Happy New Year

We've had some fun and sun in the Children's Room this December-- check out these photos of our activities during the holiday break:

The One-Woman Show with a Cast of 75

Beach Bum Snowman

Happy New Year to all!

Posted by Sue Ann

Have you read WONDER?

Have you read Wonder by R.J. Palacio?  It is a wonderful book about ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive. He goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student. If you loved Wonder, here are some other books to try:

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is about a girl who is considered by many to be mentally retarded.  She is a brilliant, impatient fifth-grader with cerebral palsy discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine is about Ten-year-old Caitlin, who has Asperger's Syndrome, struggles to understand emotions, show empathy, and make friends at school, while at home she seeks closure by working on a project with her father.

Larger than Life Lara by Dandi Daley Mackall is about fourth-grader Laney whose writing relates how an obese girl new to the class changes the lives of those around her, despite being bullied by her peers.

Posted by Pam

"Frozen", Disney (once again) nods towards Hans Christian Andersen.

As you might have heard, Disney's new animated feature, "Frozen" opened on Thanksgiving weekend!

The reviews have been very positive and the box office returns have agreed that Disney has once again succeeded in melting the hearts of its audience, even during a frosty holiday weekend.

While Disney has made a habit of adapting well known fairytales to film, "Frozen" may stump young viewers when they are asked to consider its origin. 

"Frozen" is very (very, very) loosely based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale, "The Snow Queen", in which the titular character is without a doubt, the villain of the story.  As one may imagine from the trailers (or after having seen the film), this is not the case for Elsa, the Snow Queen character in "Frozen".  Sure, she appears to be an antagonist, but her heart is far from frozen.  In fact, her actions are based on fear for her sister Anna's safety as well as frustration at her powers being misunderstood.

This is not the first time Disney has adapted one of Andersen's tales.  "The Little Mermaid" is probably the best known tale which has seen success in an animated version.  Once again, Disney changed this tale and gave the mermaid her "happily ever after".  Something she absolutely does not get in the original Andersen tale. 

Maybe forgotten though is "The Emperor's New Groove", which points a finger towards Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes".  In the original, a haughty monarch is tricked into buying non existent clothing which is passed off as "so fine, that only those who fit their posts can see it".  Naturally the Emperor does not wish to call attention to the fact that he does not see the fabric, lest he be considered not kingly, so he addresses his subjects dressed in nothing at all.  While most of his kingdom is too afraid to point out to the Emperor that he is nude, a little boy calls it out into the crowd leaving the monarch embarrassed at the folly that has befallen him. 

"The Emperor's New Groove", retains Andersen's premise of an arrogant Emperor, portrayed as a bratty young man named Kuzco.  When an evil sorceress named Ymza seeks to dethrone him, she accidentally turns him into a llama.  With the very reluctant help of Pacha, one of Kuzco's subjects, the Emperor learns some humility on his quest to recover his throne and his human form.

Big changes there!

If you ever find yourself curious about the tales that proceeded these films, we have ever volumes of Andersen's tales available in our library!  However, be aware that unlike most of the Grimm's tales which end happily enough (for the heroes at least), Andersen's often find a joyous conclusion to be optional.

-Posted by Jessikah