Story Teller was a magazine partwork published by Marshall Cavendish between 1982 and 1985. It was sold as Story Time in Australia and New Zealand; in Italy Story Teller 1 was sold as I Raccontastorie while Story Teller 2 as C'era una volta)
Publishing history The original collection The original Story Teller was released from December 1982 and throughout 1983 as a fortnightly partwork. Each magazine contained a selection of children's stories, some traditional folk tales like "Anansi the Spiderman", some children's tales such as Gobbolino, the Witch's Cat, and some contemporary works written especially for the series, like "Timbertwig". Most issues contained a poem or two, as well. The stories were accompanied by lavish colour artwork, and inside each issue was an offer to purchase custom made binders for the magazine as well as cases to hold the tapes.
Each issue of Story Teller came with a cover-mounted cassette tape containing a reading of the stories, complete with music and sound effects. What set Story Teller apart from other partworks was the stories were read by professional actors and celebrities of the time, including Richard Briers, Tim Curry, Sheila Hancock, Derek Jacobi, and Nigel Lambert.
Two distinguishing features of the audio cassettes were the "Story Teller" jingle that introduced and ended each tape and the characteristic "ping" that sounded when the time came to turn the pages to encourage children to read along. The "Story Teller" jingle is an existing track called "Children's Carnival" by Ted Atking and Alain Feanch.MobiusVideo posted the theme at YouTube, under the title: "Story Teller Theme Tune Rag Time Style".Cyberhops posted the theme at YouTube, under the title "Ted Atking and Alain Feanch - Children's Carnival"
Longer stories were split over multiple issues to encourage parents to buy the next issue. These were referred to as Story Teller Serials. As one serial came to end, another would start. Many of these would be simple two-part stories, but a selection of stories (usually well-known ones such as Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz) were spread over several issues. Pinocchio was the longest serial, with seven installments.
The original collection was 26 issues long with each tape lasting up to 45 minutes. An exception was issue 26, which was 90 minutes long because it also contained the special preview issue for Story Teller 2, which immediately followed the original series.
(The New Zealand and Australian Story Time only ran for 1 series, so the final Issue 26 was the standard 45 minutes long and did not feature the special preview for the next series. This was the sole difference between its UK counterpart; the cassettes and artwork were otherwise identical. Similarly, the cassette carry case was available in Australia. However, in New Zealand, a smaller box was provided, made out of cardboard wrapped in a red plastic with small domes at the corners joining it all together and a piece of Velcro for the flap on the top).
Storyteller 2 Story Teller 2, which was previewed in issue 26 of the original Story Teller series in the UK, continued the tradition of the original by combining traditional and contemporary children's stories. (In New Zealand and Australia, Story Time only ran for 1 series.)
Little Story Teller When Story Teller 2 ended, Marshall Cavendish followed it up with another 26-part series, Little Story Teller, which, as its title suggests, was aimed at a younger audience than the original series. Many of the stories in Little Story Teller featured the adventures of the inhabitants of the Magic Mountain, which included Leroy the Lion, Dotty the Dragon, and Morris and Doris the hamsters.
Christmas specials Three Christmas specials were also published. Released annually along with each series, the Christmas Story Tellers featured festive stories and even songs. The third Christmas Story Teller included stories suited to both the original series and Little Story Teller. Of the Christmas specials only Christmas Story 2 was made available in New Zealand or Australia, under the title of Christmas Story Time.
Story Teller Song Book Christmas Story 3 was widely assumed to be the last title from the Story Teller series but in 1986, Marshall Cavendish released the Story Teller Song Book. The 52-page publication contained 20 all-time sing-along favourites rather than stories but it still retained the Story Teller tradition of featuring colouring and activity pages as well as an accompanying cassette tape.
My Big Book of Fairy Tales In 1987, Marshall Cavendish revisited the world of Story Teller by publishing a big hardback book called My Big Book of Fairy Tales. Although the publication lacked the Story Teller branding, it was essentially a compilation of the best stories from Story Teller; it contained 73 stories from the two series and three Christmas issues. The original text and illustrations were used, except for the story "The Frog Prince", which featured new artwork (for no apparent reason). The book was rereleased in 1989 with a different cover and again in 1994. Unlike the partwork, My Big Book of Fairy Tales was not accompanied by a cassette.
Story Teller: Members' Edition Published online in December 2020, this was a special edition of Story Teller, created by members of the Story Teller Facebook Group and some of the original writers and artists of the original Story Teller. It is available online at stme.uk.
Availability The partwork is now regarded as highly collectible, and issues can still be found today in secondhand and charity shops, but finding a complete set can be very difficult. Digital copies can also be found on auction sites such as eBay, but these are of dubious legality.
Stories and readers
Story Teller 1
Part 1
Gobbolino, the Witch's Cat: Sheila Hancock The Hare and the Tortoise: Bernard Cribbins The Shoe Tree: Sheila Hancock The Emperor's New Clothes: Bernard Cribbins The Red Nightcaps: Marise Hepworth Aldo in Arcadia (1): Nigel Lambert & John Brewer The Forest Troll: Nigel Lambert
Part 2
The Elves & the Shoemaker: Brian Blessed Master Tiger: Nigel Lambert Aldo in Arcadia (2): Nigel Lambert, John Brewer & John Green The Last Slice of Rainbow: Sheila Hancock Gobbolino the Ship's Cat: Sheila Hancock The Greedy Fox: Brian Blessed Sinbad & the Valley of Diamonds: Brian Blessed Bring on the Clowns: Nigel Lambert
Part 3
The Great Big Hairy Boggart: Dermot Crowley The Owl and the Pussycat: Susannah York Gobbolino the Knight's Cat: Sheila Hancock The Lion & the Mouse: Dermot Crowley Simon's Canal: Susannah York Hansel and Gretel: Susannah York Aldo in Arcadia (3): Robert Powell, Susannah York, Nigel Lambert & John Brewer Child of the Sun: Dermot Crowley
Part 4
Narana's Strange Journey: Roy Hudd Rhubarb Ted: Nigel Lambert Gobbolino the Kitchen Cat: Sheila Hancock Noisy Neighbours: Nigel Lambert Jester Minute (Part 1): Nigel Lambert The Princess & the Pea: Tina Jones The Ant and the Grasshopper: Marian Hepworth Santa's Early Christmas: Roy Hudd
Part 5
Timbertwig: George Layton The Fox and the Crow: Hayley Mills Drummerboy & the Gypsy: George Layton Rapunzel: Hayley Mills Virgil's Big Mistake: Nigel Lambert Jester Minute (Part 2): Nigel Lambert 'O Here It Is: Hayley Mills
Part 6
Beauty and the Beast: Hywel Bennett Dodo & the Pot of Gold: Patricia Brake Timbertwig & the Caravan of Surprises: George Layton The Flying Piggy-Bank: Patricia Brake The Land of the Bumbley Boo: Patricia Brake The Moon and the Millpond: Dick Vosburgh The Friendly Bear: Hywel Bennett
Part 7
The Billy Goats Gruff: Nigel Pegram The Snow Queen: Liza Goddard A Pocketful of Trouble: Nigel Pegram Little Spook of Spook Hall: Liza Goddard The Silly Tortoise: Nigel Pegram Timbertwig Gets a New Hat: George Layton Faster than Fairies: Liza Goddard
Part 8
Dot & the Kangaroo (Part 1: Dot Loses Her Way): Carole Boyd Oliphaunt: Joss Ackland The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg: Carole Boyd The Selfish Giant: Joss Ackland Jester Minute & the Vanishing castle (1): Nigel Lambert The Creation of Man: Joss Ackland Boffy & The Teacher Eater: Nigel Lambert
Part 9
Abdulla and the Genie: Nigel Lambert Dot & the Kangaroo (Part 2): Carole Boyd Jester Minute and the Vanishing Castle (2): Nigel Lambert The Boy Who Cried Wolf: Robert Powell Neville Toogood: Carole Boyd The Pied Piper of Hamelin: Robert Powell
Part 10
Gulliver's Travels (Part 1): Joanna Lumley Dot & the Kangaroo (Part 3): Carole Boyd Mike's Bike (Part 1): Mick Ford The Three Wishes: Carole Boyd David and Goliath: Mick Ford The Enchanted Horse: Joanna Lumley Mr. Tom Narrow: Carole Boyd
Part 11
Gulliver's Travels (Part 2): Joanna Lumley Pinocchio (Part 1): Ian Lavender The Dog and the Bone: David Graham Sleeping Beauty: Joanna Lumley Walter Spaggot: Nigel Lambert Growling at Tigers: David Graham Mike's Bike (Part 2): Mick Ford
Part 12
The Mighty Prince: Una Stubbs Ford's Toy Cars (Part 1): George Layton Drummerboy Races for his Life: George Layton First Flight: Ian Lavender The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse: Una Stubbs Pinocchio (Part 2): Ian Lavender The Gingerbread Man: Una Stubbs
Part 13
The Tinder Box: Siân Phillips Ford's Toy Cars (Part 2): George Layton Warrior Girl: Floella Benjamin Pinocchio (Part 3): Ian Lavender Three Bald Spots: Carole Boyd The Ugly Duckling: Siân Phillips
Part 14
The Monster in the Labyrinth: Dermot Crowley Who's Stronger?: Diana Rigg Pinocchio (Part 4): Ian Lavender The Old Man of Torbay: Diana Rigg Scarlet Braces: Dermot Crowley Grogre the Ogre (Part 1): Nigel Lambert Cinderella: Diana Rigg
Part 15
Pandora's Box: Morag Hood A Fishy Tale: Morag Hood Pinocchio (Part 5): Ian Lavender Grogre the Ogre (Part 2): Nigel Lambert The Parasol: Kay Parks The Flying Jacket: Lionel Jeffries The Three Little Pigs: Lionel Jeffries
Part 16
Sam's Big Break: Tommy Eytle The Mango-Seller: Judy Geeson Hen-Hustler Kluk: Tommy Eytle Puss in Boots: Judy Geeson Grogre the Ogre (Part 3): Nigel Lambert Pinocchio (Part 6): Ian Lavender
Part 17
William Tell: Tom Baker I Saw a Ship a-Sailing: Carole Boyd Pinocchio (Part 7): Ian Lavender Anansi and the Fancy Dress Party: Tom Baker Jojo's Jigsaw Puzzle: Carole Boyd Can You Keep a Secret?: Carole Boyd The Lion and the Peacock: Tom Baker
Part 18
Heidi (Part 1): Denise Bryer Father William: Steven Pacey George and the Dragon: Steven Pacey The Frog Prince: Gemma Craven Bubble and Squeek: Steven Pacey No Mules: Gemma Craven
Part 19
Jack & the Beanstalk: Brian Blessed Why the Giraffe Can't Speak: Carole Boyd Sinbad and the Amazing Islands: Brian Blessed The Book of Beasts (Part 1): John Baddeley Car Attack: Carole Boyd Heidi (Part 2): Denise Bryer Hedge's Problem Tree: Carole Boyd
Part 20
Rumpelstiltskin: Hayley Mills Heidi (Part 3): Denise Bryer The Green Maiden of the Lake: Hayley Mills The Book of Beasts (Part 2): John Baddeley It Makes a Change: Denise Bryer Lutra the Otter: Michael Tudor Barnes
Part 21
The Bold Little Tailor: Michael Hordern The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Nigel Lambert Wiser than the Czar: Michael Hordern Bobbie and the Magic Go-Cart: Nigel Lambert Heidi (Part 4): Denise Bryer The Mighty Rabbit: Nigel Lambert
Part 22
Waldorf's Fantastic Trip (Part 1): Gay Soper The Midas Touch: Joanna Lumley A Meal with a Magician: George Layton Eleven Wild Swans: Joanna Lumley Timbertwig Catches a Marrow: George Layton The Human Fly from Bendigo: Joanna Lumley
Part 23
Timbertwig's Birthday: George Layton Waldorf's Fantastic Trip (Part 2): Gay Soper Goldilocks: Annette Crosbie Dad and the Cat and the Tree: David Ashford The Faery Flag: Annette Crosbie The Runaway Piano: David Ashford The Little Red Hen: Annette Crosbie
Part 24
I Wish, I Wish: Carole Boyd Counting Chickens: Carole Boyd