If You Could Change Endings of Fairy Tales

Once upon a time, grownups told stories. Once upon a time, children listened to the storytelling. There were tales of dark forests, magic mountains, hidden castles, and talking animals. There were tales of children lost or setting out to see the world. There were tales of greed, jealousy, and cruelty. But there were also tales of beauty, loyalty, kindness, and love. The parents who told these stories, and the children who heard them, lived in a world different from our world. The dwarfs and giants they heard about, walked among them. They saw the nightingale and heard its song. All these were enhanced by imagination and values. Your children, however, have grown up in a world of computers and fairy tale parks. This book will try to bridge the gap between the two worlds. New endings to 32 well-known (and less well-known) fairy tales will stimulate your child’s imagination, ability to confront moral issues, and to learn acceptance of “the other.” Each original tale is followed by a new ending and short definitions of new words and Internet sources of relevant pictures and bird songs.

Dr. Moshe Sonnheim is a retired Social Work educator. A former Philadelphian, he has lived in Jerusalem, Israel, since 1971. He is married to a Dutch “Hidden Child,” and they have two daughters and nine grandchildren. Moshe has published academic books, short stories of love, paranormal experiences, and poems. The idea for this book was suggested by his daughter, Idit Karni; typing of text was done by his granddaughter, Barr Karni (age 14), and colorful and creative illustrations were provided by Avi Katz. And so, at age eighty-five, Moshe shares with you, the magical world of fairy tales he told to his children and grandchildren.