On an outdoor stage, a boy named Peter addresses the audience. "If you believe in fairies, clap your hands," he urges. There is a deep sadness in his voice for he is dealing with the possible loss of a special friend. Peter is begging the audience to respond and enter his make-believe world. This is the only way, he explains, that the poisoned…

Discusses the value of tall tales for children and focuses on tall tale heroines that have become more prevalent and offer models of strong, resourceful, undaunted women. Includes examples of popular tall tale heroines and offers suggestions for class activities. (LRW)

This interview with children's book author and illustrator Jan Brett covers childhood influences; illustrating folk tales, fables, original stories, and other author's books; awards and reviews; the creative process; developing brochures to accompany books; and drawing animal characters. A list of books written and illustrated by Brett is…

Discusses ways to motivate children to become readers and writers, characteristics of good children's literature, using patterned books as models, and prewriting activities; provides an annotated bibliography of 26 patterned books to encourage the reading/writing connection. A subset of updated folk and fairy tales is included. (LRW)

Describes how children can become immersed in the world of fairy tales through activities such as choosing a character and developing a monolog, and creating a pantomime, a prop and a piece of advice, all relevant to their character and story. Includes a list of resources. (AEF)

Provides lesson plans for a music lesson on operas, operettas, and musicals; a reading/language arts lesson on using newspapers; and social studies lessons on Chinese folk tales and African American history. Lists print and nonprint resources; and discusses instructional roles, activities, procedures, evaluation, and follow-up. (PEN)

Describes activities for an elementary school library media center that are centered around folktales with forest settings, including people as well as animals and plants which inhabit the forest. Highlights include reading and discussing folklore, descriptive writing exercises, small group activities, and examples of 12 literary characters. (LRW)

Discusses the use of storytelling by teachers and librarians to promote reading. Topics include folktales; communication through story; oral traditions; learning through story; impact on reading, comprehension, and composition skills; telling/listening interaction; storytelling as a leadership skill; and story and inquiry or discovery learning.…

Provides lesson plans for library media activities for grades 3-4 reading/language arts, grades 3-5 art/social studies, grades 4-5 physical education/social studies, grades 4-6 science, grades 4-8 reading/language arts, and grades 6-7 social studies. Lists print and nonprint resources and discusses library media skills and subject area objectives,…

Provides six fully developed library media activities that are designed to be used with specific curriculum units. Highlights include elementary student activities for art (winter holiday crafts); reading/language arts (fantasy in stories, elements of folk stories from India, writing sequels to fairy tales); science (animal symbiosis); and social…

Describes seven library media activities: "Mathematics: What's After the Decimal Point?"; "Music: Melody"; "Physical Education: Rope Climbing in Past and Present Jobs"; "Reading/Language Arts: Fantasy Themes"; "Re-Telling African Folktales"; "Social Studies: Famous People of the Westward…