Description:
The all new essays in this book discuss black cultural retellings of traditional, European fairy tales. The representation of black protagonists in such tales helps to shape children's ideas about themselves and the world beyond--which can ignite a will to read books representing diverse characters. The need for a multicultural text set which includes the multiplicity of cultures within the black diaspora is discussed.
The tales referenced in the text are rich in perspective: they are Aesop's fables, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Ananse. Readers will see that stories from black perspectives adhere to the dictates of traditional literary conventions while still steeped in literary traditions traceable to Africa or the diaspora.
Brief description: The late Vivian Yenika-Agbaw was a professor of language and literacy education at Penn State University, University Park.
Review Quotes: "The essays in this book show teachers and educators the many possibilities that these retellings can bring to ethnically diverse classrooms"--International Research in Children's Literature.