Bailey - Snow Shovels for Two - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

As I write this week's blog, last week sent a major snow storm with misery to millions, including deaths and more than a quarter-million homes without power. Now Texas is in the path of a major snow storm that will also affect much of the south from Arkansas and Tennessee all the way to Virginia. 

Out west California is suffering from fires justly described as having Armageddon proportions. I'm not sure how or if I can suggest a story for the survivors. I will start looking, but for now this Michigander will talk about snow. It's a fact of life here in the mitten-shaped state.

Carolyn Sherwin Bailey produced books about storytelling and many children's books including a Newbery award winner. Her 1916 Stories for Sunday Telling is little known, but fits her view of the value of storytelling which Encyclopedia.com quoted her seeing as "a real force for mental and moral good," Bailey believed that to be effective, a children's story must be developmentally appropriate."

The book is aimed at young children for Sunday School, but it isn't limited to there. With much of the country blanketed in snow, it seems especially timely. It also tells in a way that fits its young  audience without being "preachy." After the story I'll offer possible follow-up discussion. There's also one pet peeve I would change in the story, the use of the word "lame." Too frequently it's used today in ways that do not reflect its original meaning of impaired walking. I would suggest saying something like Mrs. Maloney had difficulty walking.

Possible discussion might talk of the difference in how Peter and John used their snow shovels and why Peter went in cold and unhappy while John was warm and laughing. Might it launch a new story?

The winter is only just beginning. May you, too, be warm and happy.

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This is part of a series of postings of stories under the category, “Keeping the Public in Public Domain.” The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated. I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20^th century. My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them. I hope you enjoy discovering them.

At the same time, my own involvement in storytelling regularly creates projects requiring research as part of my sharing stories with an audience.  Whenever that research needs to be shown here, the publishing of Public Domain stories will not occur that week.  This is a return to my regular posting of a research project here.  (Don't worry, this isn't dry research, my research is always geared towards future storytelling to an audience.)  Response has convinced me that "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my other postings as often as I can manage it.

See the sidebar for other Public Domain story resources I recommend on the page “PublicDomain Story Resources."