Storybook Topics

Topic: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest

Comments: I have never been disappointed in a story that takes place in the Pacific Northwest.  That area is my favorite on Earth, and I would be interested to study the legends that sprouted from the land that I love.

Possible Stories: The Un-Textbook has many stories to choose from.  My favorite is “Falls of the Willamette”. I have been to the Willamette Falls several times.  It is a magical, natural place and could very easily be the home of many stories.

Sample Story Comments:  This Native American story contains many terms that I am unfamiliar with.  For example, I have no idea what a “tum-tum” is.  I would have to look up some terms to really understand this story.

Bibliography: Falls of the Willamette.  Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon.  Katharine Berry Judson.  1910.

Pacific Northwest Unit.

Topic: The Life of Buddha

Comments: Buddhism has always made the most sense to me as a religion, and I would be very curious to study it more in a non-judgemental environment.

Possible Stories: The title “The Tree of Knowledge” caught my eye when scanning through the Un-Textbook.  A similar theme is in Christianity, which I am more familiar with.

Sample Story Comments: This story and that from the Bible would be great to compare and contrast.  Each views the Tree of Knowledge/Life quite differently.

Bibliography: The Tree of Knowledge.  The Life of Buddha.  Ferdinand Herold.  1922.

Topic: Mississippi Valley/Great Lakes

Comments: Since I will be moving to the Great Lakes area this summer, I thought this would also be a good topic to study.  I tend to choose topics based on geography.  It’s interesting to me to see a specific place and recall a legend that came from that area.

Possible Stories: “The Great Flood” is from the Menomini people who come specifically from the Great Lakes area.  This narrows down my geography, excluding the Mississippi Valley.

Sample Story Comments: I thought it was interesting that this story had a ball game in it.  I’m moving to Cleveland, which has multiple sports teams.  I hope to tell this story to people I meet when I visit Lake Erie.

Bibliography: The Great Flood.  Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes.  Katharine Berry Judson.  1914.

Topic: Africa

Comments: Lately, I have enjoyed African music, but, of course, have no idea what the songs are about.  It would be nice to hear some stories from that culture that I could understand.

Possible Stories: “The Heart of the Monkey” initially struck my attention because I know of many research projects about monkeys and the great apes from all over Africa.  I wonder what the relationship between monkeys and the African people was like.

Sample Story Comments: This story pleasantly surprised me by having connections with the Buddhist unit.  Buddha is also a topic that I’m interested in.

Bibliography: The Heart of the Monkey.  The Lilac Fairy Book.  Andrew Lang.  1910.