From: Leah Langby <langby>
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:28:41 -0500

My kids used to like to check out the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty from the library, but they call it "Stupid Sleeping Beauty" and like it only because my husband reads it with a hilarious running commentary.

We have really enjoyed the Rosemary Wells/Susan Jeffers version of Lassie--gorgeous illustrations and a lovely, moving story. It has had the effect, however, of making us (all, including me) feel like we've read Lassie, even though we haven't read the "real" thing. Also Jerry Pinkney's adaptation of Rikki Tikki Tavi has the same effect for my kids.

Somehow this seems more acceptable to me than the Disney versions of classics like Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh. I think this is partly because the Disney versions were movies first, aren't as high quality and seem to insult the intelligence of children. I also think, for me, it is because the REAL Alice and Pooh were such a huge part of my family culture when I was growing up, I feel sad that kids aren't getting the wonderful, rich language and humor and true essence of these books. They feel like they know Pooh, but they don't know the real Pooh!

I'd be really interested to hear what the huge fans of the original Lassie and Kipling think of the adaptations I mentioned.

******************************************** Leah Langby Library Development and Youth Services Coordinator Indianhead Federated Library System 1538 Truax Boulevard Eau Claire, WI 54703-1569 phone: 715-839-5082 ext.14 fax: 715-839-5151 email: langby at ifls.lib.wi.us www.ifls.lib.wi.us

********************************************

----- Original Message ----- From: "Kristine Moruzi" <kmoruzi at gmail.com> To: <ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 8:46 PM Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] New versions of old books:


> My daughter was given five hardcover Disney books (including
> Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Jungle Book) which I simply loathe
> reading to her. The books are really adaptations of the movies, and they
> don't even do that very well. The story only flows if you know the movie
> and
> can fill in the parts that they didn't squeeze into the books. Back to the
> originals, I say. But they do have cultural currency for my daughter,
> since
> she can relate them back to the Disney film versions.
>
> Cheers,
> Kristine Moruzi
>
>
> On 7/20/06, Nancegar at aol.com <Nancegar at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> The post about new versions of Beatrix Potter's lovely little books
>> reminded
>> me of Disney's version(s) of Winnie the Pooh, with its similar but
>> cheapened
>> drawings. Nice as it is that Pooh enjoys wider-than-ever popularity,
>> it's
>> sad
>> that some children are therefore never exposed to the original!
>>
>> Nancy (Garden)
>>
>> ____________________________________________
>> Please visit my website at www.nancygarden.com
>> ENDGAME is now available. See website for an excerpt.
>> GOOD MOON RISING is back in print!
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Received on Thu 20 Jul 2006 08:28:41 AM CDT