CHILDREN’S TOYS AND THE STORIES THAT CREATED THEM
Children around the world collect their favorite toys and usually play with them until they’re completely worn out. This is a prime indicator that a toy was loved and one of the most apropos choices for a book about childhood and the objects we become attached to is “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams. Gabriele Galimberti’s photography series “Toy Stories” documents children from around world standing before their favorite toys. Of course, this is a fascinating project that deals with socioeconomics and cultural influence. Two children in Kenya have only one stuffed monkey to play with each, while a little girl in Switzerland has many books, and a small boy in Lebanon has one toy car. Regardless of their family’s means, all children yearn to play make-believe and will create games and stories to correspond with practically any toy—be it a doll, car, or set of wooden blocks.
Most popular toys have a beloved children’s story to go with them and vice versa. For example, most little girls prefer a princess-related doll or piece of ephemera, and the idea for these characters all originates in fairy tales. A stuffed monkey is beloved because it’s soft and comforting to hold. Well, there are lots of children’s books about monkeys: Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” is a familiar classic about exotic animals and tropical landscapes that immediately comes to mind. What was your favorite toy as a child? Can you remember your favorite story, too? Most kids prefer certain characters. For example, there is nothing more popular than Disney characters and the stories that inspire them. Most boys prefer pirates and princes, while girls typically favor princesses (though not always). Animals in stories are usually adored by everyone.
The thing about fairytales is they stand the test of time. They are entertaining and also teach a moral lesson. Some of the most popular to read now include classics that never go out of style, such as “Cinderella,” “Snow White,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Little Red Riding Hood.” “The Little Mermaid” was first written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1837, and, thanks to Disney, Ariel the mermaid is an iconic red-haired character beloved by children the world over. In the earliest illustrations by Edmund Dulac, the mermaid was depicted as having long dark hair and could be seen dissolving into the ocean foam, wearing a golden dress. In Galimberti’s photo series, a five-year-old girl from Saudi Arabia and a four-year-old girl in Haiti both have princess dolls, while a little boy in NYC has Mustafa from “The Lion King.” Why are princess dolls so popular, and why does this matter? Well, a princess is an ideal a little girl can dream about; she’s the personification of beauty and real-life magic. For boys, princes represent the same thing; they are noble and brave, while pirates are even braver and more adventurous. A lion is the king of the jungle and represents fierce heroism.
Some of the lore from which our favorite princes and princesses originate is, in some cases, actually quite unusual. Some say Rapunzel was inspired by Saint Barbara, “a Christian Greek Saint and martyr from around the third century” who was locked in a tower. In the story, she lets down her very long hair, and a prince climbs up to save her. For a child, a doll resembling Rapunzel is appealing because of her very long, brushable and braidable hair. A child anywhere in the world would love this because some things are universal, such as a visually pleasing doll that’s also tactile. The oldest variation of the Cinderella myth can be traced back to 7 BCE, while Mulan is based on a “folk song from the North Wei dynasty, which covers the years 368 to 557 AD, called ‘The Ballad of Mulan.’” While children should be encouraged to play with whatever toy they prefer (regardless of cultural norms and expectations), there are always impediments that get in the way, and kids usually end up loving what is available to them. Because children have limitless imaginations, they can make any toy interesting by creating entire lore and stories of their own. Sometimes it’s the stories we tell ourselves that mean the most.
To see what Full Cycle Publications has to offer—along with books, gifts, and toys inspired by these original stories, check out the website along with Spartan and the Green Egg.
To read more about the series “Toy Stories” and other fairy tale info, check out the links below:
https://www.boredpanda.com/photo-children-toy-stories-gabriele-galimberti
https://www.freddythefrogcaster.com/classic-and-modern-fairy-tales-to-read-today
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