2. Friendships are really important for tweens and teens, as a close friend makes it easily to handle tough stuff and makes one less likely to be bullied. Here are some friendship tips for boys.
When it comes to folk and fairy tales, can kids handle the truth?
A recent article in the Huffington Post touched on a study exposing a recent trend in bed time reading: rather than just skipping over the darker elements of some fairy tale stories at bedtime, some parents are now chucking them altogether.
Since today would be the 226th birthday of the younger of the Brothers Grimm, Wilhelm, we figured it was a good time to take a look at these dark tales.
An astonishing one third of parents reported that their children were actually brought to tears by some scenes in the stories. Can’t say we blame them – the vengeful giant chasing Jack down the beanstalk, the roaring beast demanding that feeble beauty dine with him, and a witch straight up shoving Hansel and Gretel into an oven are all pretty freaky images. Some fairy tale themes are so deeply disturbing they can’t be masked with a veneer of gingerbread, no matter how sugar-coated the appropriated Grimm or Disney versions may be. Read more...
The younger half of the German story telling duo, Wilhelm Grimm, would have been 226 this Feb. 24th. To honour his legacy, we’ve spotted a few new and amazing spins on his classic fairy tales. These ones don’t shy away from the dark and dramatic appeal of the stories they draw from.
This artistic take on Snow White is a major treat for the eyes. Garcia’s illustrations are dramatic splattery, otherworldly, and full of rich colours, making it as great on your coffee table as it is on your kid’s bookshelf. The protagonist of the tale, with lips red as blood, hair black as ebony and skin as white as snow, is nothing short of a princess of darkness. Check out Garcia’s blog to see some of the book’s pictures. (While you’re at it, check out her 2010 version of Alice in Wonderland, Down the Rabbit Hole!) Read more...
5. Oh trailer mash-ups! Wouldn’t you rather go see Alvin and the Chipmunks in Mission Impossible than actually have to sit through an Alvin and the Chipmunks movie? And Tom Cruise as Alvin? Awesome.
Cut a classic story down to its most basic elements and this is what you get
Square Inch Design has these really beautiful and simple posters inspired by classic children’s stories.
Favourites? We’d have to do with the Princess and the Pea and the Three Little Pigs. (Though The Wizard of Oz made us laugh pretty hard) Any one (or three or seven) of these posters would look so great in a kid’s bedroom.
