First Grade Suggestions
Note: "The children around about seven years should have the concentration to build their own vivid inner pictures when being told a story, and through such imagery will continue learning in the following years. Fairy tales are told by the teacher then retold and dramatized by members of the class. This cultivates the children's imagination..." (Excerpt from: Waldorf 101)
Heckedy Peg (P)
Audrey Wood
This book might be controversial for some because it is a classic fairy-tale with classic "dark" fairy-tale motifs: a scary witch turns the children in the story-named Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday- into food for her meal. But much to the chagrin of this witch the children's mother saves them all by remembering her children by what they want: "Bread wants butter...that's Monday." When she gives each child its complement they turn back into themselves and the mother chases Heckedy Peg away and the old witch is "never seen again." I have read this book so often to my children that it is worn out and I have it memorized. I think this is a very Waldorfy fairy tale because of the motifs found within story. It has beautiful illustrations, rhythm and repetition. One of my favorite read alouds.
Audrey Wood
This book might be controversial for some because it is a classic fairy-tale with classic "dark" fairy-tale motifs: a scary witch turns the children in the story-named Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday- into food for her meal. But much to the chagrin of this witch the children's mother saves them all by remembering her children by what they want: "Bread wants butter...that's Monday." When she gives each child its complement they turn back into themselves and the mother chases Heckedy Peg away and the old witch is "never seen again." I have read this book so often to my children that it is worn out and I have it memorized. I think this is a very Waldorfy fairy tale because of the motifs found within story. It has beautiful illustrations, rhythm and repetition. One of my favorite read alouds.