This year for Take Your Teddy to School Day, first and second graders read and wrote about bears in the library. Fifth graders even joined in to write some informational bear books so that there was always enough to read. The library created a special bear cave in our reading area so our bears could read or hibernate. One of the great bear books we read was The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, a humorous book to make us ask questions and possibly to distrust dogs. Students brought their bears to the library where we all heard great bear stories, had a bear snack, and got some cuddles in while we learned.
writing an invitation for the bear day to our bears firstthe library made bear snacks for the special day
Jonathan Stroud has been one of my favorite authors for years, and recently he has written another amazing series for fantasy fans, this one with a dash of horror. Lockwood & Co. features teen detectives out to rid England of ghosts who are not at all harmless and definitely go bump in the night. Only teenagers and children are able to actually see ghosts in these thrilling tales, and the adults can’t do anything but ask for their help to avoid dangerous encounters every night. Sword wearing, salt bomb throwing, and ghost talking detectives solve scary hauntings in each amazing book. Three books in the series are available now, I can’t wait for the fourth! Come see us to learn more about Lockood & Co. or other October reads.
I love new takes on an old fairy tale. There are many books that recreate a classic tale with new character points of view or twists in the traditional plot that make us reevaluate what we’ve always thought of a character’s actions. Gregory Maguire is a master of this for both children and adults. A new Disney movie this Christmas called INTO THE WOODS will celebrate the classic fairy tales we know and love. Get ready to see Jack, Cinderella, and Red Riding Hood enter the woods to fulfill what they think are their fondest wishes. But you don’t have to wait until the movie comes to enjoy a new version of an exciting old story. We have some great ones in our libraries for you to try!
One retelling of a fairy tale I’ve read recently is Rump, also available in our district on your Overdrive account. We meet Rump as a young man who is being raised by his grandmother after losing the rest of his family. He is a hardworking and a loving grandson, but is constantly worried about his destiny and his unknown true name. On the way to finding out more about his mother and himself he discovers a hidden magical talent, decodes the mysteries of the local trolls, witches, and pixies and tries to save someone who needs his help. How did the tale of Rumpelstiltskin change in the telling? Read Rump to find out his side…and make up your own mind. If you like fairy tales you can also try searching fractured fairy tales (though I recommend using a library catalog and not the internet or Amazon).
A darker version of a fractured fairy tale available in our district for middle school and up is The Witch’s Boy. A witch finds a goblin foundling in the woods and tries her best to raise him…but a goblin child is far more challenging that she imagined. I highly recommend it but it will give your traditional fairy tales nightmares!
What is your favorite fairy tale or retelling?
Are you ready to see this movie? And can you spot the tales in the preview?
the big green bookshelf 