Remember when I was home in Malacca for the holidays? So many books, so little time. I doubt any of us will ever finish reading all the books we own, not when it’s so comforting to return to old favourites time and time again. Sometimes this means Tintin, other times a bit of Poppy Z. Brite with a dash of E. Annie Proulx will do. This round, I’ve rediscovered, to my delight, an old stash of children’s stories in partwork magazine form. Something I’ve not touched in years: Story Teller.
What we have here are some of the best-written, best-illustrated and best-read children’s stories ever compiled in one place. Of course, most of the fun was in waiting every fortnight for the next issue to arrive at the newsstand, particularly if there was a serial going on (one of the best would be their rendition of The Wizard of Oz). Even if you knew some of stories (they drew from the classics as well as contemporary and traditional sources), it’s still an adventure to have a unique voice read it out loud to you, to have your eyes feasting on such brilliant pictures.
Yet when I went online to look for more, I found a dearth of information, material, not even a fansite! Has everyone forgotten about it? Here’s where a bit of perseverance and a whole lot of luck comes in. It just so happens that there was a fan of Story Teller out there, Antonio Pineda, an even bigger fan of Story Teller than I am, who has created an entire website dedicated to it — Story Teller Partwork.
At the time (a couple of weeks back), the site hadn’t gone live yet, but I was able to carry on an email conversation with Ant (as he prefers to be called). And you, my lucky readers, will be the first to read it. So here we go…
Why are you doing this (creating the website)?
I created the website after a couple of years’ frustration from trying to find a decent website dedicated to Story Teller. If you look on the web, there are fan sites on almost anything, that include everything you would ever want to know about the chosen subject matter (and then some). I wanted a website like that for Story Teller and so I just went ahead and did it.
I also hoped that through the website, I would hear from other fans. Sadly, none of my friends offline are Story Teller fans – in fact, most of them don’t even remember it! – and I wanted to find people with whom to share my enthusiasm
What is the single most striking memory of Story Teller for you as a child?
Story Teller gave me countless hours of pleasure as a child, listening to the tapes and looking at the pictures. By I think my single, most striking memory is actually when I first saw the commercial on TV in January 1983, advertising the first series. The commercial featured the catchy Story Teller jingle and showed animated illustrations from the first ever issue, including Gobbolino being fished out of the river and the naked emperor parading in The Emperor’s New Clothes.
I knew then, even before buying an issue, that there was something very special about Story Teller.
What is your strongest impression of it now, as an adult?
For me, the magic of Story Teller has never faded away. You would think that I would have grown out of it by now but I haven’t and I don’t think I ever will. The stories and illustrations still inspire me in so many ways, both in my personal and professional life.
For example, I’ve introduced Story Teller to my little nieces and reading the stories with them is one way of spending quality time together. Similarly, many of my own writings have been inspired one way or another by Story Teller.
Why should others be interested in this? Why do we need to preserve these stories?
I don’t think there will ever be another collection of children’s stories as rich in content or high in educational value as Story Teller. I guess you could say that the website has two main purposes: to keep the memory of Story Teller alive and to remind everyone, parents in particular, of the importance of reading and fairy tales. A childhood without fairy tales is a bit like Christmas without Santa Claus.
Sadly, today’s children are missing out on so much by spending all their free time watching TV and playing computer games. Reading for pleasure is all but forgotten and as a result much of childhood’s magic is lost.
There you have it, the first part of my interview with Ant. The full interview should be up at his website soon, so do go and have a look at it. There are also samples of the stories being read by in .mp3 format as well as some of the stories available in PDF. I have contributed another article there too, titled “Happily Ever After. THE END.”
All done for a worthy cause to preserve what is surely one of the finest collection of children’s stories in the world. Way to go, Ant!
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Credits: All pictures taken from Story Teller partwork. You can view more at the gallery here.
105 Comments
Thanks for a great write-up, Kenny! Those pictures look great on your blog. The publicity will draw many visitors to the website, I’m sure, which hopefully will mean greater interest in Story Teller!
Where can I get hold of this Story Teller magazine. How come I’ve never heard of it before?
FireHorse, i’ve also never heard of it before, (altho Kenny told me earlier..) ur not the only one. heheh…;o)
the illustrations are really eye-catching, Kenny..no wonder u like StoryTeller so much. =)
Ant,
No problem, it was my pleasure. You are a particularly articulate interview subject, to be sure.
FireHorse & Spiffy,
Story Teller was released in the 80s by Marshall Cavendish. Hopefully with enough interest, they will republish it again. I believe Ant had someone tell him there’s a new Greek reprint out now.
Kenny, never heard of it before. The illustrations are beautiful!
Already updated my media gallery on the Borders talk last Sat.
Whoopee!! Will go check it out now.
(And you can go check out Story Teller Partwork website — there are even more beautiful illustrations there.)
funky illustrations
You should see the rest of them, Pat! Amazing. Makes me happy to have once been a kid. Still like one now, I guess.
The best part for me was the mix of the good stories, lovely illustrations and fab reading by authors like Ian Holm and Derek Jacobi.
A piece of art!
Oh i’m certain with enough practise you can draw like that too
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Hmm, what other secrets have you? Must remind myself one day to dig into you if we ever do meet.
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Heya G,
Yes, well, first I gotta find/make time for practice, eh? Secrets? Well, I can’t divulge any secrets o’ mine here — far too dangerous — but I can say that a certain someone is illustrating a children’s book or two…
But you didn’t hear that from me, no.
really cool pics dude. and btw i translated that post on my blog in a comment to the post itself.
how do you see yourself? an illustrator who writes or a writer who illustrates?
O great, I’m gonna check it out. Thanks for translating!
Last Saturday, during my interview with Lydia Teh (which I will post up here, soon-ish), Eric Forbes (or was it Tunku Halim?) called me a multi-hyphenate.
At first, I thought it was an insult, then they explained I’m someone who seems to do a lot of things — I was emcee-ing then in addition to conducting the interview. Also, I enjoy reading/reviewing, writing, design and illustrating.
So. The answer is most likely I’m someone who enjoys trying a variety of things. (Also, I get bored easily, haha.)
Wah, Kenny, if you can do any of the illustrations like that for our books. Plop. (Faints). Too good already.
Hi, thanks for dropping by…A very interesting blog you have here. You have just peaked my interest in the Story Teller series. Like the rest, I have not heard about it too. Going to check out Ant’s website. Will be back to visit you again too.
somehow… the pictures failed to load…
Hey Kenny,
Thanks for the heads-up! As promised, delightful
What were you, like, four when the first issue came out? Wah… talk about precocious!
Xeus,
Oh dear, I’m not up to this level yet! These sort of illustrations take quite a bit of time and dedication…
wmw,
Nice of you to drop by! I’m glad you find Story Teller interesting. See you again soon!
Zewt,
Maybe too many people were downloading? Do try again. You don’t want to miss these gorgeous pictures!
Marina,
Yes, probably. I don’t remember, actually. Mom used to go round telling people I could draw at two, but I don’t really believe her.
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actually those pictures aren;t too difficult … now that i’m taking a closer look.
most illustrators can do that and I’m sure you will with just a few weeks of trying you hand at it
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If you say so…
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Oh I do …. verily so.
We just need some closer work together, get more intimate … with the linework and technique.
Definitely.
—
*wheeeeee
What a wonderful world of collaboration!
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Yea, I always wanted someone to practise with!
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Though I can understand collaborating with someone else on an art/design/illustration project, how do you practise with them? It’s usually quite an individual process at each point, e.g. A pencils, passes off to B to finish or to ink, C colours.
Surely, you can’t do it together? Rather messy, right?
—can!
omg youve never paint chatted
?
You pick one side of the piece, I pick the other 2 characters and draw and design them simultaneously
match them up and voila … either slowly from one point (yous and mine) to meet up, or striking the same shared design with each others personal technique and stroke ….
hmm, better to show you than say ….
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sides whats a little mess
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Kenny,
I never heard of this before leh. Am I too young or are you too old? hahaha! Just joking.
G,
Sounds interesting. Definitely would like to try that one day. Sorta like performing arts, right?
Kok,
You are never too young or too old to read these stories lah. But maybe too young when Story Teller was first released. Even me, I only found Story Teller 2 cos I was too small when the first series came out. But all really good. Classics.
Uhmm, yes and no (performing arts)
But yes, must try!!! WOooHOOOOO!!!!
Dude, I’ve never seen anyone this excited before about art. Wow, you really must like drawing and painting.
hmmmm. interesting. sounds like a fun way to live.
—
Passion takes many forms of expression.
This is mine.
WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!
And why shouldnt anyone be this excited over art.
Bah - thats whats wrong with students who go and ’study’ art … no life … no vivacity.
Xill-
It IS!
soy and fish ?
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wow- that must be nice to get it at least once every day
I’m practically …. barren with activity
G, the person replying to ur comments is not Kenny. its a spammer…please disregard all comments since Friday(9th march)..
Thanks to Spiffy for alerting me. I didn’t notice he/she had spammed here too. I’ve deleted the two spam comments.
always a pleasure…;o)
hi kenny, came across your blog frm unkaleong’s. very interesting blog u hav here, and I cant help but to leave a comment coz I really enjoyed reading (and listening to) Storyteller when I was a kid. i believe i still have the Yellow Colour Storyteller2 (as featured in your first picture) stashed somewhere at my kampung.. sure brings back fond memories
Hi there sc!
How very cool! The yellow coloured Story Teller 2 was my first issue! It’s actually Part Two, so I never did find out what went on in Part One.
Do have a look at the Story Teller Partwork website, there’s a whole lot more information, including a great gallery!
hi from greece!
yes here in greece have the story teller reeditioned in cd. unfortunatly we had only the 1 series. i want to collect the english edition, or to found it in internet in pdf and mp3. i have found the german edition mp3s!
I have stumbled on this page due to a fruitless search for the abovementioned Storyteller!!! I have learned that the Greeks have it on CD but can only find references to car boot sale availibility of the original cassette version in English Born in 78 I was a true follower of this cult in my early years!!!
Maybe we should start a movement to get back our childhood and beat up the telly!
Dear Ambra,
Lucky you! At least you have one edition
If we stir up enough interest, I’m sure MC will reissue the entire series in CDs — now let’s get cracking voicing our demands! Hahaha…
Hi lacticlou,
I’m born just a year after you, so I know exactly what you mean — the movement starts now with us!
i also grew up on storyteller, and it been a big influence over my life. Every time i eat a mango, i think of the story meal with a magician and think the only place to eat a mango is in the bath!
oh i do hope they release it on CD my children would love it as much as i did.
Hi Wendy!
Nice of you to drop by! And I know what you mean: the stories and the magic just stay with you forever it seems. I too hope Marshall-Cavendish will release it in CD format for the new generations to enjoy…
Just an update, Kenny. Peet Ellison (writer and illustrator of Timbertwig, one of the most popular characters in Story Teller), has visited the site and has promised to contribute, including his unpublished Timbertwig stories.
That’s fantastic news, Ant! I notice from the new readers dropping by my blog expressing their love for the series since their youth that there is a real demand for Story Teller. It’s just a matter of time before they bring it back.
Hey Kenny,
Grogre the Ogre was like my favourite story when I was little. Whilst searching for pictures today on Google I came across your site and found no other web pages had pictures but you! I tried accessing the storytellerpartwork.com site but it keeps coming up with an error saying it doesn’t exist anymore or something. Just wondering if there was any other website with the whole story of Grogre the Ogre and those awesome illustrations? I would be mega keen to have a look.
From Ryan
Hi Ryan!
I loved Grogre the Ogre when I was a kid too! This is news to me that the Story Teller Partwork site is down. I hope Ant didn’t get into trouble for posting up his gallery of pictures from the magazine.
I don’t know of any other site in English but maybe there’s a couple in Italian and Greek? But the resolution isn’t really good though. No worries, I’ve got your email and will let you know if I find one.
Have a great week ahead!
Here’s my web site http://www.raccontastorie.it. I guess I’m the #1 collector of Story Teller, I own all the complete collections in 6 languages
Ciao!
V
All six languages? Wow, you really are the #1 collector of Story Teller. Bravo!
Hi,
What’s happened to the website? None of the links work.
I remember these magazines very fondly.
I have most of the first series on cassette tape with magazines, but I’m missing number 15 :’(
I also have 1-7 of the 2nd series.
I would like to try and track down the titles I’m missing, preferably digitised copies. Anyone know where I can buy them?
Best wishes,
Darren
Hi Darren,
I’m quite puzzled as to the disappearance of the website. Hopefully it’s not a permanent condition.
As for digitised copies, I’m not aware that Marshall-Cavendish has them in such format for sale, but if I get any news I’ll post them up on this blog.
Best of luck finding copies!
Great to finally find a site with info.
I have been trying hard to find out if the series is still available in any form. I still have a lot that I collected as a child, but I’d love to complete the collection and share it with my kids one day. What’s wrong with Antonio Pineda’s website?
Thanks for starting the discussion. Thouht I was the only die hard fan out there who really was willing to do some digging.
Hey Rory!
I think we would all love to complete our collections, or at least have a new edition out that we could buy. Mine are getting really dog-eared but I guess that adds to the sentimental value.
No idea what has happen to Ant’s website — I’ll email him and see if I can’t get an update. It’d be a pity to lose it after all the hard work he’s put into it.
Have a good day!
I have only recently dug my collection out from my box of childhood dreams. My daughter is now 2 years old and is now following the stories and delighting in the way the stories were read and acted out.
For the most part I am convinced the Story Teller series had so much to do with me wanting to get into Radio and my inherent understanding of what you “hear” and how that translates into what you visualise.
So it was a relief to find something on the net about Storyteller. Although I thought I’d find more including Mp3’s to complete stories that I never got the copies of )My parents although supportive of the concept obviously felt it was a bit of a forthnightly scam for more money!)
But the series bacme so popular in my family on long trips in the car that I was evn given the nickname “timbertwig”
Some of my original tapes are broken and need to be repaired and I’ll have to tranfer this to CD before all the audio disappears! Including the “little Story teller series”
It’s wonderful to see your webiste and understand that others feel the same way about such an incredible series of books and tapes. I feel the audio needs to be preserved (hey maybe even get Marshall and Cavendish to Podcast the stories and PDF file the wonderful illustrations!)
Regards
Jonathan
Durban - South Africa
Jonathan
Hey there! Thanks for dropping by and leaving a note — and what a note it is! Your response and that of the other readers like us make me wonder why Marshall Cavendish has yet to re-release this wonderful series… I can imagine them easily as .mp3’s or podcasts and PDFs… but nothing beats having them bound as thick, beautifully designed volumes. One day… we just need to keep hoping and wishing…
Hi all, just spent the day cleaning out a very old garage and came across all the copies of Story Teller 1 & 2 with Christmas editions in near pristine condition (binders, partworks, tapes and blue/red tape holders). They brought back some very old memories and now I’m wondering what to do with them. Always the challenge with things like this - try and find somewhere to keep them for years to come, see if they are worth anything and sell them or just pass them on to a friends child for their enjoyment, (that’s if they still have a tape player)
Dan
What a find! All the copies in near mint condition? Oh what I would give for that! My own copies are less than perfect, somewhat dog-eared from constant rereading, but I adore them like a piece of my childhood, which they are.
It might not be too bad an idea to find a cassette tape player that still works and pass that down to you children too, along with your entire Story Teller collection. I can’t imagine having the words and pictures but not the voices!
I remember when I was young, I frequently had trouble falling asleep. My mom would put a storyteller tape on and I would lie in bed listening to all these fantastic stories.
I miss them!
I think my mom still has the set tucked away somewhere but teh tapes are now in poor condition. I recommend that anyone who has a set invest in having them transferred to CD.
Yvonne
Yeah, I’ve all but given up on my tapes too. Still puzzles me that MC hasn’t re-released them in CD form, esp for the younger set, post-Harry Potter. I mean, these are really good stories here!
By the way, thanks for your little tale of how your mom would send you off to Dreamland with Story Teller… it’s very touching.
Hi,
I am in the process of digitising the whole series. It’s going to be a few more weeks yet before it’s ready, but I’ll try and report back here when it’s done. Some of my tapes have aged badly, so I’ll need to try and find replacements.
This is a very big job guys. Not only have I got to record all the tapes, and scan every page of every magazine, but also I need to clean them using software. I kinda wish I’d never started!
If I don’t report back soon, you have my permission to give me a virtual kick up the backside! Hehe!
Cheers,
Darren
Hey Darren!
Wow, what exciting news! Really a tremendous effort on your part. It sounds like the sort of Herculean project only the bravest take on.
It make take a long time, but would be so worth it when you are done, since you’d be preserving something for the ages.
Good on ya, mate!
Hi,
I thought I’d make a progress report.
Man what a job this is! So far I have recorded nearly all the tapes and will shortly begin cleaning up the audio so it is as pristine as possible. I have begun scanning every page of every book (this includes the Little Story Tellers also). However, I’ve only done 3 books in total (1, 2 and Christmas 1) so far. I have been trying to clean the pages as I go to remove creases and discolourings. It is very very difficult and time-consuming.
I am wondering if there is anyone here that can help me out. If anyone has Photoshop, or a good equivalent image editing program, and are willing to help me clean the pages then I will be very grateful. It’s mostly the first and last pages, and corners that need attention.
Contact me on: mobius music AT btinternet DOT COM (remove the spaces and obviously convert the other characters to get the address).
Cheers,
Darren
Hi guys. Just to let everyone know that I’ve had to take down http://www.storytellerpartwork.com because Marshall Cavendish contacted me to say it was in breach of copyright. It was a shame because the site was getting lots and lots of visitors from all over the world, proving that Story Teller is far from forgotten. I hope to put up a stripped down version of the site soon though (one that doesn’t breach any laws!). If you’d like to help or have any ideas, let me know.
Years ago I bought a huge book containing many of the Storyteller stories in a bargain book shop in the UK. After the kids grew a little older I made the mistake of giving the book away during a clean out before a major move. My daughter was crushed that I had given away her all time favourite book. I put a lot of effort into trying to remember what the book was called and to see if I could somehow get another copy via the internet. At that point all I had to go on was my memory of some of the stories, but internet searching led nowhere. For some reason I decided to search again tonight and came accross this website. I would absolutely love to get hold of a set of the magazines and/or tapes for my daughter. It is a shame that MC has not re-released them.
I’ll be keeping my eye on this site for news of any developments
Was fantastic to stumble across a Story Teller site with so many dedicated fans!
I didnt realise it was still so popular,
I grew up on the story teller books, as my mum used to buy them for me without fail each fortnight!
I remember thinking Timbertwig was fantastic!
Someone needs to get them all on line with all the illustrations for us all to reminise!!!
Hi there i was just researching up on the storyteller 2 as i have the full set of books in the binders and full set of tapes in the orignal blue box even have my name on it still what my mum wrote when i was a kid!
Wow, I miss those books, they were truly amazing. My mom used to buy them for me every month and I still have them at home. Something to cherish! When is the website going to be up and running?
Yes, I have heard of StoryTeller. In fact I loved it as a child. Among my favourites were The Wizard of Oz, Kebeg, Gobbolino and the little woode horse and rumbles in the jungles with the Scarrab Twins. Does anyone remember these? I would love it if they would re-publish these as mine disappeared a long time ago. I would love my son to enjoy them too when he is older.
Hi, looking through these books sure did bring back some happy memorys, and yes the art work was very good i have both Story Teller collections 1 & 2 still in the binder which came with it and all the tapes. Nice to see other people still remember these books
I LOVE Story teller and remember it well. I have Series one and two as well as the tapes still from when i was a child but I would like to try and get them all. I have been looking for information on this for years and finally I found this page and I am in awe I also started crying just seeing the very same pictures of the books I have. This was indeed one of the BEST parts of my childhood. They need to re release them!
If any one is interested in selling anything they have from storyteller please let me know! I want my children to experience what I have. Serious inquiries only! I will buy it all if oyu have it. Just_sandy13@yahoo.com email me.
Hello! I’m writing from Greece where I very recently heard that my all-time favourite “abra cadabra” books a.k.a. the greek version of storyteller, have been re-released. I have yet to find out how I can buy them (I’ve asked everyone I know to keep an eye) and it was while looking for them on the internet that I found this page! Wonderful! I also found a page where one can download the French version and as I’m now a teacher of English as a second language in elementary schools, I am looking to find the english version in whatever format so that I can use it at school. I can’t think of a better way to initiate young greek learners of english to the wonderful world of literature! Don’t you agree?
I hope we hear more good news about it soon!
My parents bought Storyteller 2 (not the complete set) for us when we were in primary school & boy, we enjoyed each & every stories. We can listen to the tapes over & over again & can even memorised some lines..
I do hope that the publishing house can re-launch the series again. It will benefit the children today.
I love these books and have been searching to replace them since rediscovering them through chatting to my friend who has the whole collection still (sadly I don’t think my parents have mine as my elder sister was always tidying our room and my stuff always went missing).
I sooooo want them to be released again, I would love to buy them and show them to the children I look after, and I would definitely buy them for my nephews and nieces.
Oh my God!!! I had all the storyteller books and tapes (series 1 & 2) when i was young unfortunately they where all kept together and so when i moved they all got left behind
. I remember the theme music from the opening of the tapes so vividly, thankyou for setting up a site about these as it brings back so so many childhood mememories, Gobilino the witches Cat and the diggersaurs where my favoroute. They helped so much with my reading skills and never forgot them. I realy do wish they would rerelease them as the children of today would find them so helpful, thanks from Ronnie UK and remember “when you hear the bell to turn the page” lol
Finally found other people that know of the collection. I have the both 1 and 2 full sets in binders with tape collection (also in cases). I was a little loopy for them and bugged my mother until I had everything to do with them. So glad now as it is the one childhood artefact I have kept, and my two sons are loving the stories as much as I did.
Come on M C re-release the collection with CDs, so this truly special experience can be part of this generation’s childhood.
Hi Everybody!
Just wanted to drop a quick note on how astounded I am by the number of people who love and cherish Story Teller like Ant and myself… and to think this post all started with me Googling and finding Ant’s (now defunct) site.
Keep the comments coming, guys… maybe with enough of them, MC will realise the demand and re-release Story Teller. *fingers crossed*
Cheers,
Kenny
Hi Kenny!
You have no idea how much I love and cherish those books! When i was 5 my uncle had given me the complete sets of Storyteller 1 and 2 and I used to read them almost everyday for 4 years. My family and I lead a very nomadic life and when we had to move I had to give them away. Because, I move around so much, I tend not to get too attached to my possessions, but giving away those Storytellers was one of the biggest regrets of my life!
Recently I was looking for them, but I’d forgotten the name of the author as I’d been 5 when I first started reading them. I found some leads on eBay but I couldn’t be sure. Your site, and those unforgettable illustrations have now confirmed what I wanted to know! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
- Ipshita
I spent most of my childhood in hospital and the one thing that kept me sane were the ten or so Storytellers that I would read again and again. There just HAS to be a way we can get these people to reissue this series in a digital format, I would do ANYTHING to get the complete set. There has never been anything as gorgeous and I seriously doubt there ever will be. I’m so nuts about it, I just bid 60 pounds on ebay for Storyteller 1, with tapes I’m not sure even work anymore. It’s crazy but I can’t think of anything I would rather have than this one thing from my childhood, the one thing that made me love books and illustration with such a passion.
Hi all made a post here few months back, if any one is intrested in purchasing my full complete storyteller 2 set of 26 tapes in orignal blue case and full set of magzines in there orignal binders all colouring pages still intact a couple i attempted when i was younger , then please contact me at daniel.levey@btinternet.com
My siblings and I loved story teller as kids. I used to listen to them every day! I often listened to them as a teenager too as they brought back lovely memories of being tucked up in bed and either reading the magazines or falling asleep to the tapes. I would love to have the collection for my baby daughter to enjoy when she is a bit older. Do you know of any where that the collection can be purchased. I would be delighted if you could let me know.
Hi all please dont contact me on daniel.levey@btinternet.com as it is not working please now contact me on danile.levey@yahoo.co.uk, if you are intrested in buying my complete storyteller 2 collection.
I remember the Story Teller I love them but no longer have them and I wish they would bring them out again in CD form so I can collect them for my daughter. If you manage to heqar on the grape vine that they are going to please let me know.
Cheers
Hi all
I too was a story teller fan. What a great collection they were, with some amazing stories.
I had the 1st set of 26 books with tapes and binders/tape holder. When I outgrew them I stupidly gave them to my sister for my Neice and Nephew.
I got them back a year ago for my 6 year old in the hope that she would love them like I did…..but alas the condition is poor and not a single tape……………gutted!!!
I have looked on EBAY and on various sites but its now a cult and expensive.
Just wish someone would burn the tapes to CD or a re release would be even better, I think they would make a killing!!!
It’s so great to hear that others out there remember the many hours spent listening and reading storyteller. My mom has the complete red and blue set as well as the two Christmas bonus issues. I absolutely loved those stories and cannot wait for the day when I have kids and can share it with them. I just hope that I can find a tape deck play the tapes on.
Can someone please, please upload the jingle in mp3 format?
I had the complete Series One of Story Time (as was released in Australia) and STUPIDLY passed it on to my younger sisters who completely destroyed the magazines and tapes.
As a child, I would anxiously await each fortnightly edition and my sister and I (not the one I passed the set onto) to this day will quote choice lines (complete with near-accurate voices) regularly.
I would love to obtain another collection but apparently it is nearly impossible.
I do wish Marshell Cavendish would re-release the Story Time Series however I highly doubt they will as even the website seems abandoned and half-completed:
http://www.to2k.co.uk/storyteller/
YES, there should be a fan club!!!!
thank oyu thank you so much . i am now 25 yrs old and still have alot of copies of the story teller comics still in there binders. my grandmother bought me them each week when i was a child they were fantastic. i was so scared of the dark back then so she would put them on for me and off i would drift to sleep . but i just want to stay thank you too for remembering all those fantastic stories that i too remember and stii fondly read to my own son now . thank you
Wow, what a treat to stumble onto this posting. I learnt to read through these magazines and listened to them so often that, even today, some words remind me instantly of how and when they were spoken on the tapes. They were such an incredible part of my childhood.
My parents “lent” my set to a young girl having an eye operation about ten years ago, and that’s the last we ever saw of them. I am still devastated to have lost the set (as I remind them often) and check eBay frequently for any copies that might surface.
I contacted the publishers a few years ago and they said they had no intention of reprinting the mags. Is there some organised way we could provide an indication of sale potential?
I have created a Yahoo! Group dedicated to Story Teller: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/storytellerpartwork. Hopefully, this will fill the void left my defunct website. So please join the group and let’s talk about this wonderful publication!
I’ve always loved the story teller!!the spanish version” cuenta cuentos” (I’m from Argentina) lately I searched it in the web and found a Yahoo spanishgroup about it. we are about 240 members.
I’m now 30 years old with a 4 year old and a 5 months old… how I would love them to have “Story Time” as we knew it in Australia. I have wonderful memories and can still hear the stories and certain phrases clearly in my head. “Gobolino… the witches cat” etc. PLEASE Marshall Cavendish release this. Obviously everyone who had these as children is reaching an age where we want them for our own. I’m sure there’s a huge market!
Finally a Story Teller site. I thoguh I was the only person who remembered this.
I have all 26 of the original Story Teller books (in official binders) complete with tapes.
Just started work on creating back ups before tape players disappear all together.
Oh dear, the cassettes have not aged very well and are jamming up. Nothing is made to last these days.
So excited to find this site! I grew up on StoryTeller and have been working to make the tapes I still can find into digital copies for my own sons. I tried to buy a full volume from Ebay, but the shipping from UK was more than actually winning the auction.
So until I become upper class or take a trip to London myself, I guess my poor transcribed copies will have to do.
Please post information if you get it concerning copyrighted digital audio copies. I’d love to purchase!
hi all
i have just been on the internet trying to find if you can still buy storytellers, cant believe have come across this website and everyone is still excited about them like myself, my mum had a clean out years ago and all mine with binders and tapes in blue and red cases were thrown away, i can still hear the music and loved timbertwig sooo much, and dont even get me started on gobolino……i hope that marshall cavendish do publish them again as there is still such a huge demand im nearly 30 and cant believe they are a massive part of my childhood memories absolutely loved them!!!!!!
like some others i loved storyteller, but was sadly given away during one of our many moves and i have bee desperate to get a hold of it for my son, i have found a partworks website where you can buy second hand tapes and comics, quite expensive but if your as desperate as i am to hear that ping! on every page turn then its well worth it!!!
http://www.partworks.co.uk
I’ve just got straight onto my Mum after reading this and she’s now pretty hacked off she has to go up into the loft to get down my complete collection of Story Teller 2 and my brother’s old Little Story Teller.
I absolutely ADORED my Story Teller collection and read/listened to the constantly. The stories have stuck in my head for what must be a good 20-odd years. The illustrations were absolutely stunning.
I’d love for the partwork to be reprinted with CDs… I fear my tapes aren’t going to work anymore.
Hey Everybody!
I just wanted to drop by and let you guys know how heartened I am by the overwhelming support and nostalgia that exists for Story Teller.
Keep the faith going; we might see a re-release with CDs yet.
*hugs*
Hi there.. oohhhhh my god, i thought it was only me in the whole world that knew about this fab little gem!!.. have dug out my old copies for my two sons, and now spend most of the time barging them out of the was so i can sit cross legged listening and reading along.. only problem is the tapes are slowley dying and pages are falling out of the mags…. i keep emailing marshall cavendish on their web site requesing new reprints to be published etc…. why when the world seems to be laking that childhood magic we seemed to be able to enjoy wont someone jump on this and make our children expersise their imaginations like we where able too….. I bet it would make them millionairs all over again……. BRING BACK STORY TELLERS… REPRINT AND WRITE MORE!!…thank you for giving me space for my little rant!!!… lou
Oh god. Oh god oh god oh god.
My sister and I have been pondering the fate of our Story Time collection - we had all of the first series and the Christmas one, definitely.
Sadly though, I suspect that we ruined the cassettes, and lost the magazines. I can’t tell you how much I wish that wasn’t the case, because right now I’d give my eye teeth for even a digital copy of it all…..
I was utterly enchanted by the Story Teller series as a child, and am unsurprised that my son is now enjoying them too.
I would love to see Marshall Cavendish release both series in a more modern format. I would snap it up!
As it is, I still have a lot of the old books and cassettes but they are crumbling to bits now. I can scan my books and I plan to get one of those machines which will allow me to transfer my cassettes into a digital format.
Just thought I’d drop a line.
I recently purchased a PRISTINE collection of all the Story Teller 1 tapes and magazines in their binders.
I am stunned at how much of my childhood they’ve brought back, and surprised that this little treasure is being ignored by Marshall Cavendish. I really don’t think they know what they’re giving up
I’m back…and I have some great news. I’VE FINALLY DONE IT!!!
10 months of hard work and it’s all now completely digitized.
All the audio has been professionally cleaned, chopped, remastered and named. Every Story Teller part has been painstakingly copied and restored to studio quality (some glitches remain but these are very few).
Oh my god what a job this has been!
I’ve also scanned in all the Little Story Teller magazines, and the Christmas editions too. The main two ST sets of magazines were scanned by my friend Antonio. I even scanned the cassette inlay cards, posters and any other bits and bobs I could find.
I also managed to get a copy of the ST Song Book from 1986 too which has also been digitized.
This has to be the most complete, high quality digital Story Teller set you will ever find on the planet!
If you would like to buy a copy on DVD please contact me on: mobius music AT btinternet DOT COM (remove the spaces and obviously convert the other characters to get the address).
Sorry I have to charge but it was a lot of work - far more than I ever imagined when I started last summer.
Best wishes,
Darren
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