Children's and Young Adult Literature: Traditional literature/Folklore
What is traditional literature?
by tamara_cox1
"Traditional literature encompasses books rendered from oral tradition--stories that have been passed down for ages (Kiefer, 2007)--and as a result are commonly shared throughout the world. This literature includes folktales, myths, fables, and legends."
"Folktales differ from the stories of today in that folktales are more interested in preserving tradition rather than creating it. Whereas the modern storyteller values originality of plot, the folklorist values connecting his audience with past and present culture (Thompson 4). With all due redundancy, folktales capture tales of the folk. They are living histories of the people of a particular time and place. They shed light on the values, aspirations, fears and dreams of a particular culture. They educate, inspire and entertain."
Background reading
Once upon a Folktale by In this book, Dr. Blatt illustrates the importance of appreciating the folk-lore as the ancestor of modern children's and adult literature. Outstanding contributors -- who include Margaret Read MacDonald, Bette Bosma, Patricia Cianciolo and Eric Kimmel -- explore the possibilities and applications of using folklore in elementary and middle school classrooms. Following each chapter are annotated bibliographies of folklore materials.
Storyteller's Sourcebook, 1983-1999"This edition of Storyteller's Sourcebook complements the original edition published in 1982. The first edition provides descriptions of folktales and references to more than 700 published sources of folktales. This new edition covers folktales from 1983-1999. Both editions include thorough indexing by subject, motif, title, ethnic group and country of origin and a comprehensive bibliography."--pub. desc.
Featured title
Snow White and Rose Red are loving, happy sisters, although they are different as day and night. One snowy day, their peace is disturbed by a giant black bear looking for a warm place to rest. At first scared, the girls and their mother soon realize the bear is kind; in fact, there is more to the bear than meets the eye. Will the girls' giving spirits rescue the bear from his troublesome and secretive fate?
Locating traditional literature
Fairy tales Folklore--Africa Folklore--African-Americans Folklore--Canada
Folklore--China Folklore--French-Canadians Folklore--Japan Folklore--India
Folklore--Korea Folklore--Mexico Folklore--Nigeria Folklore--Russia
*Note: To locate additional resources, search the Library Catalogue by combining any country or cultural group with the heading folklore. Example: Cree Indians - Folklore
*Note: For traditional First Nations, Métis, or Inuit stories, refer to the Indigenous Children's Literature section of this guide