In the last blog post, we looked at the benefits of reading one book repeatedly. Today, I want to discuss how reading multiple versions of the same story can also work to our child’s advantage. We recently tried this out by reading several different picture books called Stone Soup. For the most part, the plot and theme are similar in each rendition. But the setting, characters, and details vary. 

At first, the kids asked why we were going to read so many books with the same title. But by the last one, they seemed very curious about how it would differ from the others. There are great lessons for children to learn by examining different versions of the same story.

Storytelling

One great aspect of this activity is that we can expose our children to different ways of storytelling and discuss which is more engaging or effective. We can talk with them about narrators (whether they are reliable or not) and point of view (first person, third person, or omniscient). Thinking about an issue from varying perspectives can provide a child with greater consideration for and understanding of what others are experiencing. This is an immeasurably valuable skill.

Artwork

Naturally, the pictures in each book are quite different from one another. You might ask your children which illustrations they like best and why. Try to figure out what medium was used to create the art and what effect it had on the story. An approach like this introduces them to art appreciation and also makes it harder for them to take the artist’s work for granted.

Multicultural

I also love that different countries and cultures are represented in these books. If we are looking to teach our children compassion and tolerance, this is a fabulous method for doing so. It is fascinating to me that there are so many stories out there that cross time zones and traditions. I think they hold such potential both to unify us and to help us learn to love our uniqueness. We just have to be willing to dive in and explore.

Compare/Contrast

This reading project is also a wonderful way to introduce your little ones to the idea of comparing and contrasting. Asking lots of questions about what the similarities and differences are in each interpretation of the story will require them to recall certain elements and analyze what they’ve read. Teaching them to evaluate what they read long before they reach higher education will certainly put them in a more favorable position as they mature in age.

Details

Reading multiple renditions of stories can provide opportunities to test our recall in a fun way. In each variation of Stone Soup, different vegetables were put into the soup. Our family enjoyed trying to remember which book added which veggies. What a great brain teaser! In addition, this could be a great tool for preparing our children to notice details and produce answers to tests.

Fairy tales are a safe bet for having many versions. Do you have a favorite children’s story? See how many interpretations you can find! Here are a couple titles you might like to examine and enjoy with your children:

The Magic Porridge Pot

The Elves and the Shoemaker