Li Li Li! /Read Read Read!

In parts of the world where electronic media isn’t dominant, storytelling is a means of sharing stories handed down from ancestors as well as a way to convey information relevant to today. Not only is it a form of entertainment for children; it is a powerful way to capture the imagination and interest of people old and young.

Haiti is one of those places where storytelling is a vibrant part of the culture. Traditionally, when listeners gather around to hear a tale, the very first word that comes from the storyteller’s mouth is a loud “Krik?” to which the audience knows to respond with an enthusiastic “Krak!” This call-and-response exchange signals that everyone is ready to give their full attention to the tale about to be told.

Like many other aspects of Haitian life, the practice of storytelling suffered a blow from the earthquake that struck earlier this year. In response, Li Li Li!: Reading Out Loud to Haiti’s Displaced Children was created. The organization-- whose name translates from Kreyòl to English as "Read, Read, Read!"-- describes itself as a “psycho-social, literacy promotion and jobs creation” program that centers on reading stories aloud to young audiences.

The celebrated Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat sits on the advisory board of Li Li Li! Her essay, “I Used to Love the Rain” describes the resilient spirit of the Haitian children and the respite that can come from storytelling.

For more on Haiti, storytelling and Edwidge Danticat visit:

Storybook Ending, an Oprah magazine essay by Edwidge Danticat

Edwidge Danticat essays and short stories printed in The New Yorker magazine

"Sending Children's Books to Haiti" post from Summer Edwards' Caribbean Children's Literature Blog

Storyteller Diane Wolkstein describing her introduction to Haitian storytelling

Diane Wolkstein re-telling The Magic Orange Tree, a traditional Haitian folk tale