Hansel and Gretel: What Folk and Fairy Tales Teach Readers

Hansel and Gretel is one of the many oral folk tales that German brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, first published into written literary works. The Grimm brothers, Charles Perrault, and Hans Christian Anderson were architects of children’s literature. The Grimm’s first publishings were not intended for children due to the subject matter. In fact, they revised editions to better suit children. For example, in Hansel and Gretel, the wicked stepmother was originally the mother. In modern literature, fairy tales are often labeled as cliche, however; they teach important life lessons and psychological concepts. Read More

Could There Ever Be a Good Reason To Break The Rules?

Does a lion belong in the library? Library Lion is a timeless classic that will align children with the lesson that sometimes, there is a good reason to break the rules. Author Michelle Knudsen and illustrator Kevin Hawkes’s collaboration celebrate the irrepressible joy of visiting the library. Knudsen’s idea to introduce children to the idea of a protagonist and antagonist is brilliant. Hawkes’s use of pencil and soft water colors, along with detail in facial expressions, enhance the reader’s imagination response to the story. Read More