Reading River

The story of the Gingerbread Man teaches us two basic morals: The first moral is that arrogance and overconfidence can lead to one's downfall. The Gingerbread Man, believing he can outrun everyone, ignores warnings and meets his demise because he underestimates the fox's cunning. It teaches a lesson about the dangers of not listening to advice and the consequences of pride. The second mora...

Rapunzel is a fairy tale that could be traced back as far as the 11th century from Persia.  A later adaptation by the Brothers Grimm brings us to the more familiar version that we have today. 

What happens when we don't listen to sound advice? Little Red Riding Hood is the story of a girl so innocent to the dangers of the world. Despite her mother telling her how to stay safe, she ends up getting into trouble. This story could be traced back as far as the 17th century and perhaps even earlier.  

Tom Thumb is an English fairy tale about the adventures of a tiny boy the size of a thumb. He uses trickery and wits on his travels to outsmart others. There have been several adaptations over the years, but not quite like this! Join along Tom Thumb's misfortunes as he tries to get back home to his parents.

The Adventures of Aladdin by the Brothers Grimm is a tale of a young boy who finds power and riches through a genie of a magic lamp. This story has been remade and retold numerous times. The most recent and more familiar retelling  is from Disney. Sorry, no singing in this version. 

Puss in Boots was written in 1697 by French author, Charles Perrault. The roots of the story, however, could be traced as far back as 1550 by Italian author Giovanni Francesco Straparola. Some of the younger generation might even associate Puss in Boots to animated adaptations, most notably in the Shrek movies.  

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter is a story about a mischievous little bunny who gets chased around the garden of Mr. McGregor. This was originally written in 1893 for the son of Potter's former governess, Annie Moore. In 1901, Potter privately printed the story after being rejected by several publishers. Finally, it was picked up by Frederick Warne & Co. a year later and has since b...

Winter in Takayama by Bree Villanueva is an instant classic short story with a ghostly twist. Set in rural Japan amidst a backdrop of cherry blossoms, it is a simple, yet beautiful tale.  Warning: Loud sounds and spooky tones ahead! 

Rumpelstiltskin by the Brothers Grimm. This is a classic that reminds us the importance of telling the truth and owning up to our mistakes.  Although this was made famous by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, they did not actually invent the story. The origins could be traced back over 4,000 years ago!  Read this classic and others at: www.americanliterature.com

This story is very interesting because it has many lessons. First, do what your parents tell you to do. Secondly, envy and wanting others' possessions can lead down the wrong path. What is wrong is still wrong no matter how it is justified. Throughout the years, there have been many versions of this tale, this was one of the original versions. Based on this version, who is right? Jack or the Giant...

Reading River is about bringing back the art of bedtime storytelling, encouraging kids to become listeners while activating their imagination. 

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams This is a powerful story that reminds us what unconditional love is - loving and accepting others for who they are, all their quirks, and even the things that fall short of perfect. At the same time, I think we all want someone to take us for who we are, and love us despite all our faults and failures, even for just a little while.  *Some people have t...