 

 

The Sword of Damocles

 

I

274

For Want of a Horseshoe Nail

 

I

275

Man Enough for the Job

 

I

276

Onawandah

 

II

277

Pandora

 

I

282

The Island of Purple Fruits

 

I

284

The King and the Beautiful Lamp

 

I

285

 

 

 

 

Theme: Scary/Ghosts

 

 

 

The Hole That Will Not Stay Filled

X

III

288

The Locket

 

I

290

The Stranger

 

I

293

SMEE

 

II

296

The Considerate Hosts

 

II

302

The Curse of the Australian Gold

 

I

308

The Candidate

X

III

313

The Certificate

X

III

317

Different Kinds of Dead

X

III

319

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

X

III

323

 

 

 

 

Theme: Self-discipline

 

 

 

Boy Wanted

 

I

327

If

 

I

328

The Magic Thread

 

I

329

The King and His Hawk

 

I

332

The Most Obedient Wife

X

III

334

Pandora

 

I

337

 

 

 

 

Theme:  Self-fulfilling Prophesy

 

 

 

Sans Soleil

 

I

339

51st Dragon

 

II

342

The Stone Soup Folktale

 

I

347

The Dragon on the Roof

 

I

348

 

 

 

 

Theme: Some People Can Be Bad

 

 

 

Brer Possum's Dilemma

 

I

351

The Princess and The Dove

 

I

353

Little Burnt Face

 

I

355

 

 

 

 

Theme: True to Yourself

 

 

 

The Black Prince

X

II

357

The Stone Crusher

 

I

360

The Chattering Aspen

 

I

362

The Princess Who Stood on Her Own Two Feet

 

I

364

Hookedy Crookedy

 

I

370

The Dancing Horse

 

I

376

The Star of the Farmyard

 

I

377

The Wooden City

 

I

404

 

 

 

 

Theme: Wisdom & Riddles

 

 

 

The Lionmakers

 

I

379

The Wise Old Shoemaker of Studena

 

I

380

What is the Talmud?

 

II

382

Benjamin and the Caliph

 

II

383

The Grand Inquisitor

 

II

385

Granny Gifts

 

I

386

Morgan and the Pot 'O Brains

 

II

198

Deadly Melody

X

III

389

Panther and Rabbit

 

I

390

The Warmth of a Fire

 

II

393

The Pear Seed

 

I

397

Condemned to the Noose

 

II

398

Catherine, Sly Country Lass

 

I

399

The Fast Road

 

I

402

The Wooden City

 

I

404

Touch the Moon

 

I

406

Content

  • X = More disturbing than the average fairy or folk tale.  Many fairy and folk tales have violence or disturbing motifs (e.g., Anderson, Grimm, King Arthur, Arabian Knights, etc.), but these tales are either a little more graphic/realistic, they cover themes that are more mature, or the story is particularly scary.
  • Before choosing a story with an “X” or a Scary/Ghost story, please check with your Village Leader to assess the readiness of each individual camper, as well as the cabin as a whole.

Age. 

  • Although the stories are categorized by age, please use your discretion and read the story first (or read the abstract) before using a story you don’t know with children.  The tale may have received a higher recommended age for many reasons, including:  what the story addresses, how it addresses it, the language is advanced, or the concept would be lost on younger children.  Two 12 year olds may have very different abilities and experiences, so these are rough guidelines.  Also, of course, adults and teens will surely find some of their favorite stories in the “I” category!

      • I  = 7 – 9
      II = 9 – 12
      III = 13 – 122 (oldest person ever)
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