About Mike

How Mike got started in storytellingMike Mann

Once upon a time, Mike’s 7-year-old daughter Laura announced, “I have a special assignment from school. We have to turn off the TV for a whole week!” With no television to watch, the family made trips to their local library and discovered that the stories there were often better than the stories on TV. One night, rather than reading a favorite story to his children for the umpteenth time, Mike put the book down, looked into their eyes, and told them the story. From that day, a course was set which has led Mike to a career as a professional storyteller and speaker.

Where Mike’s storytelling has led him

Mike is now an award-winning storyteller and public speaker, bringing a variety of educational programs to children and adults in venues throughout the Midwest. His presentations are filled with warmth, humor and inspiration.

Awards

Parents’ Choice Award (www.parents-choice.org)

NAPPA Gold Award (www.parenthood.com/nappa.php)

Storytelling World Award (www.storytellingworld.com)

Anne Richardson Reading is Fundamental national award nominee (www.rif.org)

What else is Mike up to?

Mike is a training consultant and speaker for the National Institute on Media and the Family. He is a certified trainer for the Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance where he teaches workshops on storytelling and Creating MediaWise Kids.

Newspaper Articles About Mike!

St. Paul Pioneer Press – Eden Prairie News – Minneapolis Star Tribune – Stillwater Gazette

Mike is co-author of Telling Stories, the Storytelling Handbook for families, groups, classrooms and individuals, by Cygnus Storytelling, 2007 (www.cygnus-storytelling.org). Mike writes a regular column called Imagine That! for the Metro Lutheran newspaper (www.metrolutheran.org). He is a contributing author of The Art of Storytelling, 2003, Moody Publishers, where he wrote the chapter on Storytelling and the Family. He has appeared on Channel 9’s Good Morning Minnesota and Kare 11 TV.

What Mike used to do

Prior to his career as a storyteller, Mike worked in the areas of human resources and corporate training, and spent the early years of his working life as a baker.

Memberships and Affiliations