You don't have to pucker up for "Frog Kisser" -- just perk up your ears.
"Frog Kisser" is a collection of eight tales on CD, told by storytellers from across the country, released to coincide with the opening of the Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog."
The seven storytellers whose voices are heard on the CD are affiliated with Storyteller.net, a Web site started by Sean Buvala, who also directed and produced the CD.
Rachel Hedman of Layton, president-elect of the Utah Storytelling Guild, is the only Utahn included on the CD.
"She's probably one of the most active young storytellers in the country," said Buvala, of Avondale, Ariz. "Rachel was one of the first people I thought of, because I felt she could contribute something interesting to the CD and, of course, she did."
The CD contains eight tales of enchantment and changelings, including the story of the princess and the frog. With the release of the Disney movie, Buvala expects an interest in similar stories.
"We created this CD so that folks who would like to explore great stories of changeling beasts can do so with a mix of traditional tales, original works and new perspectives on old themes," he said.
The tales are told in traditional storytelling style -- no sound effects or background music.
"I hope it will really open up to them the breadth and width of what storytelling has to offer," Buvala said of the CD. "People often think of storytelling as 'OK, children, we're going to open a book and look at the little pictures.' ... But this is really intended for older kids and adults, and I think folks are going to be happy with the diversity when they listen to these stories."
Small teeth, long noses
In addition to "The Frog Prince" and "The Frog Princess," 'Frog Kisser" includes stories of enchanted bears, foxes and other creatures.
Buvala's contribution to the CD is "The Small-Toothed Dog," an obscure story that he says may have been a source for "Beauty and the Beast."
Hedman's story is "Thyme and Relish."
"It comes from a German folk tale, 'The History of Dwarf Long Nose,' " said Hedman "The story is about a boy who defended his mother in the market place, and the old woman who was insulted by this stole him away and transformed him into Dwarf Long Nose. He tries to reunite with his mother, but his mother doesn't recognize him. I added a song to the story, as a way for the boy to help his mother try to recognize him, but the mother just keeps seeing what's before her."
To Hedman, it's more than a surface story of transformation -- she sees a correlation to changes in parent and child relationships, that happen when kids hit about 12 years old.
"It made me wonder how many mothers and fathers, when their kids get to that awkward age, don't know how to talk with their teenagers, or how to connect with them," she said.
Disney magic
"Frog Kisser" was deliberately timed to come out during the same time period as Disney's "The Princess and the Frog."
"Disney is almost like a love-hate relationship with storytellers," said Hedman. "Storytellers love how Disney reminds people of fairy tales. But when it comes to authenticity to the tale, Disney doesn't have it."
Buvala says some folks are upset with the changes Disney has made to fairy tales over the past 50 years.
"Unlike a lot of storytellers, I appreciate the work Disney does with a story," he said. "That's the nature of story and legend, to address the storytelling to the audience. ... I look at Disney films as moments in time, versus the gospel of how a story should be told."
Buvala says "The Little Mermaid" is a classic example of how and why Disney storytellers make changes.
"There's no way Disney could have produced an animated piece where the Little Mermaid dissolves into sea foam," he said, explaining that modern audiences have different expectations than readers of the original 1830s tale. "They did with that story what they had to do. I don't think they detracted from the story, they just added another version."
Copies of "Frog Kisser" may be ordered through Amazon.com for $12.99, plus shipping and handling, with profits split by Amazon and Storyteller.net. CDs are also available through each storyteller's Web site, with the teller allowed to keep the full amount from each sale. Rachel Hedman sells "Frog Kisser" for $15, including shipping, at www.rachelhedman.com.
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