Introduction: Folklore for Children and Folklore of Children

What is commonly referred to as "children's folklore" is a more complex and more all encompassing topic, subject area, or field than most might suspect. First of all it deals with two separate and yet interrelated areas of folklore: folklore for children, i.e. that which is presented to children, and folklore of children, that which is generally "created" by, learned from, and passed on to other children.

Before exploring these two areas further, perhaps it would be best to determine what folklore itself is and what it is not. Generally speaking, folklore is considered to possess the following characteristics: 1) It is oral; that is, it is transmitted from person to person and generation to generation orally. This characteristic, however, may be extended to include the hearing and reproduction of songs or music, as well as the observation and imitation of methods or techniques; for example, in the playing of a game or the construction of a toy. 2) It is traditional; its form and style are fixed or standardized, and it is transmitted within or among a particular or set group. 3) It existsindifferentversions, which is basically a result of its mode of transmission, yet it is usually recognizable as a variation of the "set" to which it belongs. 4) Its author/composer/ inventor and its place of origin are anonymous, a further result of its oral rather than written transmission, yet specific versions or variations are sometimes attributed to a particular storyteller, singer, or artisan. 5) Finally, it tendstobeformularized and somewhat repetitive, whether it is the inclusion of a set phrase or refrain or the repetition of a pattern in form, design, or decoration of a material object.

The first division of children's folklore, that which is presented to children, consists primarily of what many think is the whole of children's folklore. This is fairy tales; folktales; carefully transcribed or translated literary presentations of legends, myths, and epics; and songs, games, and singing games of traditional origin which are taught to children in schools, at camps, or at scout meetings. Strictly speaking, however, very little of this is'true folklore, according to definition, although much of it is based on folklore in some form or another.

It is the second division of children's folklore: that which is "created" by, learned from, and passed on from one child to another or, in some instances, from an adult to a child, that comes closer to the complete defintion of folklore. Here we find the bulk of children's folklore with which, except as participants at an early age, we are probably less familiar. This division includes folkstories, verbal and non-verbal games, folk toys, speech play, and folk speech.

Whether one is reading children's literature that has been drawn from oral tradition or one is writing or publishing literature for children based on oral tradition a few words of caution are in order. If there is one topic which produces friction or creates contention between folklorists and those involved with children's literature —whether authors, illustrators, publishers, librarians, educators, etc. —it is how children's folklore, particularly oral tradition in the form of fairy tales and folktales, is used; or more often, misused and misrepresented. Folklorists, however, might be surprised to learn that a significant number of the members of the Children's Literature Association share this same concern with them.

When folklore of any kind is presented apart from its place of origin and natural descent, it should be in its original form as it was collected, or it should be stated clearly on the title page and in the foreword, the introduction, and/or any accompanying notes from the author or editor what the source is and how the text varies from the original version. With oral tradition, for example, one should know if what is presented is a transcription of a tale that has been elicited and recorded by the author or another from a primary source; if it is an exact reprint or translation of a tale or source, such as Afanasyev, Andersen...