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Modern Folklore
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Folktales include all forms of narrative - - written or oral - - handed down through the years and reflecting the lives and imaginations of the people. According to Aarne-Thompson, the three types of tales are: Animal * Tales, Ordinary * Folktales, and Jokes and * Anecdotes. They categorized the tales using motifs. *.
Original Modern-Day Folktales
- Child, Lauren. Beware of the Storybook Wolves. NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2001. (Herb seeks the help of Cinderella's fairy godmother when two wolves escape one night from his fairy tale book and threaten to eat him)
- Cole, Babette. Princess Smartypants. NY: G. P. Putnam, 1987. (32 ps.) (Princess Smartypants devises difficult tasks so that royal suitors will fail; Prince Swashbuckle is multitalented)
- Greeson, Janet. The Stingy Baker. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 1990. [UNITED STATES] (baker offends old woman, business setback, until realizes that generosity replaces greed)
- Hayes, Joe. A Spoon for Every Bite. NY: Orchard Books, 1996. (unp.) [LATIN AMERICA, SOUTHWEST] (poor couple ask a rich neighbor to be grandfather of their child and then try to trick him out of his fortune)
- Munsch, Robert. Paper Bag Princess. Toronto, Canada: Annick Press Ltd., 1980. (24 ps.)
- Patron, Susan. Burgoo Stew. NY: Orchard Books, 1991. (unp.) [Stone Soup variant - old Billy Que tames a group of rough, hungry boys)
- Ross, Tony. Lazy Jack. NY: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1986. [ENGLAND] (a lazy, dimwitted boy who can never do anything right makes a sad princess laugh and wins her hand in marriage)
- Scieszka, Jon. Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. NY: Scholastic, 1993. (50 ps.)
- Williams, Jay. Petronella. NY: Parents' Magazine Press, 1973. (33 ps.) ["The Practical Princess and other Liberating Fairy Tales]
- Yolen, Jane. The Simple Prince. NY: Parents' Magazine Press, 1978. (33 ps.) (prince is tired of living at court and tries to lead a simple life)
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Last modified: September 19, 2005.
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Disclaimer: Inquiry Unlimited * attempts to provide appropriate, informative educational links. We check and update links frequently. We cannot be responsible for the content, use of, or quality of materials on any website other than our own. To the best of our knowledge, graphics on this site are public domain. If you find otherwise, please notify us and we will remove them immediately.
For a broadened view of folklore, refer to The Folktale by Stith Thompson for tale types and motifs.
For your reading enjoyment, peruse "Folk Tales of the North American Indians" by Stith Thompson. It includes tales categorized by culture group and motif.