Publication Date: August 25, 2026

Designed for young people, families, and educators, From Tails to Tales is an interactive journey into the heart of storytelling.  

Featuring traditional folktales from around the world—including an animal contest in the Cherokee hills of the USA, a cheetah's despair in the Zulu land of Southern African, and a polar bear Inuit tale from Greenland—this guide invites you to read, play, and create together. It equips aspiring writers with the practical tools to build their own worlds from the ground up.  

Inside, you will discover:

• five international folktales paired with engaging questions to spark conversation and ideas, 

• games that relax, sharpen the mind and spark creativity,  

• writing activities to develop original characters, settings, and plots, 

• hands-on bookmaking projects, from animal-shaped accordions to hinged covers, to bring your stories to life.  

Read the tales, play the games, and publish your work. Your next great adventure is waiting to be written.

Here’s what readers are saying about this book:

"A treasure! A rich and delightful introduction to world folk tales, but SO much more valuable. Jam-packed with inspiration, parents and educators in all settings will find use in the ideas and activities." ~Joanna Lodin, Fearless Homeschooling

“Impressive, beautifully put together, all the great ideas melding together for kids who want to get a good idea of the various ways you can develop a story. Absolutely beautifully retold. Teachers will love. This book will open up worlds for students.” ~Sandra Dutton, author of A Wheelchair That Flies.

“What a beautiful book! This is the kind of book I want to purchase to share with any of my own future kids/students/peers/teachers/friends/and family, to spread the magic of storytelling and play. The tales are so profound and full of wisdom applicable across all ages. They are captivating and magical, and imbued with that special quality of storytelling that makes the listener crave more. Stories are such an essential part of our culture as humans, and it is something that can be hard to meaningfully and intentionally explore in this day and age. Storytelling is truly a magical art, and we don't often see it as gracefully and exquisitely described and portrayed as in this book.” ~Kaya Rhee, writer and homeschooled teen     

This book takes a child-led approach, offering a variety of questions for discussion, games and exercises for writing, so there is something for every student. Here is a language arts curriculum focused on reading and writing, for elementary and middle school, applicable to a greater age range. (Find recommendations for grammar curriculum on the resources page.)

ALSO COMING SOON:

Guide for Parents and Teachers for From Tails to Tales

Available now for pre-order

and

Contest for a Crown of Antlers, Curriculum Bundle

Did you ever change your plans spontaneously, in the moment? 

For an entire group?

Have you ever felt frustrated that a learning or teaching experience wasn't working, and wished it was different?

Did you ever ask your children or students what they wanted to learn and put that at the center of their education?

Laurie Block Spigel did all these things and more with her students. Here she reveals her personal experiences, when and where these things occurred, and what she did in each situation. Spigel created environments and curriculum where child-led learning could flourish. Here she shares her journey, doubts, fears, surprises both good and bad, and the ultimate rewards that spring from game-based, personalized education.

Learn the author's Magic Formula that makes every class a satisfying experience.

Learn about games as problem solvers that open students' minds and help them face anything.

Create your own curriculum or use the curriculum in this book, driven by questions and interests of students, aimed at creative outcomes that invite individual expression.

Educators, parents and learners of all ages will be enlightened and inspired by Letting Them Lead.

Letting Them Lead is now available in e-book and in print. Order your copy now!

Price: e-book $14.99, paperback $19.99