Monday, November 14, 2011

I LOVE Folklore From Around the World {Story Harbour #Giveaway! (11/23) US}

Sponsored by Tomoson.com I love a good story. When I was very young, I remember coming across a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales and found myself lost in another world. This was the unabridged version - with a lot of gory details and vocabulary that was beyond my scope of understanding. But what I understood held my mind captive! I could almost hear the characters' voices in my head as I read. Since then, I have always preferred the "real" story over the pared-down versions.

That's why I was excited to have the opportunity to review the Story Harbour: Vol. 1, performed by Zette Harbour. This CD contains 50 minutes of folklore about life from all over the world. The six stories are not only entertaining, they're also tales that describe basic human desires and the consequences and rewards of each.

Track 1: Anansi & Stories
Track 2: Master Of All Masters
Track 3: The Little Old Woman Who Lived In A Vinegar Bottle
Track 4: The Crane Wife
Track 5: The Sound Of The Money
Track 6: The Innkeeper's Clever Daughter
 I'm going to tell you something about me that I'm slightly embarrassed about: I am terrible at reading aloud. First, my eyes are much faster than my mouth and I'm slightly dyslexic - I end up scrambling up the words on the page and often need to start over. It drives the kids nuts! The other day, after my third screw-up, Little Guy closed the book and told me he's wait for Brubber to get home to read it. Yeah, it's that bad. And, even on a good day, I mess things up. I try to give the characters voices to make the stories more fun. Ha! Either I end up giving them all the same silly voice, or I get mixed up over which voice is whose and none of the characters ever has the same voice twice in a story. (Good thing there are lots of pictures so Little Guy doesn't get confused over who is talking!)

Zette Harbour isn't just good at telling stories, she's a brilliant performer who can paint a beautiful picture in your mind with only her spoken words. Her story-telling style grabs your attention from the first word and has you listening with rapt attention. She gives the perfect voices to her characters and even includes accents based on where in the world the story originated. She adds excitement to her stories by speeding up and slowing down her speech, her tones rise and fall with the emotions in the stories. I could listen to Story Harbour, Vol. 1 repeatedly through the day and not get tired of it - I'm serious!

Now, it all well and good that I like this CD, but what about the kids? They both love it as much as I do! My oldest has always been fond of folklore and was excited to hear it playing when he came home from school last week. He was being "cool" and nonchalant about it, though. Rather than dropping his bag and heading outside to "hang", he sat in the kitchen and listened until the CD was over.

And then there's Little Guy. He's just turned three and doesn't have a lot of patience for many things. The first time I played Story Harbour, I was doing it for myself for this review. He was busy playing with cars, puzzles and guys all at the same time. After the first story, Anansi & Stories, I realized that it had gotten quiet - no more cars smashing into one another, no frustrated whining about a puzzle piece not fitting right, and I hadn't been hit in the head with a flying elephant for some time. Nope - Little Guy was sitting on his little chair with his hands folded in his lap, intently listening to the stories! It was especially surprising because some of the vocabulary is beyond his understanding. I guess he was doing what I did with Grimm's - just doing his best to understand. We've been listening to one story a night before bed lately. As he's falling asleep, we talk about the story. I'm really liking this new ritual!

Would you like a chance to share this wonderful CD with a little one in your life? Heck, you don't need a child around to enjoy this CD - enter if you love a good story!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

14 comments:

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I prefer the original - I don't like to mess with a classic

wendy wallach said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I prefer the original but I would take in to the account the nature of the child I am telling the story to and modify it if needed.

madamerkf at aol dot com

Giant Sis said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I prefer the original usually - as long as it's still age-appropriate!
wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom

Sam Buck said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I think I'd prefer the originals. Wish I'd known them when I was little!

Socktopus Creations said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

It depends on the story, some I prefer the originals and some I prefer the less violent ones. But for my 3 year old and 18 month old it's nothing but the happily ever after versions. Not quite ready to tell them how birds poked out the stepsisters eyes' or how Sleeping Beauty was actually raped by the king, not kissed.

Thank you for the giveaway!
Danielle J

Jessica Peeling said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'd prefer the original, I believe it takes away from the morals of the story sometimes with cut versions

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

It really depends on the story. Some are told better the second time around!

corey1971 said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I'll take the cop-out and say "it depends". It really does depend on the age of the child and how sensitive they are. (Corey olomon)(olomon@hotmail.com)

Buy me! said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I would like my boys to hear original fairy tales - but probably watch edited versions!

Pam said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I have been telling my 2 year old the violence-free ones right now, but I know that I will be introducing the classic versions as he grows up.

pamelajmcbride at yahoo dot com

Sara Lehman said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I read both the classics and the revised violence free versions to my son, but I explain why violence is wrong:)

Brittany Boardley said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I have actually never read the originals!
britibee@gmail.com

beckee said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I like the originals best but for my younger kids u trend to edit content to be a bit more age appropriate.
beckeesdeals at gmail dot com

A Thoughtful Spot said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I typically prefer the originals. There is no reason to edit them, if they aren't appropriate just wait a few years!