Best Books for Tell a Story Day

It’s Tell a Story Day!

This holiday is celebrated in the US and the UK. The goal of the day is to share a story with another and have them listen to one of yours. The day was created in 2009 by entrepreneur George Rafeedle, and has been celebrated every year since then.

It’s a celebration of the art of oral story telling and can be told through fiction, nonfiction, short story, poetry, or any other kind. They may be told plainly from memory or from a book you love, or even from a newspaper or magazine. You can even create your own story from imagination. 

Tell a Story Day is for folks of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds. Since we can’t celebrate the day in person, feel free to share your story with your loved ones at home, or set up a phone call or Zoom meeting with a friend or family member who needs some company today. Perhaps your story could offer them some solace and a much-needed escape. 

Stories bring us closer together, and it’s an opportunity for us to learn from one another, forming closer bonds and connections.

For Charlie and I, we'll likely read each other a short story from the New York Times Tiny Love Stories, our favourite column. 

If you can’t think of any, here are some suggestions. Since today is the day, you may want to download these onto your phone in e-book format so you get instant access. 

KIDS

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl

The Most Magnificant Thing by Ashley Spires

It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr

Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

Love You Forever by Robert Muncsh

ADULTS

Joy and 52 Other Very Short Stories by Erin McGraw

Lot by Bryan Washington

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby

Modern Love by Daniel Jones

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton

ONLINE

There’s lots of free content online too, just do a quick google search for short love stories, poetry, comedy, short fiction, whatever you’re in the mood for, and you’re sure to find something there.

Or if you’re up to it, let your imagination run wild today and share from within. 

Happy story telling day, from one reader to another.