Folk and Fairy Tales: A Handbook

About this book

Just about everyone is familiar with folk and fairy tales. Children learn about them from parents, teachers, and other adults, while researchers study these tales at colleges and universities. At the same time, folk and fairy tales are inseparable from everyday life and popular culture. Movies, music, art, and literature offer imaginative retellings and interpretations of fairy and folk tales. But despite the pervasiveness of this folklore type, most people have only a vague understanding of these tales. This reference is a convenient introduction to folk and fairy tales for students and general readers. Written by a leading authority, this handbook offers a broad examination of folk and fairy tales as a folklore type. It looks at tales from around the world and from diverse cultures. The volume defines and classifies folk and fairy tales and analyzes a number of examples. It studies the varied manifestations of fairy and folk tales in literature and culture and reviews critical and scholarly approaches to this folklore genre. The volume also includes a glossary and extensive list of works for further reading.

Censorship history

In 2024, "Folk and Fairy Tales: A Handbook" by D. L. Ashliman was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States due to concerns over its content, categorized under "Other." The decision followed a series of formal complaints from parents and local advocacy groups who argued that the book's interpretations of traditional tales were inappropriate for children. As a result, the ban was upheld in multiple school board votes, reflecting ongoing debates about educational materials in public schools.

Bans

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