Value of Fairy Tales

We recently purchased a copy of Faerie Gold: Treasures From the Lands of Enchantment(P&R Publishers, 2005) for our children. It is a collection of various ‘fairy tales’ from writers such as George MacDonald. I have not yet had a chance to read any of the fairy tales, but I read the essay included at the end on the value of fairy tales for children. It is excellent! This is a well written argument from a Christian perspective on the value of fairy tales. Here are just a few quotes:

“A child may be too young for fairy tales, but he can never be too old for them.” (274)

“Some universal spiritual truth underlies the really fine old fairy tale; but there can be no educative influence in the so-called fairy stories which are merely jumbles of impossible incidents, and which not infrequently present dishonesty, deceit, and cruelty in amusing guise.” [quoting Kate Douglas Wiggins] (275)

“it is this taste of joy and desire that draws us ever onward to the most incredible, true, and wonder-filled of all stories – the gospel.” (276)

I would recommend this essay to all parents.

Following the essay is a collection of quotes from famous people on the value of fairy tales. Here are a few. I’ll plan to post more in the future.

“If you want your kids to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” –Albert Einstein

“If you happen to read fairy tales, you will observe that one idea runs from one end of them to the other – the idea that peace and happiness can only exist on some condition. This idea, which is the core of ethics, is the core of the nursery-tales.” – G.K. Chesterton, All Things Considered

“In a utilitarian age, of all other times, it is a matter of grave importance that
fairy tales should be respected.” – Charles Dickens