Since ancient times, humans have sought explanations for the mysteries of nature's beauty and variety. Like other kinds of folk stories, pourquoi tales can be considered parables about how humans and animals originated or why they look or behave the way they do. Pourquoi tales have high appeal, are generally simple and straightforward in…

This annotated subject guide to Web sites for grades K-8 focuses on biography, dinosaurs, fairy tales and folk tales, history, math, science, and calendar connections for December observances. Specific grade levels are indicated for each annotation. (LRW)

Despite the tremendous changes wrought by technology, folktales contain certain truths about life, human nature, and what's needed to maintain a viable, socially sane society. Folktales are invaluable for stressing heroic actions, personal and social growth, and progress toward meaningful goals. (MLH)

Writing must receive major emphasis in teaching-learning situations. There are important differences between creative endeavors and those that involve role learning and exact answers. Creativity emphasizes the novel, the unique, the original, and the open-ended. Creativity should stress writing across the curriculum, and should involve reading and…

Lists and annotates new books for children, arranged according to the following categories: Christmas books; picture books; stories for younger, intermediate, and older readers; folklore; poetry; and nonfiction. (AEA)

Outlines the characteristics of "tall tales." Fills in the historical background of tall tales, from the ancient myth of Gilgamesh to Baron Munchausen, the closest European progenitor of American tall tales. Opines that tall tales appear to have been created as a response to challenges posed by building a new nation. Lists 11…

The Tlingit and Haida are Native Americans who inhabit southeast Alaska and share many traditions and stories. Written by a non-native scholar, this book contains nine Tlingit and Haida tales concerned with shamans and kushtakas. Land otters were fearful hybrid beings of the spirit world. Able to live on land and in water, they had the special…

Describes the folk tale "Iron John" and the attraction it held for the author as a boy. Discusses the author's own reforming of the tale in a picture book version. (SR)

Intended to be read aloud to children ages six to nine and read alone by children nine and up, this book presents 24 versions of the Cinderella folktale from around the world, thus representing a broad range of cultures, geographical areas, styles, and variations on the basic theme. The folktales in the book are intended to enhance children's…

Analysis of different types of literature promotes cognitive development by giving students an opportunity to apply similar skills and strategies discussed in one genre--fiction, for example--to other genres like poetry, reports, descriptive pieces, and plays. The major intellectual function that each literary genre provides can be examined in…

Describes how study of folklore can be integrated into all aspects of curriculum and grade levels to foster awareness of roots and sense of home and community. Suggests topics for research in various areas of American folklore requiring student use of all language arts. Provides 13 annotated student references. (NEC)

This annotated bibliography lists recommended books and other instructional media dealing with folktales, fairy tales, and myths for use in preschool, elementary, and secondary education. The list is divided into four grade-oriented divisions. The first section, aimed at prekindergarten through third grade, offers annotations of 44 books, lists 30…

States that the proper end for social studies is understanding, and that stories, because of their form and substance, can provide the conditions necessary for understanding in social studies. Stories are judged educationally worthwhile for psychological, pedagogical, and curricular reasons. (Author/JDH)

This exploration of the two leading varieties of nonsense literature defines strict nonsense as that in which the laws of nature are suspended and replaced by new laws which the author decrees, and loose nonsense as usually comic writing about a singular unlikely event. Examples of these two types of verse in children's literature are cited. (22…

Examines approximately 28 children's books containing American Indian stories. Evaluates the authenticity of the stories, their effectiveness in adapting oral materials to written form, and their suitability for classroom use. Bibliographic notes include prices. (SV)