ANGEL - ANGELS STORIES, SONGS and INFORMATION STORY LOVERS WORLD SOS: SEARCHING OUT STORIES from Fairy Tales, Folklore, Fables, Nursery Rhymes, Myths, Legends, Bible and Classics The Story Lovers World home page is at: http://www.story-lovers.com To add to the lists below, please e-mail jackie@storyloversworld.com

	ANGEL - ANGELS STORIES, SONGS and INFORMATION Scroll down or click on your choice below • Books about Angels - Children through Adults • Online links about Angels - Children and Adults • SOS - Searching Out Stories / Info about Angels

BOOKS ABOUT ANGELS - CHILDREN and ADULTS

Book titles are in blue and underlined. Click on them to find out more about the books and how to buy them.
To retell any stories, obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain.
In performance, always credit your sources.
Alphabetized for your convenience with short descriptions to save you research time.

	Angels Don't Know Karate (The Adventures Of The Bailey School Kids) by Debbie Dadey and marcia T. Jones with Hohn Steven Gurney (illus). (1996 - Ages 9-12) Miss Angela Michaels, the new karate teacher in Bailey City, who is also the school crossing guard, is so kind and generous that Melody becomes convinced that she is a guardian angel.

December by Eve Bunting with David Diaz (illus). (2000 - Ages 4-8) Simon and his mom don't have much--the cardboard house they built for themselves, a tiny Christmas tree, and a picture of an angel pinned to one wall. On Christmas Eve, they take in a frail stranger who needs a place to keep warm, and the next morning Simon wakes early to find that the woman has vanished. Instead, he sees December, the angel from the picture, with her wings fanned out over their cardboard house. Could she be real?

	God Bless the Gargoyles by Dav Pilkey. (1999 - Ages 4-8) Angels befriend the grotesque church guardians in this comforting story. "Pilkey imbues these dreamy vistas with electricity, the skin-prickling feeling of witnessing a special event," said PW. All ages.

Littlest Angel (The) by Charles Tazewell. (2001 - Ages 4-8) This book is suitable for ages toddler up. Children will sympathize with this homesick four-year-old boy, who only recently came to heaven and now finds himself out of sorts in the heavenly realm. Young readers will enjoy discovering the precious gift the little angel offers to the Christ Child and will learn the important of sharing what they have with others. This is a heart-warming story for parents and youngsters alike.

Thank You, Angels by Doreen Virtue and Kristina Tracy with PatriciaKkeeler (illus). (2007 - Ages 4-8) This book introduces young children to the world of angels and teaches them how these heavenly beings can help them in many ways. Kids will learn how to ask an angel for help, how to recognize an angel's voice, and what signs angels may use to let kids know that they're there. This book offers children a sense of comfort and peace by showing them that they're never alone.

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ONLINE LINKS ABOUT ANGELS - CHILDREN and ADULTS

Online links are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
Story titles are in quotation marks.
Short descriptions are included for your convenience and to save you research time.

• http://www.4to40.com/folktales/index.asp?id=1324
"The Angel" by Hans Christian Andersen

• http://www.angelencounters.net/angels.html
Angel Encounters in Africa

• http://www.jhom.com/topics/angels/death_folk.htm
Angel of Death in Jewish Folklore

• http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/angels/
Angel Stories and Miracles

• http://www.kissedbyanangel.com/
Angel Stories, Angel Poetry by Kissed by an Angel

• http://www.ainglkiss.com/angel/
Angels of the Bible

• http://www.funpagesforkids.com/
Children's Activities and Christian Bible Stories

• http://tinyurl.com/a4lbfj
"Elijah and the Angel of Death" from Folktales of the Jews

• http://boards.celebrityloop.com/showthread.php?p=888677
Inspiring Angel Stories

• http://www.africanaheritage.com/_Ancestor_Story_.asp?AncestorID=27
"The Little Angels": Folktale told by Slaves from Ancestor Stories.

• http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/mourn.html#gander209
"The Sad Little Angel" - a German folktale.

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SOS - SEARCHING OUT STORIES AND INFORMATION ABOUT ANGELS
Advice, Comments and References from Storytellers, Teachers and Librarians
(excerpts from Storytell posts plus original research)

Book titles are in blue and underlined. Click on them to learn more about the books and how to buy them.
To retell any stories, get permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain.
In performance, always credit your sources.
Posts are added chronologically as they are received by Story Lovers World.

1) QUERY:
I am looking for a few short stories and/or songs involving angels and miracles. I'm doing some multicultural children and family holiday performances. Would be very appreciative of any help.

RESPONSES:

a) Are you looking just for "Angel Stories"? As I began earlier this year, doing a Theme on Angels in Everyday Clothing, I subscribed to a Guidepost Publication called "Angels on Earth." It has been very helpful. I've been able to add some stories to that reportaire. Today I told this one: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"..... I adapted it by stretching it and using myself and sons as characters.

Bones:
I'm looking forward to Christmas Eve, when my two sons will be home from college. One has taken a bus home. He calls from station, eagerly asks if he could bring a guest home. I reluctantly say yes, in spite of my wanting my sons to myself, as they spent Christmas Day with their vacation. He arrives with his guest, a man in his 30's, long hair, carrying a suitcase and guitar case. It seems his family lives about one hour from us, he hasn't seen his family in 5 years and wants to surprise them. He leaves a message for them to get him at our house. During dinner, its strained, John contributes little. I'm attempting to hide my disappointment. After we all clear the table, we adjorn to the living room. (Describe the candles, fireplace, tree, etc.) for desert and coffee. I've gotten out my camera and taken pictures of my sons, John and John has taken pictures of the three of us. John takes out his guitar, begins playing Christmas songs. (name a few) As he ends with Silent Night, I think: "This is really Christmas." As he finished, he says: "This is my gift to you." Almost on cue, the doorbell rings, his family arrives to take him home. The next week, I stop at the drugstore to pick up the pictures taken on Xmas Eve. No picture of John--nada. It was as though he had not even been there!

b) If you look up the Old Testament in a Catholic Bible , you'll find the The Book of Tobit: The Text in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Old Latin with English Translations (Ancient Texts and Translations) - a great story of an angel coming in answer to two prayers - curing the blindness of the good old man, restoring his wealth and finding a husband for a lonely girl. It's a bit sprawling, as Old Testament stories tend to be, but there's juuice in there. I've seen a picture book version recently called The Tale of Tobias.

There's another picture book called Prosper's Mountain, by, I think, Henrietta Brandford. The lonely old man finds an egg in his stable of Xmas Eve, inside is a little girl. As she grows, he notices these two lumps on her back, and on her fifth birthday they break open into wings, and he makes her a cloak to cover them. It's so long since I read the original, I can't remember which parts I've adapted. In my version, the angry townsfolk scare her away, then set fire to their cottage. Then Prosper comes flying back over the mountain, bringing the clouds with her. They rain, putting out t he fire (of hatred) and ending the drought. I think the fire and drought might be my additions that I used to make it more relevant to Christmas and bushfire season ( live in Australia).

c) There is one story that I absolutely love. It is not exactly a holiday story but I think it is perfect for the season. The story is by Dan Keding and can be found in the Nov/Dec 2001 issue of Storytelling Magazine. The title is "The Best Wish." It begins with two angels arguing in heaven. One is a pessimist, the other and optimist. The pessimist bets that the other angel can't find three good people on earth. He finds three brothers who are generous, kind and poor and gives each of them one wish. As he gives each on their wish he tells them "to remember God's poor." There is more to the story but I am at work on lunch break right now. I told it with Dan's generous permission at at Thanksgiving feast at our local After School Program in 2001. The children still talk to me about the story. It is very powerful.

Another tale which might be useful is "The Magic of Muskil Gusha" which can be found at Aaron Shepard's site. It is a tale from Iran so it fits with your multicultural theme and it also carries a wonderful message of remembering to help others in need. Aaron was also very generous with his permission when I wanted to share the story. This is the link to the story:
http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/048.html

Another tale at his site which might work for your needs is "The Baker's Dozen." I have looked at various adaptations and I like his the best. Again, the theme is about generosity of the spirit. It is an American folktale. The children love this story as well and when I share it I always pass out gingerbread cookies. The story can be found here:
http://www.aaronshep.com/storytelling/GOS07.html
I am sure many of you have gone to Aaron's site before but if you haven't it is well worth your time. He not only has stories but theater scripts as well. This is the link to the main site:
http://www.aaronshep.com/

There is also a Jewish story which was shared by Penninah Schram I belive in one issue of Storytelling Magazine. It is about an angel who comes to visit a family. My memory is sketchy, I will try to find the issue later but perhaps someone will remember.

2) QUERY:
Looking for a story about traveling angels.

RESPONSES:

a) It is a story from the Talmud. You may find it here:
The Talmud: Selections: Part Fourth: Proverbs and Sayings of the Rabbis: Trust in God
http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/pol/pol47.htm
Karen C. 1/6/06

b) This story is also in the Koran and occurs between Musa (aka Moses) and Al-Khidr (the Green One). see
http://ccminc.faithweb.com/iqra/articles/9212musa.html

FYI, I am struck by the phonetic similarity between Al-Khidr and Al Qaeda. It may be pure coincidence or my poor pronounciation, and complete fantasy on my part, but I did wonder if this story is part of their rationale to others for killing people in the name of Allah (and I do know that there is no justification, but I am trying to understand possible influences on the other point of view).
Janet D. 1/7/06

Created 2005; last update 7/3/09