The Other Side of the Story
Every story has two sides, even fairy stories. And, it is crucial to be able to see the other side in order to empathize and understand. If only there were a way to teach this useful skill in a fun and engaging way. Turns out, there is through a series of books which tell famous fairy tales from a different perspective.
How would Cinderella's story be different if we heard it told from the perspective for the "wicked stepmother?"
How would Cinderella's story be different if we heard it told from the perspective for the "wicked stepmother?"
What would the story of the princess and the pea tell us about if we heard from the princess herself? How about looking at Red Riding Hood from the perspective of the wolf? How would the seven dwarves tell the story of Snow White? What story would the giant tell about his encounter with Jack?
In each of these stories, we get a chance to consider the possibility that the story we are familiar with is only part of the whole story.
In each of these stories, we get a chance to consider the possibility that the story we are familiar with is only part of the whole story.
These books provide a fun way to consider some very intreating and important questions about everyday events and debates that don't often get addressed. As people tend to separate themselves into their own echo chambers where they only hear information that confirms what they already believe and only hear about differing views from the perspective that those views are always wrong, it is good to have a set of tools that offers another perspective.
Another useful insight these books allow kids to explore is related to how stories are told. Too often, we assume that a story is told from an objective perspective. The story is telling us what really happened. In reality, stories are usually told from a specific perspective and as such often leave out crucial details that don't seem relevant or supportive of that perspective. What are we missing by only hearing one version of the story? It's difficult to determine until we hear other voices.
This insight becomes especially relevant when we remember that history is essentially a set of stories about our past. Are these stories accurate? Do they include all the relevant perspectives? Do they leave out or distort information that doesn't support the perspective of those who are telling the story? All of these are important questions that need to be examined.
On the surface, fairy tales don't seem related to critical thinking. But, as these books clearly illustrate, it is possible to apply critical thinking to stories and learn some useful insights in doing so. A key component of critical thinking is to be able to examine underlying assumptions and ask insightful questions even when the facts seem obvious and clear.
So, have fun with these interesting twists on well-known fairy tales. And in the process introduce some useful thinking skills to your kids. Providing them with the critical thinking skills to ask questions about these stories will give them a useful set of tools to help them as they grow up and take on more "serious" questions and issues.
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This article contain links to products on Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.