Moshe Sonnheim

If You Could Change the Ending Moshe Sonnheim

Once upon a time, grownups told stories. Once upon a time, children listened to the storytelling. There were tales of dark forests, magic mountains, hidden castles, and talking animals. There were tales of children lost or setting out to see the world. There were tales of greed, jealousy, and cruelty. But there were also tales of beauty, loyalty, kindness, and love. The parents who told these stories, and the children who heard them, lived in a world different from our world. The dwarfs and giants they heard about, walked among them. They saw the nightingale and heard its song. All these were enhanced by imagination and values. Your children, however, have grown up in a world of computers and fairy tale parks. This book will try to bridge the gap between the two worlds. New endings to 32 well-known (and less well-known) fairy tales will stimulate your child's imagination, ability to confront moral issues, and to learn acceptance of "the other." Each original tale is followed by a new ending and short definitions of new words and Internet sources of relevant pictures and bird songs.