[UA] Darkening Children's Tales

[Micah Jackson]

Well, this is an interesting problem which people who do children's
literature face regularly. Take, for example the example of Sesame Street's
Snuffaluppagus (or whatever.) When I was a kid (and, I suspect most others
on this list who aren't too much older or younger than me) only Big Bird
could see the Snuff-Man. This was designed to point out to children that it
was OK to have imaginary friends. Of course S. wasn't imaginary. So now,
everyone can see S. b/c the leaders of CTW decided that they didn't want to
give kids the idea that you could tell an adult about something that
happened, and they wouldn't believe you. Hmmm... wheels within wheels, and
everything is symbolic of *something.* <--Micah.

-----Original Message-----
From: holycrow at mindspring.com <holycrow at mindspring.com>

>How's this for a children's novel: The kid -- let's name him 'Mel' -- has
fine parents, interesting, pleasant, concerned, yadda yadda.  Mel gets
pulled into some Narniesque scenario -- he's off having perilous adventures,
but outside time and in a different place.  There's nothing where he's gone
for weeks on end to alarm his folks, BUT... they notice.  They notice that
SOMETHING is different about their son, and they try to get involved but Mel
either (1) tells them and they don't (of course) believe or (2) Mel hides it
because he knows they won't.  So you get this interplay.  Could be neat.


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