Next Teller: A Book of Canadian Storytelling

Mary Stevens is a teacher-librarian in Kitchener.

This important anthology contains stories collected during the first
part of professional storyteller Dan Yashinsky’s “lifelong
story-gathering journey across Canada.” The stories are organized
according to subject—Curious Children, Tricksters, Lovers, Hauntings,
Tellers’ Tales—a progression Yashinsky views not only as a natural
evolution from childhood to death but also as a record of the gaining of
wisdom. The collection both presents and preserves the oral traditions
of many Canadians. Tellers introduce their own tales, providing cultural
and personal context for the reader. The biographical notes include
fascinating details on the lives of the contributors. Highly
recommended.