Sunday, February 19, 2012

Disney's "Order of the Seven" Gathering Momentum

It's been on the development roundabout for about a decade now but it appears Order of the Seven is finally heading in a more solid direction now and that Disney is banking on the public being able to handle another Snow White story, albeit of a very different kind.

Order of the Seven is an action-adventure variation on Snow White but set in China, complete with a large dose of kung fu and other fighting styles (no word yet on if the fairy tale elements original director Francis Lawrence planned to use, will stay in play). The big news this week, is that Saoirse Ronan (Hanna, Atonement, The Lovely Bones) is in early negotiations to play the lead.


Here's a current synopsis from The Hollywood Reporter combined with details from BeyondHollywood:
In this iteration, the seven are a 19th century-set disparate band of international warriors belonging to a centuries-old order who have lost their way. They meet with an English ex-pat Olivia Sinclair, (Ronan) who is being chased by an ancient evil. She seeks the protection of a centureis old group of warriors, now jaded outlaws and proves to be the catalyst for their redemption. After the reemergence of an ancient evil empress, Sinclair helps the warriors reclaim their destiny and noble roots.
While the project is set in China, the warriors will be from locales near (the U.S.) and far (Russia), and each warrior will have a unique fighting style.
While it's natural to compare the idea to Seven Samuri and/or Magnificent Seven, we're told to expect it to be very different.
Commercials director and visual effects wizard Michael Graceyis directing the epic, which has a long development history — it was originally conceived as a revisionist East-meets-West Snow White tale.
So,in case you've been keeping this film on your radar, Natalie Portman and Jet Li are no longer attached but that may be a good thing. Ms. Ronan has proved she's tough enough to take on anything to do with a story like this. I wonder just where they will go with it? There are many, many variations to be inspired from!


Additional source: io9

Friday, February 17, 2012

Twyla Tharp's "The Princess & the Goblin" (Pics & Video)

You may remember my post HERE about Twlya Tharp's new ballet The Princess and the Goblin, based on the fairy tale of the same name by George MacDonald. The show has since debuted and is being very well received. Performances of this premiere run end this weekend. Now, that there are some available, I thought I'd share some images and a brief video montage of the performance.






There's also a lengthy and balanced New York Times review HERE which discusses the fairy tale and the changes made by Ms. Tharp. Overall it seems people are happily surprised by Ms. Tharp's narrative ballet (usually she's far more abstract) as well as her use of children. I do find it interesting that the reviewer thinks that while venerating children in the ballet, she also underestimated them by her choice of plot changes. The review makes a good point about this fairy tale having a lot more to it than first meets the eye - just as many do.

Re-Enchantment Study Guide Coming Soon

This is very exciting news!

If you don't know what Re-Enchantment: The Hidden Meaning of Fairy Tales is, you can read my super-excited blog announcement of the DVD and interactive website HERE. Let me tell you: the DVD didn't disappoint!

Now I just need an iPad... or something... ;)

Here's the copy from the announcement HERE:

The Re-enchantment Study Guide goes interactive! Produced in association with the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM), the study guide will enable teachers and students to explore Re-enchantment via a series of worksheets with links to clips, recorded fairy tales, image collections and artworks. Designed to augment the extensive content currently available on-line and in the DVD. 
ATOM study guides offer innovative teaching strategies and tailored learning outcomes, and are highly regarded by educators across the globe. Re-enchantment will be one of the first of many ATOM study guides to be produced in this format, and will be available for iPad from the iTunes App Store. 
ATOM study guide apps for Android are currently in development.Launch date in April 2012.

Vestal Review: Fairy Tales Redux

by Zoe Gilbert
I first read about this on the Twice Told Tales LJ but haven't seen mention of it anywhere so thought I would highlight it here.

Vestal Review is both an online and print magazine that is "the longest-running flash fiction magazine in the world".  The latest issue is free to read (though you can donate) and, happily for us, is all about fairy tales.

Web Issue 41  Fairy Tales Redux
Winter 2012

Here's the editorial (reprinted with permission), describing what the issue is about, by Ania Vesenny:
According to Italo Calvino, fairy tales are a great example of quickness in literature. It is no surprise, then, that Vestal Review’s newest issue is devoted to fairy tales.  
When I was a child, I spent hours a day reading Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Andersen. Despite the often overwhelming sadness and tragedy that infused Andersen’s fairy tales, I re-read them, year after year, with the same delight.  
As I read fairy tales to my children, instead of the joy, I often experience annoyance. How cloying these old stories have become! Disney’s “Little Mermaid” is not the same tragic, but hauntingly beautiful and gentle story written by H. C. Andersen almost two hundred years ago. Though I cried when I read the original, I was enriched by those tears. Do centuries-old fairy tales have to be rewritten to have neatly-wrapped happy endings? I search for old editions and avoid anything abridged. 
I have to remind myself, though, that the storytellers of the past routinely altered the endings so that the tales remained relevant to their listeners. The modern versions, with their syrupy simplifications, do reflect significant themes in our society. When it comes to literature, we tend to guard young children from strong emotions.   
This issue of Vestal Review, however, returns to the tradition of fairy tales being told mostly for the benefit of adults. In addition to alternate endings, you will witness your favorite characters in modern context of obsession and celebrity adulation: characters previously silent are given voices, and details or experiences formerly obscured are brought to the forefront.  
It was a particular pleasure to read for this issue. I love fairy tales, after all. I hope that you, too, will enjoy these stories.
There's a chance you'll see a familiar name or two among the authors as well.

The contents are:
  • Birds by Aimee Bender
  • Cinderella's Two Minute Tell-All by Jason Nemec
  • Mermaid by A. A> Balaskovits
  • Growth Rings by Maia Harrison
  • Surface Tension by Maia Harrison
  • Talking to Srangers by Cynthia Larsen
  • And the Rain Kept Falling by Steven Nordhauser
  • All the Hansels and All the Gretels by Stephen Ornes
You can read the current Winter 2012 Fairy Tales Redux issue HERE.

Syfy Premieres Two New Fairy Tale Movies February 25

February 25th is Syfy fairy tale marathon day.

Two new movies are premiering, Black Forest and Witchslayer: Gretl, and Red: Werewolf Hunter (which is now available on DVD) is heading up the marathon.

They're all billed as fantasy/action/horror so expect mixed amounts of each. I've been impressed with Syfy's recent original offerings so I have hopes the new movies will continue that trend (despite the B-movie title for Gretl).

Black Forest is based partly on the famous Black Forest containing the German Fairy Tale Route you can visit and travel on, so I'm curious to see if they use much, if any of the locations or fairy tale aspects you can visit in real life.


Classic fairy tales get a little more grim. Syfy's Original Movie Black Forest premieres Saturday Feb. 25 at 7/6c. 

A group of naive tourists take a sightseeing tour into a supposed enchanted forest, where they encounter evil creatures from the world of fantasy. Trapped in the Black Forest, their only hope of survival is fighting their way out. 

Cast includes Ben Cross, Tinsel Korey, Claire Foster, Dhafer L'Abadine, Oliver James, Andy Clemence, Howerd Charles, Sarah Brown, Velizar Binev, Mike Straub, Sapphire Elia, Jesse Steele and Tobias Hewitt.
Here's a "two new movies back-to-back" trailer showing scenes from both Black Forest and Witchslayer Gretl:

And a sneak peek with Snow White and some hungry dwarves:
You can see more excerpts/videos from both premieres for a limited time HERE.

Sometimes there is no fairy tale ending. Syfy's Original Movie 'Witchslayer Gretl' starring Shannon Doherty premieres Saturday Feb. 25 at 9/8c. 
[NOTE: This movie was originally titled as Gretl: Witch Hunter] 
Twenty years after his encounter with the witch, a grown-up Hansel (Paul McGillion) returns to the haunted forest, seeking revenge. But there's a surprise waiting - his sister Gretel (Shannen Doherty) (who he thought had been killed) is the witch's protégé. 
Cast includes Shannen Doherty, Stargate Atlantis' Paul McGillion,Sanctuary's Emilie Ullerup, John Boylan, Sarain Boylan, Jefferson Brown, Erica Cox and Marianthi Evans.  
Here's a trailer:


Syfy's Original Movie Red: Werewolf Hunter airs again, right before the premiere of Black Forest, on Saturday Feb. 25 at 5/4c. 
Felicia Day stars as Virginia Sullivan, a modern day descendant of Little Red Riding Hood. Things go awry when her fiancé is bitten by a werewolf and she must protect him from her werewolf hunting family. 
Here's a trailer (it appears to have been "taped off TV" so the quality isn't great):
It was also released on DVD on January 3, 2012.
The Syfy schedule shows Enchanted being aired at 9/8c in the morning of the 25th as well, though I can't verify if this is the Disney live action/animation movie (would Disney allow Syfy to air it?) or something entirely different. 
Either way, it seems fairy tales are the flavor of the day at Syfy on February 25th. :)

Thursday, February 16, 2012

"Dorothy and the Witches of Oz"

Opening this Friday, February 17, we have a new Oz story opening in select theaters. It's not a proper retelling of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz but more of a reverse-Oz story. This time, Dorothy Gale is a descendant of the "Oz books author" (I didn't see any mention of Baum's name but I presume that's who they mean) and a children's author herself.

From Big Hollywood:
Dorothy and the Witches of Oz,” opening in select theaters Friday Feb. 17, asks what would happen if some of the magical, mystical creatures from Oz ended up in our own dimension? 
The answer, in “glorious 2d” says the trailer, looks like the kind of fantasy young and old alike might enjoy given its PG rating.
The film stars Paulie Rojas (“The Last Resort”) as Dorothy, plus Christopher Lloyd, Billy Boyd, Mia Sara (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”) and Lance Henriksen (“Aliens”). The new “Oz” follows children’s storyteller Dorothy Gale who learns that some of her most colorful tales are actually based on real, suppressed memories.

Yep. Oz in reverse, meaning, the Oz characters come to Dorothy, rather than her going to them, but they're still coming from the same places (just like the MGM movie). And the flying moneys come to us!

Here's a little more of a look, with some behind-the-scenes as well:

And did you notice? Mia Sara is finally in another fantasy movie (all those Legend fans can shout "Hurrah!"). There's even a nod to "Wicked" in there. I admit, I'm curious...

"Grimm" Episode "Organ Grinders" Sparks Controversy

NOTE: This post was updated on 2-18-12 for clarity and correctness on some important facts after I received a reader letter. (Thank you!) I have changed the text to red to highlight my edits and additions.


You ready for a controversial post? I have one for you. 

I only ask that you read it carefully before reacting. One of the problems I see is that communication can get very muddled on sensitive subjects and offense is taken where none was intended.


Warning: if you haven't seen the episode Organ Grinder yet, here there be spoilers!

I thought Organ Grinders was one of the best episodes yet for NBC's Grimm and it did catch a lot of attention around the web. While most of the reviews of the episode where good-to-excellent, there was one reviewer who got extremely concerned about the approach to the Hansel and Gretel story.

The "Andrew Breitbart Presents Big Hollywood" blog tends to post the controversial side of a story and, while I don't agree with sensationalist reporting, they do a good job of generating discussion in the comments. At writing, the comments for his "Organ Grinder" post currently number 105. The title of the post is:

NBC’s ‘Grimm’ Recycles Vile Antisemitic Stereotypes


That got your attention, didn't it?

Do I agree with this review? I don't, BUT it does bring up some very interesting points - both about the need for thorough research/sensitivity when writing for the public and also about the public's OWN sensitivity/bias when it comes to subjects like racism.

What I mean by the second comment is that when people are sensitive to being discriminated against IN GENERAL (for example: Blacks in reference to slavery, Jews in reference to the Holocaust), depending on how sensitive the individual is, they can make connections of racism and discrimination where none where intended. Frankly, no matter what you say or how pure your intentions, it's easy to put your foot in your mouth. What happens as a result is that people instead tend to choose the middle of the road with the aim of offending no one, but it also means they don't say much of any meaning either. Not offending everyone is virtually impossible.
(The above paragraph is a perfect example of this. I feel like I have to explain and re-explain where I'm coming from in order to be clear that I don't intend to offend. Although we all/many of us, speak "English" we're all saying different things though we use the same words. SO we end up with humungous posts, or long conversations hastily clarifying and back-pedaling, hoping to be heard and not misunderstood.)

Back to the article.

This is how it starts:
NBC’s Friday night series “Grimm” is a fantasy show, but for reasons I cannot fathom the program’s writers chose to mine that most heinous relic of Mittel-Europa: the story of the seemingly good and kind Jew who is really a demonic creature underneath for last week’s episode “Organ Grinders.” 
...This is the gist of the blood libel: the belief that Jews kidnap children to drain them of their blood. It didn’t die with the Nazis. It is still in currency today. You have only to turn on Syrian or Egyptian television to see. But American TV?
I feel the need to put up my hand in a stop sign here and remind people of one important thing: Hansel and Gretel is ALREADY a gory, bloody, horror-like fairy tale with child abuse and a cannibal witch. The version we're most familiar with is one of many similar horrific European tales, only this one was recorded (and revised and "nice-ified" multiple times) by the Grimm brothers* (please see note at end of post to see why this is important), who were German academics, hence the use of Germanic words by the NBC Grimm writers. It's all about eating bits of people and traps for children, not to mention child abuse by multiple characters! (And that doesn't begin to tap all that's wrong in this story).

I'll pause a minute while you go read the post HERE before I continue discussing the objections. It's well presented (it even has some pictures) and makes a good argument, but in this age (and considering the writers) I don't see it holding a lot of water. If, however, this variation were written fifty years ago or more, he might actually have a very valid point, which is another reason it's a point worth making. 50 years is not that long ago. Go on and read. I'll wait... :)

... You're back? Great. Let's get a little gritty, shall we?

Let me say right now that, despite my skepticism on the validity of the anti-Semitism accusation, I'm really glad this post was written. Why? Because it educated me. I didn't grow up in America with the unique sensitivity and racist issues surrounding Jews and Blacks here (among many others). It's very easy to say the "wrong" thing. In my experience, though, tiptoeing around a subject doesn't help at all. It's better to say what you mean and clarify if you need to. The tough part there is that often people stop listening once they hear the dreaded "thing" and assume all kinds of bad from then on, instead of trying to keep communication open. But I digress.
The "Anonymous" writer of the Big Hollywood post takes great objection to the name Geier, used for the vulture-like creature in this episode. Unfortunately I have to admit I would probably have made this "mistake" myself as well. Imagine being in the writers' room, you're working on the episode which contains people using people-parts (especially children's) in a horrific way: what compatible scavenger-like creature might you associate removing organs with? A vulture would come to mind fairly quickly for me (since wolves are out and hyenas are more African in "flavor"). Since all the Grimm creatures have a Germanic name, we'd use the German word for vulture, which is, you guessed it, "geier". Maybe I have a gap in my education (but then if I do you can be sure there are millions like me). I do not associate this word with avarice, greed or anything to do with money-lending Jews.

And making a connection between blood and money? Isn't this what almost every procedural tends to point out? And this goes double for the criminal underworld. Generally, if you follow the money you find the bad guys. 

And cannibalism/capitalism? I think it worked perfectly in context. That scene with Sgt. Wu's comment was all about entrepreneurship gone to a bad extreme. I'm not saying capitalism is bad and I don't think the Grimm writers are either. It just IS. Put any power in the hands of an unscrupulous person and you have big-time bad.
If I sound like I'm defending the Grimm writers it's because I guess I am. Having researched many aspects of Hansel and Gretel for years now, most of the plot points and details (including those objected to) seem like a natural variation on the story. It's pretty horrific to start with. If you take away all those points we've talked about, all we really have left is the name Levine.

My point (and yes, I do have one) is that the whole point of storytelling is to say something. Taking a middle-of-the-road approach (eg by making sure every detail isn't going to offend someone, somewhere) takes the power out of a story. In Hansel and Gretel we have extremes of type: the parents are selfish, the witch is evil and there are piles of people-bones sitting in the corner. Does that make all parents selfish, all witches evil and all children destined to give in to temptation or, if they don't, starve? Obviously the answer is no. And - dare I say it - what if somewhere, sometime there was an evil, money-hungry Jew? (Did you faint with shock yet?) Is anyone brave enough to tell that story? Right now, in this era, I'm going to say no. It seems pretty clear in this political climate that any writer or executive to attempt such a story would effectively be committing career suicide. That's not anything I see any of the Grimm team ready to do. To be clear: I don't think Organ Grinders has anything to do with anti-Semitism at all. If you have a good story with a very bad person taking advantage of someone, no matter how you tell it, it's going to offend somebody. While that doesn't mean you might as well stomp away into your stories with no sensitivity at all, it does mean you should be prepared to talk about it when offense is taken (and it will be).

I'm in favor of stories with bite - stories with things to say, even if they touch a nerve of my own (and yes, I have a few..). Why? Because then I can do something about it. Maybe I can even change it. At worst I can start a dialogue and do my best to keep communication open. If we all stay in our boxes (or on our boxes) it doesn't help anyone.

So a sincere thank you, Anonymous, for a very interesting article, for adding to my education and for speaking your mind in a forum (of sorts) that allows people to talk about this (see the comments). As long as we keep telling our stories and listening to each other, we have a chance of changing things - perhaps everything - for the better.

ADDED 2-18-12: 
*The Brothers Grimm were born in Hessen - which, in relation to Germany and being German I suggest you look up some German history books because it's not quite the same. The Grimms are considered Hessian, not German, but they were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers and folklore collectors. One of the brothers also worked in German law and they both worked on the first German dictionary, so it's easy to see why we might accidentally call them "German". Why do we care? Because it's important to know that the tale of Hansel and Gretel doesn't just belong to Germany and isn't a once-told tale. Versions of it were widely known throughout Europe at the time, which further illustrates just how widespread these types of social problems were. What's scary is that this is still relevant today - more than most realize. You may be surprised to know that the USA now has THE HIGHEST RATE OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE WORLD. That's very scary.

"More Fairy Tales from Efteling" by Martijn van der Linden


In case you don't know, Efteling is a fairy tale and fantasy theme park in Europe (in Amsterdam) rivaling Disney World in its extravagance, with one difference: it doesn't use quite the uniquely-branded version of fairy tales Disney does. (Note: the site appears to have had a recent upgrade since I last visited and it's a little difficult to fid my way around in there but you should be able to find the attractions pages - there are 4 - and the tickets etc page.)

Thumbelina by Martijn van der Linden

Summary from a travel website:
Built in the 1950s, and one of the leading theme parks in Europe, the popular theme park of Eftling is a must for children of all ages. Its fairytale theme captivates children and transports them into their favourite imaginary world. Complete with a fairy tale forest, lakes and trails, kids will delight at the 1895 steam carousel, the award-winning Fairy Tale stage show, the Adventure Maze, and the wooden roller coaster called Pegasus.
Here are some commercials for Efteling (in Dutch I think) to give you an idea of what the park is like (looks amazing!). The commercials are from many different years:


Like Disney World, though, the theme park does have things for sale in keeping with the park's themes and content. Some of those are books of fairy tales, presented by Eftling with artists they commission.

Here are some (more) of the gorgeous illustrations by Martijn van der Linden for a volume released in November 2011:
Unknown fairy tale by Martijn van der Linden
The Snow Queen by Martijn van der Linden 
The Ugly Duckling by Martijn van der Linden
The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Martijn van der Linden
Jorinde & Joringel by Martijn van der Linden
The Fisherman & HIs Wife by Martijn van der Linden
Lovely aren't they? You can order it through HERE I believe (if you're savvy about buying something in Euros) or through the theme park.


You can find lots more work by the artist on his blog HERE and a little more in his online portfolio HERE. Unfortunately, he doesn't say too much about this book or about the tales. The online translator comes up with "Tales of the Big Ben", which isn't much help as I don't understand a title like that in this context.


You can see the book is titled "More Fairy Tales From Eftling", which implies other volumes, and the text is also in English. (Perhaps that's the most common language among all their visitors?) I wish I had more information to give you but I can't even seem to find this book again in my searches now (thank goodness I bookmarked).

Monday, February 13, 2012

Russian 3D "Snow Queen" To Beat Disney's "Frozen" to Theaters

Original Snow Queen poster
Moscow's Wizart Animation is set to release their own full-length feature animated film Snow Queen, at the end of this year. It will be in 3D and an English-language version (ie non-subtitled but dubbed with English-speaking actors) will be released for the US (assuming the trailer released Wednesday is an indication).
Wizart's "Snow Queen" development art
From Cartoon Brew last week:

Not to be confused with Disney’s forthcoming Frozen, here’s the English-language trailer for a Russian version of The Snow Queen, which is scheduled to be released toward the end of 2012. It will be released in Stereoscopic 3D and was produced on a budget of $7 million (US$). Moscow’s Wizart Animation is the producer/production company. 
Take a look:
Did you see?! Did you see?! Gerda and the reindeer!! Woot! I cannot find enough images of that part of the story and can't wait to see more of that iconic (to me anyway) scene.

This version obviously isn't quite as faithful to Andersen's story as the iconic Russian Snow Queen feature of the 50's but I am curious to see where they go with it. Although it's a little hard to tell from the quality of the trailer and the fact that I had a lot of difficulty loading it) it does not seem to meet the Disney/Pixar bar. BUT, considering they only spent $7 million on their film (in comparison to Disney/Pixar's spending upwards of $100 million per film), this is pretty impressive.
Compared to the giant-eyed Rapunzel of Disney's Tangled and the other women characters in that film in particular, the character design on Snow Queen doesn't seem bad at all. My main complaint is that it just doesn't appear truly unique, especially the two leads. From what I've seen, they've done a very nice job of pacing, scene layout and (story) boarding but the (character) animation could be stronger overall. I find myself wishing they'd been able to have at least twice the budget they had to kick it up that extra couple of notches. If this is what they've done on only 5% of a Disney/Pixar budget, imagine what they could do, if they were given the dollars (rubles?) they needed. (There's a bit of discussion on this at Cartoon Brew in the comments section of the original post.)

Have a look at the opening sequence released lat year. The dialog is in Russian (although the title text is English) but you'll get the idea. There's a lot of nice stuff here.

 It looks like Wizart have a nice film on their hands overall. Their challenge is going to be the marketing but if they manage a pre-Christmas release - meaning a family seasonal film - as well as beating Disney's Frozen to the box office, they should be guaranteed of some good numbers.
You can apparently find more information and galleries at the official website HERE but I'm having difficulty getting it to load properly beyond the home page  (though I do love the reindeer galloping across the snow as their loading icon). Of course, like you, I have to wonder: what does their actual Snow Queen look like?

New poster  - for the US? - with a "The" added to the title,
though the website still doesn't.
(I definitely prefer the old one)


"Snow Queen"
Release is planned for winter 2012/2013
Director Maxim Sveshnikov
Co-director Vlad Barbe
Written by Vadim Sveshnikov, Vlad Barbe
Based on H.C. Andersen story.
Producers Sergey Rapoport, Alexander Ligay, Yuriy Moskvin
Executive producer Vladimir Nikolaev
Production Designer Arthur Mirzoyan
Director of photography Alexey Tsitsilin
Music by Mark Willott
Produced by Inlay Film Company & Wizart Animation

Once Upon A Blog Joins Pinterest

After doing some research, I've decided to have Once Upon A Blog branch out a little and join Pinterest. 

My concern about joining anything is that my time is very limited and posting regularly here is already a big challenge. Having said that I think having a Pinterest account is not only very manageable but might be beneficial to Once Upon A Blog readers.

So here it is:
(click above to go straight there)
I'm including soe screenshots of the boards as they are right now (note: most boards have far more images than are shown in the preview).

I don't ever intend to have a definite collection of anything pinned there: not of illustrations per tale, nor best books for students of fairy tales, nor most recommended picture books. Heidi Anne Heiner already has most of this information collected and easily searchable at SurLaLune. My aim in having the blog is to supplement and support the phenomenal work she's already done there and on her own daily blog by bringing you news you may not have seen, or link you to new and different art, books, projects or products I've found. My aim in having Pinterest boards is to link you visually to resources, ideas and inspirations and to better enhance your "fairy tale life".
I am just starting there (I've only been on it a day and a half - and it's taken all my computer time so blogging has been a little light sorry!) and have very quickly put together some boards so you'd have some fun exploring straight away. In the interest of speed, a lot of my "pinning" has initially been within the Pinterest community so I've speedily "re-pinned" entries into my own categories of boards without much, if any commentary of my own. This means I have a bit of catching up to do to update credits for illustrations and photos so, for the most part, most of the comments you read below the pictures aren't mine (and I can't promise when I will be getting to them, just that I intend to). Enchanted Conversation is also on Pinterest (Kate Wolford's interest is the reason I looked into getting an account in the first place) and you'll see her boards are beautifully informative in addition to being lovely and interesting collections.

I will definitely be adding boards in the future, particularly to break up the books boards and make them easier to navigate. Right now all fiction and reference books are together and only being kept separate from picture books. I don't intend it to remain that way! I also have pinned whatever I happened to find first - there's no priority order there so if you think a book is missing, it probably is. I have a lot to add - and that's only regarding books I like and happily recommend. A proper definitive board/list would be... HUGE! 

The "tales" boards are not meant to be (again) definitive illustration collections. I'm putting together images I either really like or find interesting and unusual. Hopefully you'll always be able to discover something new among them.

You're welcome to follow me there, to "like" and/or comment, or, better still, you can make your own boards and help build more of a fairy tale community there. There are obviously quite a few fairy tale readers and enthusiasts on there already who've built a generous collection of magical boards to browse. I've tried to have the Once Upon A Blog boards be a little different to these (hence the "fairy tale colors" series) but there will always be some overlap. That's one of the wonderful things, though. If you're fascinated by crowns, for instance, you can make a whole board of them and we can all visit, appreciate and enjoy, while someone else might be completely focused on animals in fairy tales.
So, consider the Once Upon A Blog Pinterest boards a place to browse for fun magic and inspiration. Expect to find many side paths and don't feel you need to explore them all. I'm a very visual person so I enjoy things like mood boards and images collected on a theme. This Pinterest account will reflect that. It's also intentionally personal so you'll be getting a better glimpse at the kinds of things that make this fairy tale enthusiast tick, including on subjects not directly within fairy tale circles. :)

Enjoy!