Call for Contributions: Graduate Programs Information

A frequently asked question I have received over the years--one of the top five actually--is assistance in seeking out graduate programs in fairy tale and folklore studies as well as children's literature for some others. Yes, I realize the two diverge more than they merge, but they often collide, too.

This has also always been one of the hardest questions for me to answer. While I have an advanced degree, it is in Information Science (think libraries and information organization, not programming). My B.A. is in English. During both degrees, I used all opportunities to pursue my love of children's literature as well as fairy tales and folklore. I had great professors who allowed me to stray sometimes from the given assignments into my interests and thoroughly enjoyed obtaining both degrees. I presented papers as an undergraduate at conferences and attended seminars, including one at Simmons College one summer. I was a precocious student. It helped that several professors on my university faculties were interested in children's literature, too. I also finished my last degree eleven years ago, so even those experiences are severely outdated.

Another problem is the relative popularity of folklore and children's literature in academia. They tend to be bastard stepchildren hidden in closets under the stairs of other larger departments on campuses. I learn about programs and then learn they have been changed or ended. I also look at many of the top names publishing in the field and see that their degrees are in other fields, especially foreign languages.

So this is a plea for help. I would like to spend a week highlighting several graduate programs and alternate ideas for those interested in earning higher degrees in these and other related fields. If you are a professor or a student, please feel free to share your experiences. Please send them to me directly by email and I will combine them--with full credit to you--for posts about various programs. Help me promote you. Help me help others learn how to follow their interests, to further their educations.

Share school and department information. Share your personal stories, failures and successes in following your dreams for higher education and even career choices afterwards. You can choose to be anonymous, too. I would simply like to offer the space for those seeking more information on the web. Google indexes very well here. It often refers seekers to archived strings of the SurLaLune Discussion Board where this has been addressed over and over and yet the information is only partially helpful or now even completely wrong. Or they find the woefully out-of-date page on SurLaLune: Graduate Studies in Folklore.

Send all information to me at heidi at surlalunefairytales dot com.

And thanks for your help. I hope to start sharing in a few weeks, so stay tuned.

Fairy Tales Hidden Pictures

Found these earlier this week and thought they made nice distractions for any kids (or their grown-ups) suffering from January weekend doldrums, the first not connected to a holiday in a while. These are available for downloading and printing for free at Printables for Kids.

First the one I liked since I have a weakness for Princess and the Pea themed items: Princess and the Pea Hidden Picture Activity. I admit I really liked the illustration, hidden activity or not. I still say all those mattresses are a dream bed for me, forget the pea.

And for those who prefer Goldilocks: Goldilocks & The 3 Bears Hidden Picture Activity.

Astro Boy made from recycled train tickets

A 3.2 x 2.1 meter (10 x 7 ft) work of Astro Boy pixel art made from 138,000 recycled Tokyo Metro tickets is on temporary display at the Shinjuku Takashimaya Department Store (2nd floor) to mark the opening of Tokyo’s new Fukutoshin subway line. Created by volunteers from Takashimaya and other Shinjuku-area businesses, the work depicts Astro Boy, Uran, Professor Ochanomizu and Higeoyaji (Mr. Mustachio) in Shinjuku along with the new Fukutoshin train. 04 more images after a break...

Continue Reading.......

Neha Dhupia Latest Images

Neha Dhupia is an Indian actress and model who appears in Bollywood films. She is a former beauty queen and winner of Femina Miss India 2002. Neha Dhupia started her career with a play in New Delhi called Graffiti. Thereafter she did a music video for Indipop band Euphoria. She modeled foradvertisement campaigns. She did the TV serial "Rajdhani". She did a song with Ginuwine & Shayal called "Baby". She entered the Femina Miss India pageant in 2002 and came in first place winning the Femina Miss India Universe title and was subsequently sent to Miss Universe 2002 pageant in Puerto Rico. She placed in the top 10 More images after a break...

Continue Reading.......

Skyscraper Urban Forest

Urban Forest, Chongqing, China

All images courtesy of MAD architects

MAD architects has sent us images of a new project, urban forest, located in chongqing, china. drawing on the mountainous landscape of the country, the commercial high-rise building, is made up of curved, abstracted shaped floors which have been layered slightly off-center from one another. Connected by a core cylindrical structure, each level's interior is protected by full length glass windows with a see-through, wrap around balcony. this provides transparency throughout the building, and makes the floors almost seem as if they are floating on top of one another. the overall design brings together nature and the urban metropolis, with the incorporation of green space and large expansive views of the city. 06 more images after the break...

Continue Reading.......

Allison Stokke

Allison Stokke was a standout California high school track star that became an internet phenomenon after her picture was posted on net. Stokke set a national record for pole vaulting with a mark of 13-7 in her senior year at Newport Harbor High School. Stokke is now attending University of California, Berkeley and is on the track and field team. 25 more images after a break...

Continue Reading.......

Finger Puppet Fun: Oriental Trading Company

Some of the following items are available on Amazon, but they are Oriental Trading Company items and are best bought through that source. (SurLaLune is not an Oriental Trading Company affiliate either. Links to OTC are purely for your convenience.)

These were more finger puppets to share for this week's unofficial theme, albeit mostly generic fairy tale figures, but still cute. Especially the Frog Prince.


Fairy Tale Finger Puppets: Create a magical puppet show with these vinyl puppets! Featuring frog princes, kings, knights, wizards and other fantasy story favorites, your fingers will love these mythical little characters!

And while we're here, I will share a few more items on OTC:


Fairy Tale Rubber Duckies: Fairy Tale Rubber Duckies. Tell tall tales with these vinyl duckies! Dressed like kings, queens, knights, horses and other fantasy characters, these duckies are great for pretend play! (I love the Fairy Godmother Duck best. And I own these and they are just as cute in person.)


Fairy Tale Fantasy Enamel Charms: Make the bracelet of your dreams! Includes queens, frogs, kings, castles, dragons and crowns. (I really would have loved these when I was six years old.)


Fairy Tale Fantasy Stencils: Write and illustrate your own story with characters straight from classic fairy tales. (This set has a lot more flexibility and more recognizable fairy tales in it, especially Cinderella and Frog Prince. I think these might be snuck onto my next Oriental Trading order...)

And now I'm imagining a fairy tale themed birthday party...