Promoting Critical Literacy with The Ugly Duckling
The Ugly Duckling Fairy Tale: Wisdom and Hidden Assumption
Fairy tales and classic children's stories are an excellent place to begin exploring critical literacy. Some of these stories are, on close inspection, high in both stereotypes and violence. Others are a wellspring of timeless wisdom... and simultaneously a source of subtle assumption. One of my all-time favorite fairy tales is "The Ugly Duckling", the story of a scorned and laughed at duckling who eventually comes to realize he is a swan. Think of the lessons the story teaches: There is val...

Fairy Tales - Rapunzel
Rapunzel by The Brothers Grimm
There once lived a man and his wife, who had long wished for a child, but in vain. Now there was at the back of their house a little window which overlooked a beautiful garden full of the finest vegetables and flowers; but there was a high wall all round it, and no one ventured into it, for it belonged to a witch of great might, and of whom all the world was afraid. One day that the wife was standing at the window, and looking into the garden, she saw a bed filled with the finest rampion; and...

Fairy Tales - The Elves
The Elves and the Shoemaker
There was once a shoemaker, who, through no fault of his own, became so poor that at last he had nothing left but just enough leather to make one pair of shoes. He cut out the shoes at night, so as to set to work upon them next morning; and as he had a good conscience, he laid himself quietly down in his bed, committed himself to heaven, and fell asleep. In the morning, after he had said his prayers, and was going to get to work, he found the pair of shoes made and finished, and standing on h...

Free eBook Fairy Tales from Around the World
Free Kindle Fairy Tales to Read to Children
Fairy tales from around the world thrill a child with new adventures and exotic locales. Best of all these vintage tales are free for downloading on the Kindle. Here are the links to get these fairy tale books from Amazon. Check the price to be sure it hasn't changed, then click to PURCHASE the book for $0.00. Amazon will send you an e-mail confirmation that you have bought the book for free. It's easy and you'll have new stories to read your child each day. Vintage Fairy Tale by YesterdayCafe

Fairy Tales - Mother Hulda
Mother Hulda by the Brothers Grimm
A widow had two daughters; one was pretty and industrious, the other was ugly and lazy. And as the ugly one was her own daughter, she loved her much the best, and the pretty one was made to do all the work, and be the drudge of the house. From the book: Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm. Author: Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm Illustrator: Walter Crane

Fairy Tales - The Robber Bridegroom
Classic Fairytales: The Robber Bridegroom
here was once a miller who had a beautiful daughter,and when she was grown up he became anxious that she should be well married and taken care of; so he thought, "If a decent sort of man comes and asks her in marriage, I will give her to him." Soon after a suitor came forward who seemed very well to do, and as the miller knew nothing to his disadvantage, he promised him his daughter. But the girl did not seem to love him as a bride should love her bridegroom; she had no confidence in him; as ...