Celebrating National Tell A Story Day

Every year on April 27th, National Tell A Story Day is celebrated to encourage people to share stories. Storytelling has been an essential part of human history, used to pass down traditions, entertain, educate, and inspire. This special day highlights the power of stories and their ability to connect people across generations and cultures. 

It doesn’t take an expert to write a compelling story. My storytelling journey started around age 10, when I was far from a master writer. I began journaling, chronicling my day-to-day activities. This allowed me to have a creative outlet to think outside the box and write anything I could imagine—and, as a 10-year-old, I could imagine quite a lot. 

Inspired by the Roxy Hunter series, I wrote about being a spy. After watching The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, I wrote as if my daydreams could become reality. From there, my writing kept improving, and in high school, I took two electives—creative writing and dystopian literature—which set the trajectory of my career. After these classes, I knew I wanted to write and share stories for a living…stories through poems about love, fiction stories that I wish were my life, and even nonfiction, sharing what was true to my life. 

Why National Tell A Story Day Matters

Preserving Culture and History

Storytelling is one of the oldest ways of preserving history and cultural heritage. Myths, folktales, and personal narratives help keep traditions alive and give future generations a glimpse into the past. Having reminders of the past is vital to correcting mistakes, spreading knowledge, and preserving memories. 

Strengthening Connections

Whether it’s a bedtime story for a child, a personal anecdote shared among friends, or a family history lesson passed down through generations, storytelling brings people together. It fosters empathy and understanding by allowing people to see the world from different perspectives. The beauty of life is that we all come from different backgrounds and places, but stories connect us. Born and raised in New Orleans, I was told about the “swamp monster,” a folk story derived from “Näkki” in Finnish folklore. How amazing to be connected to a culture from across the globe through storytelling. 

Enhancing Creativity and Imagination

Telling and listening to stories sparks creativity and encourages imaginative thinking. For children, storytelling nurtures cognitive development, while for adults, it can be an engaging way to think critically and problem-solve. It’s been said that “therapists need therapists.” Similarly, I like to say, “readers need readers” and “authors need authors.” Sharing our own stories inspires others to tell theirs. One author's memoir can encourage another to write their own.

Further Developing Communication Skills

Sharing a story requires clear expression and organization of thoughts. Practicing storytelling improves language skills, public speaking, and even emotional intelligence. This can serve as a way to motivate others. Growing up, I was always told if I wanted to get ahead in the grade level I was currently in, I needed to read. If I wanted to educate myself and learn new words, I had to read. If I wanted to provide insight, knowledge, and change to the world, I had to write.

Today, sharing our stories is easier than ever

With the rise of content creation and distribution tools and digital media platforms (social media, podcasts, videos, blogs, and interactive websites), storytellers of all ages are unlimited in their ability to tell stories and reach new audiences. Stories drive change, and National Tell A Story Day reminds us of the magic and power of storytelling. Whether through spoken word, written text, or even digital media, stories help us connect, learn, and grow.

This April 27th, take a moment to share a story and appreciate the impact of storytelling in our lives. It’s more than entertainment: stories are fundamental to how we shape our understanding of life and how we shape the world around us. It’s easier now than ever to create your own story through digital media, films, podcasts, or audiobooks—there is always an outlet ready to share your story.