The Fir Tree

The Fir Tree: Children's story by H C AndersenThis story by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen is about a tree that grows up never being satisfied with its life. There is only one day in the tree’s life (a Christmas Eve) that it feels truly happy. After Christmas, people throw it into a dark attic. While waiting for what comes next, the tree realizes there were many other good things in its life that should have been enjoyed. It is excited when finally brought out into the sun, only to meet a sad end that will make you never want a real Christmas tree again.

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A Child’s Dream of a Star

A Child's Dream of a Star: Short story by Charles DickensA major theme of this heart-warming 19th Century children’s story from Charles Dickens is what comes after death. Although children today are more likely to have been exposed to the concept of the hereafter than their 1871 counterparts, the story is still used as a reading text in many grade schools. In addition to being a beautifully written piece of prose, it contains several other important themes. These include: 1) the wonder and interdependence of the natural world; 2) brother & sisterly love and devotion; 3) the importance of family; and 4) how life can sometimes seem unfair.

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President Cleveland, Where Are You?

President Cleveland, Where Are You?: Short story by Robert CormierThis coming of age story by Robert Cormier is set in simpler times (the 1930s), where the highlight of the day for many young boys was collecting and swapping trading cards to complete a full set. There is intense rivalry between protagonist Jerry, his friend Roger, and their arch-rival Rollie. Initially it is over Cowboy cards but, when these are replaced by President cards, all the boys in their neighborhood are desperate to find the elusive President Cleveland card. Jerry is the first to find one, but doesn’t have it for long. Themes: family, friendship, choices, sacrifice.

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Greyling

Greyling: Short story by Jane YolenThis story from Jane Yolen is about a baby ‘selchie’ (human/seal shapeshifter) that is washed up on a beach and raised by a childless fisherman and his wife. Their lives change fifteen years later when a huge storm destroys their hut and threatens to drown the fisherman at sea. The main theme of the story is selfishness. By ‘imprisoning’ the boy on land in the name of love, the fisherman’s wife prevents him from fulfilling his destiny. Other themes: the power of nature, freedom, the supernatural. The story’s message: true love involves letting go and empowering children to be themselves.

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The Dwarf Long-Nose

The Dwarf Long-Nose: Novelette by Wilhelm HauffThis literary fairy tale by Wilhelm Hauff carries a warning for children … treat adults with respect. A boy helping his mother sell vegetables in a marketplace makes unkind remarks about an elderly woman’s appearance. The woman is a witch. She kidnaps and drugs the boy, forcing him to work for seven years as her servant. When he escapes, he finds that she has changed him into a misshapen dwarf even his parents don’t recognize. Fortunately, a similarly enchanted goose-girl saves the day. Themes include magic, the consequences of rudeness, appearance vs. inner character, alienation, self-respect, empathy and compassion, redemption

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Master Jacob

Master Jacob: Short story by Howard PyleThe story by Howard Pyle is similar to the “trickster” narratives found in many folktales. Three greedy community leaders (a priest, a provost, and the town mayor) decide to trick an unsuspecting farmer out of a fat pig (or is it a dog?) he is taking to market. Later, the sly farmer turns the tables with three tricks of his own. For his last trick, he tells them the truth! The tricksters woe their foolishness at the bottom of a deep pit, and the farmer ends up with a lot of their money. Themes: greed, cleverness, revenge, distrust.

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The Fairytale of the Hard Nut / History of Krakatuk

The Fairytale of the Hard Nut / History of Krakatuk: Short story by E. T. A. HoffmannThis fairytale by E. T. A. Hoffmann tells the backstory of the nutcracker from his famous story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. A vengeful Mouse Queen transforms a princess into a huge-headed, wide-mouthed freak of nature. The only cure is the kernel of a rare, supposedly uncrackable nut. The nut is found, but the man who successfully opens it and cures the princess is transformed into a nutcracker. When the princess sees the tiny man, she has him thrown out of the palace. Themes include magic, vengeance, appearance vs. inner character, ingratitude, the selfish superficiality of the ruling class.

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LAFFF

LAFFE: Short story by Lensey NamiokaThe Asian-American protagonist in this story by Lensey Namioka desperately wants to impress her parents by winning the Best Story Award for her grade in her school’s annual writing competition. Meanwhile, a nerdy classmate and neighbor has developed a time machine in his garage. She is the only one who knows about it and, when she can’t come up with a story she is happy with, she decides to travel forward in time to copy the winning entry. Her major concern is coming face-to-face with herself! Themes include pressure to succeed, friendship, time travel, cheating.

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