The Passionate Fact:  Storytelling in Natural History & Cultural Interpretation by Susan Strauss This handbook on storytelling techniques is loaded with creative ideas for science and natural history educators and interpreters. Story examples, photos, and tips inspire and instruct. ISBN 1-55591-925-1     Middle and  high school, libraries 6 x 9, 160 pages b/w illustrations $17.95 In the 152-page gem The Passionate Fact, storyteller Susan Strauss takes us through the literary, visual and musical aspects of storytelling with tips on how to research a story, anecdotes about storytelling and practice techniques in the art of listening. Ably demonstrating that storytelling appeals to young and old alike, the book may inspire educators to take up storytelling or to infuse some of the techniques into their teaching of science, environmental studies and history. At the very least it will, as a chapter on Native American myths suggests, make us examine myth, memory and the way we see the world.                                                                 Green Teacher This book, one of a series from Fulcrum on environmental communication, is all about raising and enlivening a story from scattered fact-bones. It is an important book for all storytellers and an essential must-read for anyone who uses storytelling interpretive, cultural, or nature settings. Strauss gets into both the mind and heart of stories, their spiritual core and their practical interpretation. She shares personal anecdotes, epiphanies, research, and, above all, passion. Special emphasis is placed on seeing story structure, finding and conveying story truth, the ethics of telling stories from other cultures, and using effective gesture and movement. Readers will come away with not only new ideas, but also a new way of thinking about stories. Highly recommended.                                                                     The Story Bag

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