[mbabaian Posts: 15 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hi,


I'm relatively new to this PB writing thing, so I am begging for help.


My idea was to do a retelling of a fairy tale from an Asian country. From what I've read, the allowable word count for PBs is between 600-1000 words. I have whittled the story from 2200 to 1078 words, but it doesn't really flow because of that. So I'm wondering whether a fairy tale is considered PB or NF in the publishing industry?


I know that if I were to go to a library, fairy tales are included in the nonfiction section. Not so sure how it works in publishing though.


Thank you!

[Kell Posts: 1,197 Status: Offline On the other hand WWW]

A lot of times, fairy tales are shelved in with Folk Tales in nonfiction, but they are fiction. Still, a lot of fairy tale and folk tale retellings are on the longer side and intended for older children, so I think that length is OK.

[Franzilla Posts: 997 Status: Offline Gah! WWW]

I never noticed that! Why on earth would a folk tale be put in the non-fiction section? Because it's a culture-based story? I don't get it. Some clever librarian person explain please? 

[mbabaian Posts: 15 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Franzilla,


Yes it's because they are considered cultural tales.

[Amanda Coppedge Posts: 417 Status: Offline WWW]

If a folktale stays true enough to the original it goes in nonfiction. Example, "Sleeping Bunny" may be considered nonfiction because it is only slightly modified from the original. Though the characters are all illustrated as rabbits, the basic story is not altered that much.

If it is a retelling, reimagining or fractured fairy tale, it goes in fiction. Examples would be "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" (Cinderella retelling), "Petit Rouge" (Cajun LRR Hood) or "Cinderella Skeleton."

[Amanda Coppedge Posts: 417 Status: Offline WWW]

Yes, Franzilla--they are considered Literature. Myth, poetry, plays, graphic novels and folktales/fairy tales go in nonfiction. I don't make the rules, I just know 'em.

[Franzilla Posts: 997 Status: Offline Gah! WWW]

Graphic novels, too? Too weird. No wonder I can never find the books I'm looking for. I need to learn the rules of the library. Thanks, Amanda!

[Amanda Coppedge Posts: 417 Status: Offline WWW]

It is a pretty weird system. My favorite: the range beginning with 973.9 is for American History, 1901 onward. The inauguration of Barack Obama is 973.932. Eventually, we are gonna run out of 973! And 974 is already taken with information about states, so we can't just go into 974. When Dewey made the system in 1876, I'm sure he thought that would be plenty of space!

[Franzilla Posts: 997 Status: Offline Gah! WWW]

It is a pretty weird system. My favorite: the range beginning with 973.9 is for American History, 1901 onward. The inauguration of Barack Obama is 973.932. Eventually, we are gonna run out of 973! And 974 is already taken with information about states, so we can't just go into 974. When Dewey made the system in 1876, I'm sure he thought that would be plenty of space!

Well, that's settled then. No more making history! He he. Maybe it's time for an update to the system? Or is that like librarian blasphemy?!!

[Artemesia Posts: 3,790 Status: Offline WWW]

Wow. Learn something new every day!

[Amanda Coppedge Posts: 417 Status: Offline WWW]

It is definitely time for an update. The world has changed so much since Dewey was created. There's a ton of Eurocentric bias inherent in the system, etc.

[Robertvs Posts: 54 Status: Offline 1 <3 PB WWW]

Although I love fairy tales, I don't know.

My guess would depend on the scope of the book?

For my adult collections of fairy tales, they would probably be non-fiction because it's more a collection of culture, folklore, and myths for study.  The introduction chapters and the authenticity of the tales themselves would be more historical and research-relevant.

My kid book fairy tales would probably be more fiction since they are more like derivative works. They would be adapted and abridged stories and some wouldn't be suitable nowadays.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,002 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

My public library has the Tomie De Paola books in non-fiction, even the ones where he completely made up the stories.

[Kell Posts: 1,197 Status: Offline On the other hand WWW]

Well, all novels and short story are Literature, right? So they could be shelved according to the Dewey system as well.  They just are not because of librarian wisdom about how patrons look for books. And according to Dewey, wouldn't adult and children's titles be shelved together? But they're not. There's librarian latitude there...