From: MQuattle_at_aol.com
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:39:18 -0400 (EDT)

Such an interesting subject! Just to pick up on a few threads in previous posts ... so often folktales arose out of particular historical context and both mirrored and tried to explain circumcstances that today may be perceived as outmoded or "non-PC" (the abandoned kids in Hansel and Gretel, the emotionally distant dads, the evil stepmoms). Kids themselves seem very interested in these tales (I know I was!) but parents can sometimes balk. Perhaps this attitude may be affecting publishing/buying habits....

I've had that experience recently with my picture-book re-telling of a little-known colonial American folktale--SPARKS FLY HIGH (FSG)--that features a dance contest between a colonial gentleman and the devil. During school visits (largely to 3rd graders and up), kids are intrigued by my research process, the way that folktales helped "explain" things during olden times, and the peek into their country's early history ... but teachers and librarians are sometimes concerned by how a book with a dancing devil may be perceived by parents. Alas and alack.

Mary Q.

Mary Quattlebaum Children's Author, Instructor, Reviewer MQuattle_at_aol.com _www.maryquattlebaum.com_ (http://www.maryquattlebaum.com)
Received on Fri 19 Mar 2010 10:39:18 AM CDT