My Favorite Disney Movies

Reading classic fairy tales such as Snow White and Hansel and Gretel made me think about all the movies I enjoyed watching as a child, and more importantly, what makes them so memorable. My favorite Disney movies are, but not limited to the following:

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs


• Pinocchio


• Dumbo


• Bambi


• Cinderella


• Alice in Wonderland


• Lady and the Tramp


• Sleeping Beauty


• One Hundred and One Dalmatians


• The Jungle Book


• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh


• The Little Mermaid


• Beauty and the Beast


• Aladdin


• The Lion King


• Tarzan


• Lilo & Stitch

These movies captivate my attention and intrigue me even as an adult because they range from animals that have human qualities to story's that have magic carpets and handsome princes. The most important part of Disney movies in my opinion, is the "happily ever after" at the end of each story. The "happy ending" that occurs in most Disney movies takes the audience out of their "hum-drum" day to day life. People will never have the opportunity to see animals talk, or exhibit human characteristics.  Regardless if you are five or twenty-five, Disney movies appeal to all ages. 

Hansel and Gretel

I found the reading over Hansel and Gretel to be very similar to the story that I remember reading as a child. Hansel and Gretel are the children of a poor mother and father that led their children into the woods and abandoned them to alleviate starvation. The children hear their plan to abandon them and gather pebbles so they can find their way back home. Their plan works and they return home. Their parents decide to take them farther into the woods so they can't find their way back. This time Hansel leaves bread crumbs to find their way back home, however, animals eat their trail of breadcrumbs causing Hansel and Gretel to become lost. Hansel and Gretel stumble upon a house in the woods made of candies, they are unable to resist and begin eating the house. Shortly after they begin eating, an old woman invites them inside for a large feast. The table is covered with candy, pancakes and other sweets. The old woman is a witch who has built the house specifically to lure children, so she can fatten and eat them. The old witch places Hansel in a cage, and makes Gretel her servant. Days go by but the witch cannot understand why Hansel is not gaining weight; every time she goes to check how fat Hansel has become he sticks out a bone instead of his real finger. She becomes frustrated and decides to eat him anyway. She tells Gretel to climb into an oven to make sure it is ready to bake. Gretel figures out the witch's plan to bake her so she tricks the witch into climbing into the oven, closing it behind her. Hansel and Gretel take jewels from the witch's house and begin
to head home so they can be reunited with their father. They reunite with their father, and they all live happily ever after.

The story of Hansel and Gretel is one of my favorite fairy tales because of the adversity the children had to face in order to survive. They are not only betrayed by their stepmother (some stories have a different parent as the villian), but they must also outsmart the old witch in the woods. This story contains a good lesson for readers of all ages; do not accept help from or trust strangers.

Reflection Over Assigned Readings

So far we have read "Little Red Riding Hood," "Snow White," and "Hansel and Gretel." It has been somewhat of an eye-opener reading these fairy tales. As a child I read these classic fairy tales, and came to entirely different conclusions than I have come up with reading the same fairy tales twenty years later as a college student. As a child, I never would have imagined that the story of "Red Riding Hood" is about rape; and never made the connection that "Snow White" and "Hansel and Gretel" are about cannabilism. These lessons are ovbiously written to teach children important lessons and while most of the fairy tales children read are "watered down" versions of the tale, I think it is very important to re-read these classic novels before you let children read them so you are able to come up with an appropriate response if they ask you what the meaning of the story is.

Betty Boop As Snow White

After we watched the cartoon on "Little Red Riding Hood" in class the other day, I thought it would be interesting to see if I could finding something similar over Snow White. I found many many versions of Snow White, however, the one I found most interesting was a Betty Boop version of the popular fairy tale. The cartoon is unique in the sense that the seven minute clip encompasses parts from almost every version we read. The Betty Boop version includes a stepmother who is jealous over Snow White's beauty and refers to a magic mirror about her beauty.  When the mirror gives the evil stepmother a reply, she is less than pleased with the answer and demands that Snow White be killed. However, in this version of Snow White there are no dwarfs, there are only two men dressed in tin armor. They place Snow White in a glass casket, and instead of laying there angelically, Snow White (aka Betty Boop) is alive. At the end of the cartoon the evil stepmother transforms herself into an old witch and goes to the location where Snow White's casket is; the evil stepmother is tricked and turned into a monster. Somewhat different that the Grim version most of us are familiar with, although, even though the story is different, several key elements still exist in this revamped Betty Boop version of the story. 

To watch the video click on the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-arBMWSD9s

Dr. Seuss's ABC

Outside Reading

Book #1: Dr. Seuss's ABC

The books written by Dr. Seuss over ten years ago still have an important place in children's literature today. While reading Dr. Seuss's ABC book it is no wonder why these books continue to be a mainstay in children's literature.As a piece of literature, this book accomplishes the most important goal of literature, teaching the audience. Each letter in the alphabet is written in upper and lower case to help children visualize not only words associated with the letter but the actual letter itself. Each letter contains brightly colored illustrations that are filled with mystical creatures such as the "Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz," the "animal" used to describe the letter "Z." Another feature I found imperative to the ultimate understanding of the alphabet is how each letter is introduced. After the first few letters are introduced they begin introducing new letters in sequential order, so children recognize that "G" not only stands for "Goat, girl, and googoo goggles," it also comes after the letter "F" and before the letter "H." I found this book to be very exciting and informational. (who can really complain when they are reading Dr. Seuss) I would strongly recommend this book for children of all ages!

Outside Reading List

Outside Reading List

Book 1: Dr. Seuss's ABC

Author: Dr. Seuss

Picture Book? Yes

Posting date: January 22, 2008

Book 2: Green Eggs and Ham

Author: Dr. Seuss

Picture Book? Yes

Posting Date: February 1, 2008

Book 3: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Author: Dr. Seuss

Picture Book? Yes

Posting Date: February 5, 2008

Book 4: Wacky Wednesday

Author: Dr. Seuss

Picture Book? Yes

Posting Date: February 12, 2008

Book 5: Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!

Author: Dr. Seuss

Picture Book? Yes

Posting date: February 19, 2008

Book 6: Charlotte's Web

Author: E.B. White

Picture Book? No

Posting Date: February 22, 2008

Book 7: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling

Picture Book? No

Posting Date: February 27, 2008

Book 8: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Author: Mark Twain

Picture Book? No

Posting Date: March 3, 2008

Book 9: Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Paterson

Picture Book? No

Posting Date: March 5, 2008

Book 10: Stuart Little

Author: E. B. White

Picture Book? No

Posting Date: March 6, 2008