Firstly there is the structure and content and then there are the crucial characteristics of successful delivery…. This is my summary of those qualities. And here is a link to a winning story based commercial which fills each and every one of the content criteria. It is not a story told orally, but it could be so very easily… with a few props and a few minutes spent memorising the plot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQB7QRyF4p4. Interestingly, I once found a folk tale about a dog and an elephant, which basically follows a similar plot line and would be just as easy to act out, and tell. http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-folktales/jataka-tales/elephant-and-dog.html
check out these images of dog and elephant friendships!
Key qualities of a good story to tell with children and ways to tell it.
Content of story
Brevity
Simplicity
Quality of repetition – phrases, motif, rhymes, patterns of three
Clear beginning and end, with beginning that cuts to the chase
Content somehow relates to our known everyday experiences
Limited number of characters
Some challenge/conflict/ problem to be overcome…moments of tension
S/hero is in some ways transformed through the events of the story… wiser, stronger, richer, humbler, more loving, etc
Definite ending/climax/ safe home again etc
Events and characters introduced early on are woven in again by the end.
Manner of delivery
Introducing it with music, a chant or a verse or a call and respond chant
Setting it out with respect and ceremony
Make eye contact
Vary pace, tone, volume
Be very involved yourself. Believe in it, be the story as you tell it
Feel smell, hear, touch things …use your body language to engage their senses
Opportunities to participate and contribute…sounds , songs, ideas, names
Address children by name
Relate it to the children’s experience
Include new words of a repeated refrain or verse to tune of well known rhyme
Use your voice gently – don’t over emote
Emphasise the verbs…rather than the nouns
Avoid words like beautiful, nice, and yummy. Use specific, precise, interesting words