The Witch Must Die: The Hidden Meaning of Fairy Tales by Sheldon Cashdan

Cashdan, Sheldon. 1999. The Witch Must Die: The Hidden Meaning of Fairy Tales. New York: Basic Books.
Author Sheldon Cashdan’s parents read the more popular fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel and Jack in the Beanstalk to him as a child. Still, he admits his most vivid childhood memories of fairy tales were brought to him courtesy of Walt Disney. He recalls “sitting in a darkened movie theater watching Snow White and holding (his) breath as the gamekeeper prepared to cut out the heroine’s heart” (Cashdan, 1). However, as an adult, teaching undergraduate courses; particularly a seminar titled “The Psychology of Fantasy and Folklore”, he became aware of fairy tales as both a teaching tool and a forum for understanding child psychological development.
In chapter one Cashdan discusses some of the myths concerning fairy tales.
· Myth 1-Fairy tales are stories written for children. During his research of fairy tales Cashdan found that many of them “never made their way into children’s storybooks” (Cashdan, 2). Of the hundreds of fairy tales Cashdan unearthed only a few, those free of incest, sexual innuendo, and other perversions, were appropriate for children. Their intended use, Cashdan asserts, was entertainment at adult social gatherings.
· Myth 2-All fairy tales were written by The Brothers Grimm. Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm collected centuries-old stories, gleaned from the memories of and relatives, and created an anthology that “many consider the most comprehensive fairy-tale collection of all time” (Cashdan, 7).
· Myth 3-The intent of fairy tales is to teach children lessons. Morality in fairy tales was added later by Charles Perrault. For example, the never talk to strangers caution in Little Red Riding Hood was not part of the original story, but added by Perrault for didactic purposes. According to the author Little Red Riding Hood is about “food and cannibalism” (Cashdan, 9).
In chapter two Cashdan discusses why, although they were not originally intended for children, fairy tales are so appealing to children and why they are helpful psychologically. Fairy tales contain insight into feelings all children struggle to understand. Things such as loving and being loved, fear of abandonment, and even where they stand in the hierarchy of the family find a voice and a release through fairy tales.
Chapters three through ten provide a breakdown of inappropriate behaviors and feelings all children struggle to overcome and compares them to the seven deadly sins; vanity, gluttony, envy, deceit, lust, greed, and sloth. Cashdan points to the witch-like character in various fairy tales; the evil step-mother in Snow White is vain, the witch in Hansel and Gretel is gluttonous, the evil step-mother in Cinderella is envious, the maid-servant in The Goose Girl is deceitful, the Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid is lustful, the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk is greedy, the evil step-sister in Mother Hulda is slothful; and associates the witch’s death in each story with a child’s ability to overcome inappropriate feelings and behavior.
As a method for understanding the inner workings of a child’s mind and an historical index of both well and lesser known traditional tales The Witch Must Die is an excellent resource for parents, teachers, and child psychologists attempting to help children navigate some of the more terrifying impulses, feelings, and actions associated with childhood.

The Brook Book: exploring the smallest streams by Jim Arnosky

Arnosky, Jim. 2008. The Brook Book: exploring the smallest streams. New York: Penguin.

Brooks are the smallest types of tributaries. They begin as mountain springs flowing from hillsides or as water coming from underground streams. Brooks always run down hill. Author Jim Arnosky provides readers with practical tips on exploring, water safety, and facts about brooks and the animal and plant life they support. Arnosky’s lifelike and colorful illustrations bring the world of brooks to life with detailed drawings of birds, fish, and other wildlife sustained by the brooks. Fact-supported, practical advice on spotting animal tracks, fishing, and bird watching is included; as are maps demonstrating how water flows from the smallest brook behind your house all the way to sea. The Brook Book is a great read for future environmentalists or anyone interested in the natural world.

Cobblestone Magazine

Cobblestone. April 2008. 29 (4).

Cobblestone is distributed by Carus Publishing. Winner of the George Washington Honor Medal, the 1996 Parents' Choice Magazine Gold Award, and the 2006 Parents' Choice Magazine Silver Award; Cobblestone's target audience is upper elementary grade children. Each issue of Cobblestone is dedicated to different occurrences of historical significance. The April 2008 issue details the Civil Rights Movement including historical events such as the Jim Crow laws; inacted to circumvent the rights established under the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to the Constitution, Thurgood Marshall successfully arguing before the Supreme Court that "racial segregation in interstate commerce" was unconstitutional, and protests against the "whites only" set up of many public conveniences. Cobblestone is a well-written, interesting magazine packed with information. It is an excellent informational read and teaching tool.

Coral Reefs by Gail Gibbons

Gibbons, Gail. 2007. Coral Reefs. New York: Holiday House.

Coral reefs are usually located in water with a temperature between 64 degrees Fahrenheit and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Coral reefs are made from the skeletons of tiny marine animals. Coral reefs come in three different types; fringe reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Coral reefs began to die out about 65 million years ago; at about the same time that dinosaurs became extinct, but began to come back about 50 million years ago. These and many other interesting facts can be found in author Gail Gibbons' fact-filled book about coral reefs and the sea life they help to sustain. Gibbons' colorfully vivid and Nemo-esque illustrations of coral reefs all over the world demonstrate the symbiotic relationship enjoyed by the reefs, fish and plant life. Facts gathered from marine biologist Dr. Kim Ritchie and Mote Marine Laboratory manager Nadine Slimak lend authority to this curiosity-satisfying book that is also a feast for the eyes.

Dolley Madison Saves George Washington by Don Brown

Brown, Don. 2007. Dolley Madison Saves George Washington. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Born a simple, Quaker farm girl Dolley Payne grew up in Virginia. Because of their faith Dolley's family freed their slaves in 1783 and moved to Philadelphia where her mother opened a boarding house. Dolley lost her first husband, John Todd, in the 1793 yellow fever epidemic and met future husband James Madison through Aaron Burr; a boarder of her mother's. During her husband's tenure as Thomas Jefferson's secretary of state, Dolley served as hostess for the widowed Jefferson. When James Madison became president Dolley continued her reign as "the capital's leading hostess." But, it was during the war of 1812 when British troops set fire to the presidential mansion that Dolley proved she was brave and quick thinking as well as a marvelous hostess. Snatching important documents and valuable artifacts, she was preparing to flee when she remembered George Washington. Unable to remove the father of our country's painting from the wall, she ordered two servants to smash the frame and remove the painting. Only then did Dolley Madison flee for her life with George Washington rolled up safely at her side. The famous portrait by Gilbert Stuart hangs today in the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of Dolley Madison. Using quotes from Dolley Madison, the people who knew her, and citizens who lived through the War of 1812 Don Brown paints a vivid portrait of the person Dolley Madison. His pen, ink, and pastel-watercolor illustrations lend an old-fashioned, soft-focus sweetness to the people, fashions, and Dolley herself, while the stark contrast of the black, white, and gray tone photograph of Washington's portrait allows readers to see the reality of the piece of history Dolley Madison saved.

Babymouse: Queen of the World! by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. 2005. Babymouse: Queen of the World!. New York: Random House.

Babymouse's world is full of humdrum routine. Get up, get dressed, brush your whiskers, and try not to miss the school bus. What Babymouse really wants, or thinks she really wants anyway, is glamour, excitement, adventure, and most of all, to hang with the popular crowd. And so she does; in her imagination. Unfortunately, Babymouse's imagination kicks in at the most inopportune moments; during math drills, on her way to class, and in the middle of passing notes. Even more unfortunate, imagination can't take the place of what she really wants; an invitation to Felicia Furrypaws', the most popular girl in school, slumber party. So, Babymouse sets about wrangling an invitation and vows to let nothing, not even abandoning her real friend, get in her way. Matthew Holm's black-and-white pen illustrations; sometimes dotted, sometimes splattered with pink, compliment sister Jennifer's storyline in this graphic novel series of the Babymouse in all of us who just wants to wear a tiara on our perfectly smooth, glossy hair, dress in flouncy, pink ballgowns, and rule the world. Third through fifth graders will laugh along and thoroughly identify with Babymouse.

The Misadventures of Benjamin Batholomew Piff by Jason Lethcoe

Lethcoe, Jason. 2007. The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff. New York: Penguin Group.

Recently orphaned Benjamin Bartholomew Piff has spent the last miserable year as an inmate of Pinch’s Home for Wayward Boys. Cold, hungry, and tormented by Miss Pinch and the cook Mr. Roach; it is Ben’s 9th birthday and Ben is planning to escape. Captured on his way out the door, Ben is sentenced to kitchen duty and, after scrubbing out the huge, filthy pots used to cook what Roach laughingly calls stew, he discovers his birthday cake, brought by his caseworker and confiscated by Miss Pinch, cuts himself a large slice, places a single lighted candle atop the slice, makes a wish, and blows out the candle. That’s when, amazingly, his wish for unlimited wishes comes. Delighted, Ben begins wishing for everything he has been missing in the year since his parent’s death. Everything seems perfect until Thomas Candlewick, newly promoted president of Wishworks, the magical corporation in charge of granting birthday wishes, shows up at the door to Benjamin’s new, wish-filled house and informs him his wish globe, with the powerful unlimited wishes wish inside, has been stolen by Adolfus Thornblood, CEO of Curseworks and arch nemesis of Wishworks and all it stands for. Ben learns the theft of his powerful wish has also undone Wishworks ability to grant wishes and until he can retrieve his wish globe and unwish his wish for unlimited wishes no one’s wishes will come true. It is up to Ben to break through Curseworks' defenses, liberate his wish globe from the evil Thornblood, and un-wish his wish for unlimited wishes. In his first book of the Benjamin Bartholomew Piff series author Jason Lethcoe takes readers on a fantastic and imaginative journey filled with leprechauns, jinn, evil spider lords, flying chairs, and inventive, magic-folk sports. Along the way he uses birthday wishes as a way to address both the power of empathy and the destructivness of greed.