Grimm's, Anderson & Aesop… Which is the best publication/printing?

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  • August 26, 2014 at 12:18 pm
    BlessedMommy
    Participant

    There seem to be SO many different publications of Grimm’s & Anderson’s Fairytales & Aesop’s Fables. Which ones are the best version? I have read that the unabridged version of Grimm’s actually has some dark, morbid & scary stuff (a reviewer said Cinderella’s stepsisters cut bits of their own feet off, the prince in Rapunzel falls from the tower & his eyes are gorged by the thorns below). So, needless to say, that is NOT the version I would want to read to my 7 year old with anxiety issues. (Or any 7 year old really). But, I want to choose a high quality version with lovely illustrations. Please give me some good leads.

    August 26, 2014 at 3:36 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    For Aesop get the version with illustrations by Milo Winter. For Grimm and Anderson, I have complete collections, but don’t worry about pictures because there are few.

    August 26, 2014 at 8:31 pm
    BlessedMommy
    Participant

    missceegee, are your collections the original ones, with the darker stories?

     

    I was looking at thses versions for Anderson & Grimm (has anyone else used these?)…

    Anderson…

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/3836526751/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=284DV02VR2HUJ&coliid=I14RHL6CD2JO85

    Grimm…

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Fairy-Tales-Brothers-Grimm/dp/3836526727/ref=pd_cp_b_0

    But, they are more expensive than I was hoping for and even the used prices end up costing more after shipping.  So, Just wondering if these books would be worth the price.  Or how essential they would be if I have already read the same stories (probably shorter) out of other treasuries.  Should I just keep my focus on all of the other literature & poetry at this point?  As mentioned in a previous post, this year we will be reading some of Little House (1-2 books), Charlotts Web, Peter Pan, Beatrix Potter, Winnie the Pooh & I think one other.  Plus poetry from R.L. Stevenson’s Garden of Verses and Favorite Children’s Poems Old & New.  But, I can’t help feeling that I may be depriving her if I don’t read her truer versions of the fairy tales.

    August 30, 2014 at 6:08 am
    Shanna
    Participant

    I have the Milo Winter one as well, it is a wonderful edition to have for Aesop’s Fables. It sounds like you are following AO’s schedule for readings. I know that they have alternatives listed for those who don’t want to read Grimm. You might want to look over their site again to find what  you are looking for.

    August 30, 2014 at 12:36 pm
    Karen
    Participant

    I remember reading somewhere (that Virgen Gurigen guy? The one who’s name no one can pronounce??) that children aren’t bothered by the “dark” fairy tales.  I’m not sure, because I shied away from reading those to my girls.  But I remember reading that children can remember these are fairy tales, not real-life.  And that reading them to our children actually helps them deal with the bad stuff that happens in real life.

    I’m not sure whether I agree or not, because it seems that in real life, VERY bad stuff (things that our grandparents would NEVER have dreamed would happen) is happening.  And then I worry that reading those “dark” tales to my children might somehow intrigue them and then my child would end up being one of those BAD people.  I don’t know.

    I will say that I plainly remember from my childhood that Cinderella’s stepsisters cut off their big toe and their heel in an effort ot get the glass slipper on.  That has not bothered me in the least…..except when there’s a pair of shoes that are too small for me that I want.  And then I remember the step-sisters.

    August 30, 2014 at 3:07 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    I have complete collections of Grimm and Andersen tales. We’ve not read every tale, but we have read darker ones. My kids know the difference between real life and fairy tale and I strongly believe hearing tales of brave knights and such helps them to face the truly dark of the world. C.S. Lewis said, “Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.” This applies to fairy tales & fiction, IMO.

    August 30, 2014 at 3:59 pm
    missceegee
    Participant

    Want to add that you know your kids best. If Cinderella is troublesome, there are plenty of other tales and stories to choose from. For my family Cinderella and rapunzel are well loved stories that we wouldn’t dream of reading in changed, abridged, or lightened up versions.

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