Matching Kids to Books discussion

Generally, when we think of folktales, we think of those beautiful bedtime stories of our youth. However, there are quite a few variations of this popular genre available today. What folktales, fairy-tales, and fables have you explored? For me it all began with The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieska.

It started for me with The Grimm Fairy Tales. I was read one every night at bedtime, and it's only now I re-read them as an adult, I can see how dark they truly are.

Having said that, if a child is introduced to them in the right manner, there are a lot of subliminal message to be learnt within their pages.

So true Cate. One fairy-tale that comes to mind is Little Red Riding Hood.The story revolves around a girl called Little Red Riding Hood. In the Grimms' version, the girl walks through the woods to deliver food to her sickly grandmother (grape juice and banana bread, or wine and cake depending on the translation. Her mother orders her to stay on the path.
Being a little girl with red hair and always visiting my grandma, I'm sure it stuck in my head as a cationary tale!

Given Away, A Sicilian Upbringing

I adore fairy tales, as does my daughter. But we do like some of the variants as well. One that she especially likes is "Goldilocks and Just One Bear." Another one, that she enjoyed when we got it from the library is "Rumpelstiltskin's daughters."

When it comes to the fairy tales themselves, I try to find versions that stick as close to the original tales as possible. Paul O. Zielinsky did three great versions that we enjoy--"Hansel and Gretel," "Rumpelstiltskin," and "Rapunzel."