Animated Tales of the World
This article originally appeared in SLJ’s Extra Helping. Sign up now!
Marilyn Hersh, Hillside Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI -- School Library Journal, 3/6/2008
Animated Tales of the World (Series). 6 DVDs (from a series of 39). 15 min. ea. (closed captioned). with tchr’s. guide. Prod. by Schlessinger Media. Dist. by Library Video Co. 2007. $19.95 ea. Includes: Animated Tales of the World: Arabia: The Crown and the Sceptre (ISBN 978-1-4171-0823-7); Animated Tales of the World: Caribbean: The Chief and the Carpenter (ISBN 978-1-4171-0828-2); Animated Tales of the World: Denmark: The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep (ISBN 978-1-4171-0832-9); Animated Tales of the World: England: Cap O’ Rushes (ISBN 978-1-4171-0833-6); Animated Tales of the World: Germany: The Enchanted Lion (ISBN 978-1-4171-0837-4); Animated Tales of the World: U.S.A.: John Henry, Steel-Driving Man (ISBN 978-1-4171-0858-9).
Gr 3-6–This series offers an engaging look at folktales from around the world. John Henry tells the story of America during its westward expansion. The Chief and the Carpenter, a cautionary tale about reputation-building and protecting the environment, perfectly captures the flavor of the Caribbean. The Enchanted Lion is a Grimm fairy tale in which a human is cursed by a witch and the spell is broken by a beautiful woman’s kiss. Cap O’ Rushes is almost Cinderella-like with three daughters dancing at three balls with a handsome man who doesn’t know that Cap O’ Rushes is his kitchen maid. The Crown and the Sceptre has a wonderful folktale twist in which a beggar becomes a rich man and the rich man becomes a beggar. In The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, the world of Hans Christian Andersen comes alive with figurines and wall art that can talk and move when humans aren’t around. Each of these tales is carefully crafted to impart the flavor of the country of origin, with animation and music perfectly reflecting the original fairy tale or folktale. A wonderful series for folktale lovers and storytellers.
