All the scientific evidence says reading for pleasure boosts academic achievement far more than any other factor. Yet enjoyment of reading is on the decline, and teachers everywhere speak of a stressful struggle trying to engage their learners with the idea. After all... ...how can you teach 'reading for pleasure'? This book holds proof that the answer lies in a teaching method with around 40,000 years of success: Storytelling. This is a book unlike any other. Part illustrated story anthology, part educator's handbook on storytelling, part lesson scheme, it's designed to help you swiftly and easily enthral your learners - with wondrous tales that will inspire them to seek the joys of books. Within these pages you'll find... 9 short stories to read aloud and quickly captivate your learners 18 lesson plans to cultivate enthusiasm for reading (NB: not comprehension lessons in disguise) top tips for 'reading like a storyteller' - so you can engage your learners, even if you fear performing Written by a traditional storyteller who's performed for hundreds of thousands of children worldwide, alongside one of Cambridgeshire's most experienced teacher trainers, here are the tools to help your learners shift from reluctant readers... ...to recreational readers.