Typical questions

Considerations

There should be at least some classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes in your children's library. Check what is available on the catalogue. However, finding the historical origin of, and studies about, fairy tales and nursery rhymes can be a bit trickier. Some of the excellent websites below should help.

Where to look

Printed sources

Fairy tales

There is quite a comprehensive index to fairy tales:

Eastman, M. H. (1926) Index to fairy tales, myths and legend, Faxon

This provides about 30,000 references in an alphabetical, as well as geographical, sequence. Further supplements have been produced in this index.

Zipes, J. (ed.) (2000) Oxford companion to fairy tales, Oxford University Press

Nursery rhymes

For nursery rhymes use:

Opie, I. and Opie, P. (eds) (1952) The Oxford dictionary of nursery rhymes, Clarendon Press

This book is indexed by first line and by notable figures.

Websites

Fairy tales

This is a selection of some of the best, however, it is certainly not definitive:

Fairy Tales www.bestoflegends.org

A huge selection of fairy tales.

Fairy Tale Resources www.myweb.dal.ca/barkerb/fairies/resource.html

A guide to fairy tale resources on the web.

Grimm's Fairy Tales www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/index2.html

Grimm's fairy tales based upon a 1914 translation.

Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales www.grimmfairytales.com

Folk and fairytales by the Brothers Grimm – interactive and animated stories.

Hans Andersen Fairy Tales www.andersenfairytales.com

Hans Andersen fairy stories – interactive and animated stories.

Fairy Tale and Folklore Studies www.surlalunefairytales.com

Fairy tale and folklore studies featuring annotated stories. Includes discussions and illustrations.

Aesop's Fables www.aesopfables.com

DLTK's Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/index.htm

Nursery rhymes

Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes www.zero.com/family/nursery/

Nursery Rhymes – Lyrics and Origins www.rhymes.org.uk

Tips and pitfalls

Check with the enquirer whether they want the original fairy tale or if an abridged version will do. Childrens’ libraries contain many picture books and anthologies with abridged versions of these tales. It might be useful to keep a checklist of some of the more popular fairy tales and to keep a note of which anthologies they can be found in.