This paper considers the narrative function of children's play by focusing on interwoven elements of story, imagination, and visual expression. It is argued that both story and play are important features of children's lives. When children engage in storytelling they are participating in a form of play which brings into account both their knowledge of the world and their knowledge of narrative conventions. Context is seen as an important factor in shaping and constraining the stories children tell. The paper concludes that storytelling has the potential to enhance literacy and, therefore, children's oral storytelling in classrooms needs to be encircled.
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