Hi All!
Fairytales and folktales prevail in cultures all around the world, and they often carry morals and lessons meant to influence our behavior. I love teaching fairytales because they are shared literary experiences, but also because they are wonderful examples to use when we are studying the author’s message. Fairytale retellings are just as diverse as the original stories and can either update the story along traditional lines or totally redirect the initial message. Either way, engaging with common stories is a great discussion starter for students.
In this list, I have stories that both retain their original message, as well as others that modernize and alter the original message. I hope your students enjoy these stories as much as mine do!
Use the book cover links to see the Amazon listing, and as always, let me know what stories you use in class by leaving a comment below!
“Strega Nona”, Tomie dePaola
A folktale with roots in Europe and Western Asia, the story of Strega Nona is both funny and meaningful. With Tomie dePaola’s fabulous illustrations, this is sure to be a quick favorite in your classroom.
“The Ninjabread Man”, C. J. Leigh
For the last few years, I have done a gingerbread theme in my classroom as an example of different family traditions around holidays. My Germanic family always had some form of gingerbread on festive occasions, but the history of gingerbread reaches from China to Greece. I read this particular story because it is both hilarious and different, and also because has a fun gingerbread recipe in the back that families can try at home.
“Ninja Red Riding Hood”, Corey Rosen Schwartz
Without fail, my students love ninja stories. And while the traditional story of Red Riding Hood can be a bit grim, this version full of spunk and power! Reading fairytale retellings is a great way to practice comparing and contrasting text, and even to support opinion writing as students decide which version they prefer.
“After the Fall”, Dan Santat
Santat, author of “Beekle”, delivers another poignant story about perseverance, determination, and facing our fears. We all know what happened to Humpty Dumpty, but in this book, we learn what happens “after the fall”, and in the process are inspired to try again, even if we fell before. My students often talk about their own experiences learning to ride a bike or swing along the monkey bars, taking a literal approach to the idea of falling and getting back up. When students make connections between the text and their own experience, you know they are engaged!
“The Three Pigs”, David Wiesner
In another Wiesner nearly-wordless picture book, we see familiar characters emerging from their traditional setting and rearranging their fate. This version is funny, engaging, and a wholly new approach to a well-known story.