The Historic Bok Sanctuary is located about an hour southwest of Orlando near Lake Wales, also home to the Florida’s Natural Visitor Center that I visited earlier in the day. The Sanctuary was founded by Edward W. Bok, who immigrated to America in 1869 from the Netherlands when he was 6 years old. Through determination and hard work, he became a highly successful publisher and editor of Ladies’ Home Journal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, respected humanitarian and an advocate of world peace and the environment.

I am always fascinated by stories of industry magnates and successful entrepreneurs who became philanthropists and donated their estates to the public. Edward W. Bok is definitely one of those fascinating individuals.

As a successful publisher, Edward Bok, a Pennsylvania resident, used to retreat to Florida in the winters and became enchanted with the beauty and vistas from Iron Mountain, which, at 298 feet above sea level, is the highest point in peninsular Florida. Awed by the tranquility of the area, he wanted to create a place that would “touch the soul with its beauty and quiet”, and he purchased land which he transformed into a sweeping landscape of lush gardens, designed by the famed landscape architect, Federick Law Olmstead Jr. The bird sanctuary houses 126 different species of birds as well as a variety of endangered plants and animal species.

The crowning jewel of the Historic Bok Estate is the Carillon and Belltower, a National Historic Landmark, built by the best craftsmen of the day. The splendid neo-gothic and Art Deco tower was built using a combination of coquina rock from St. Augustine, Florida, and pink and gray marble from Tate, Georgia. New York sculptor Lee Lawrie’s carvings adorn the tower and represent images of Florida’s native flora and faun as well as images from Greek myhthology and the Bible.

The guilded entrance door to the Carillon Tower, constructed of beautiful pink and grey marble Beautiful ironwork surrounds the tower

Edward Bok remembered the music of carillons from his childhood in Holland, and he commissioned the famous John Taylor Bellfoundry company of England to produce a world-class carillon for his “Singing Tower” as the focal point of the garden. This carillon is one of only 4 in Florida and its 60 bells weigh from 16 pounds to nearly 12 tons. Brief recorded carillon music is played every 30 minutes, and recitals are featured daily at 1 and 3 pm. During my visit I was able to catch the 1 pm performance, and just outside the Carillon Tower is a television screen that features a live broadcast of the carillonneur performance.

Another National Historic Landmark, Pinewood Estate, has been part of the Historic Bok Sanctuary since 1970. It represents one of the finest examples of Mediterranean Revival architecture in the state of Florida. The grounds surrounding it were also designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr.

Originally named “El Retiro”, meaning “retreat” in Spanish, the estate was built in the early 1930s for Charles Austin Buck, a Bethlehem Steel vice president. He had made a fortune in the steel industry and wanted to build a winter estate where he could be surrounded by his 9 children and 18 grandchildren during the holidays.

The Mediterranean-style garden features a Spanish frog fountain that leads guests into an enchanting stone grotto at the front of the house. An Oriental moon gate fountain is located off the dining room porch and an English-style country garden with a rolling lawn and pond reflects the afternoon sunsets.

Charles Austin Buck was a great admirer of the Latin lifestyle and architecture, his “El Retiro” Mediterranean revival home has many characteristics of an antique Spanish villa, including a barrel-tile roof, thick walls, substantial carved doors and woodwork, and intricately detailed wrought iron. The entrance hall’s dramatic staircase features a different tile pattern on each riser. Colourful Spanish-style tiles were handmade in Tunisia and much of the original furniture was handcrafted in Cuba.

From November 25 to January 1, 2006, the Christmas at Pinewood home tour is available to visitors as a favourite holiday tradition. During my visit I had the pleasure of touring the villa as every room was superbly decorated by a variety of locally sponsored designers. Every room featured a docent that was able to provide insight into the unique history, features and furniture of each room. Amazingly much of the furnishings and artwork are original to the estate.

After visiting Pinewood Estate and the historic Carillon Tower I had a chance to explore the grounds of this amazing sanctuary, and its beautifully designed gardens indeed offer a wonderful retreat to nature.

The Pine Ridge Trail offers a unique nature experience, providing a glimpse into the native flora and delicate ecosystem of Florida’s Lake Wales Ridge. In ancient times, when ocean levels were higher, the Lake Wales Ridge was above water and formed a chain of islands. As a result, many plants and animals are unique to the Ridge which features rare plant species found nowhere else in the world. Thirteen of the species located here are on the federal endangered list. Many of these plants are grown in the Sanctuary’s Endangerd Plant Garden.

Being the nature lover that I am, I was enchanted by the beauty of the gardens and a variety of plants and blossoms captured my attention.

For me the Historic Bok Sanctuary was a real feast for the senses, and it will delight architecure and music lovers, history buffs and naturalists alike.

Historic Bok Sanctuary, located about 55 miles southwest of Orlando and 60 miles east of Tampa, near Lake Wales, Florida, is open every day from 8 am to 6 pm. The award-winning Education and Visitor Center is open 9 am to 5 pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $3 for ages 5 to 12. Members and children under 5 are admitted free. For more information call (863) 676-1407 or visit http://www.boksanctuary.org.

For the entire article including photos please visit
http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/orlando_historic_bok_sanctuary.htm

Susanne Pacher
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/hello-from-orlando-part-13–serenity-at-the-historic-bok-sanctuary-92225.html

For as long as there have been carpets, they have needed cleaning. However, vacuums and carpet cleaners are fairly recent inventions when you compare them to carpets. So how did people manage to clean carpets in the past? There are actually a lot of ideas they turned to. These methods today might seem a tad ridiculous to us, but people in the past swore by them, even going to the extent of actually publishing the techniques in various books and even immortalizing the various methodologies in paintings.

One of the commonly employed methods of carpet cleaning is beating the carpet with a stick. Each carpet section was often hung out on a clothesline in the sun and then beat with a stick in order to loosen and embedded dirt and to shake off any accumulated dust. This method of carpet cleaning is so popular that some people actually use this method today in cleaning area rugs.

This method of carpet cleaning was quite tedious, as other techniques were during this period. Because of this, emphasis was placed on protecting the carpet from dirt and wear. This was done by using druggets to cover up any areas and protect the carpet from spills. Druggets were often used in childrenâ??s rooms and other potential problem areas. As such, one can often see them depicted in various painting and illustrations.

Another great idea for past carpet cleaning lay not in a separate method, but in the carpet itself. Some carpets were actually reversible, enabling people to hide stains and gain a fresh carpet when the urgent need arises. Thus, stains can be hid quickly by simply turning the carpet over.

Stain removal is also a very important part of carpet cleaning. Even back in the past, spills were actually quite common and a lot of substances could not be removed by simple washing with soap. Common problematic substances were oil â??from lamps- and ink â??since ball-point pens have not yet been invented. With ink, people often used lemons in order to remove the problematic stain. With oil, people used lemon juice and a good brushing with bread crust to absorb the oil and get rid of it.

Sweeping the carpet was also a very necessary task in those days, and as such, also enjoyed a variety of ideas both in method of sweeping and the implements to be used in the task. A lot of people swore by the use of tea leaves in sweeping the carpet, mainly because the tea deodorized the carpet effectively. However, tea leaves also tended to leave stains on the carpet when used improperly. Some people also suggested using grass for carpet cleaning, claiming to freshen up the carpet more effectively. Another common toll used in this part of carpet cleaning is a corn broom, claimed to restore the carpet to a brand-new look.

Another substance used in Chicago carpet cleaning was ox-gall. A few tablespoons of ox-gall, when added to warm water, was claimed to serve as a great solution when the carpets need washing. The solution is said to revive the carpet colors effectively, making the carpet look brand-new. A lot of companies actually still manufacture ox-gall soap today for use in carpet cleaning.

Of course, there came the invention of the vacuum cleaner. Did you know that old carpet cleaners were not even powered by electricity? Rather, they were designed to be operated by hand, creating a partial vacuum every time the appliance was swept over the carpet. Soon, though, these manual carpet cleaners were rendered obsolete by the introduction of the electric vacuum cleaner.

So there you go: itâ??s amazing what weâ??ve learned by taking a quick look at the history of carpet cleaning.

Raz Barr
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/a-look-at-the-history-of-carpet-cleaning-736842.html

“Share everything” is a nice idea to promote.  Sadly, for many, it’s a concept that hasn’t translated well into adulthood.

As a father I have tried to teach my children to share things with siblings and friends. I tried to remain patient when my kids pull a tantrum, yelling MINE! MINE!

Children do not have a natural tendency to share. Why do they do it? Simple, they do it because they’re children, what’s your excuse?

Every human is an isolated pocket of knowledge. We all can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of other people.

The possibilities of web applications have grown in an unimaginable way with technological advances. It is most often used as the backbone for knowledge sharing.

I like to introduce EOpen Mindz [dot] com, which is a knowledge system where people across the world and from various stream interact with each other to find the solution to their problems.

It is started with the hope that readers can gain guidance and support, more love and less heartache through the experiences in the stories of others. Many inspirational thoughts can be found in the site. Stories are added regularly.

It is a place to open your mind. The tag line goes like this â?? What are you thinking today, Post it here…

You can ask for help from other people. You can post queries. Experts and people familiar with the questions will answer them.

Different categories include IT, healthcare, Entertainment, Social, Law, Jobs, Travel-And-Leisure, Relationships, Education, Food, Finances, Online Service and Internet, Business etc.

There is a video in the site which explains how the site works.

The site is a vehicle to transport and carry the knowledge and information to the masses.

Remember, someone somewhere will read your thoughts and ideas and be it a sad story or a story with happiness, it may have as much meaning to the reader, as it has to you. You may give guidance to contributors of the stories you have read or even receive support from the many hundreds of visitors to this site.

Many of us lead similar lives, if we can gain experience from each other, our lives hopefully, should be easier. So why keep knowledge to yourself when it can benefit the world as a whole?

Eopenmindz is a community where people share stories, poems; they talk about their mistakes they have made in their life and their advice to others.

Varun Garg
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/introducing-a-new-knowledge-system-723268.html

Hospital Oscar Jand serves the people of San Cristobal by providing many different medical services to the island. The hospital hosts specialists, general surgeons, emergency services, and first-aid attention, among others. Hospital Oscar Jand serves the people of San Cristobal providing many different medical services to the Island. The hospital hosts specialists, general surgeons, emergency services, and first-aid attention, among others. Hospital Oscar Jand is looking for volunteers of all abilities and backgrounds to help facilitate and run the daily programs for the patients there.

 Volunteers must be of age 18 or above with minimum education of high school. Volunteers with the following special skills are preferred for the placement:- Doctor Nurse Medical Student Pre-Med Student Emergency Medical Technician Standard First-Aid Health & Hygiene Training HIV/AIDS Awareness Training Medical Administration Public Health Physiotherapy Child & Youth Worker Early Childhood Education Social Worker (BSW) Social Work Student Psychologist Psychology Student Day Care Work Educational Games Sexual & Reproductive Health Training Natural Medicine Social Worker (MSW

 Volunteers can assist by doing following tasks:- Depending on the skill level of the volunteers they may participate in a variety of different tasks. Volunteers with no previous medical background will work one-on-one with doctors, preparing charts for patients, handing out medications, and assist in medical examinations, among other tasks. While Nurses and Doctors will have more independent jobs throughout the hospital, depending on their individual work history.

Basecamp International welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

Basecamp International Centers
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/volunteer-at-hospital-oscar-jand-in-ecuador-733429.html

The forthcoming spring season will mark Toyota’s Spring Traffic Safety Campaign. The surging Asian company has partnered with 429 companies to make the campaign possible.

Toyota’s partners in this endeavor include vehicle dealers, logistic systems and organizations, parts distributors, rental or lease dealers and even forklift dealers. The campaign will start on the first of April and will run for the two months until the 31st of May. This is in connection with the Nationwide Traffic Safety Campaign which happens from May 11 until 20.

The Toyota Motor Corporation will focus on two areas of traffic safety this year. First, the company will address the issue of children running into the streets. This is a very well known cause of accidents and Toyota will try to educate young children of the hazards of running out into the street. Another issue that Toyota will pay attention to is the â??traffic safety for the elderlyâ?.

As part of the campaign, Toyota and its partners in the crusade will be distributing educational materials to young children and to the general public as well. Educational picture books will be distributed to students at kindergartens and nursery schools across the country. These picture books emphasize the hazards of running out in the street.

About 2.65 million copies of these picture books will be distributed through car dealerships across the country. Aside from that about 47,000 copies of another picture book will put emphasis on how to avoid the hazards of children running out into the street where they face tremendous amount of risk. These will be distributed to kindergarten and nursery schools as well as libraries and childrenâ??s services nationwide.

Toyota will also be distributing about 730,000 educational leaflets to children and motorists. These leaflets will also emphasize ways to prevent children from running into the street and how to protect elderly pedestrians. These leaflets will be distributed by car dealerships, parts stores, and rental or lease facilities which have partnered with Toyota in the campaign.

Aside from the leaflets, Toyota will also display educational posters around the country in about 7,400 locations. These posters will be displayed at car dealerships, parts stores, rental or lease dealerships, logistic systems, and forklift dealers scattered all across the United States. The said posters are aimed at the general public to educate them on â??Consideration of Each Person Leads to Traffic Safetyâ? topic.

The said campaign is a good step for Toyota to show that they care about their consumers. As the general public knows, traffic safety is of utmost importance and Toyota is one of the car manufacturers dedicated to traffic safety. Their dedication to safety for motorists and pedestrians can be likened to Volvoâ??s dedication to provide safe vehicles equipped with Volvo plugs to their consumers.

Glady Reign
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/toyota-to-launch-spring-traffic-safety-campaign-124224.html

http://www.yallways.com

Urban legends are modern stories featuring extraordinary elements. These tales are widely circulated and considered by many to contain elements of truth. Urban legends are inherently modern in nature. In fact, the term did not appear until the 1970s. Prior to this time, tall tales were surely circulated. However, they did not garner specific attention as a genre or earn special investigative attention.

The nature of an urban legend is that it must ultimately be believable. To the storiesâ?? audience, the events described must be plausible, though exaggerated, and contain elements of the familiar. Thus, urban legends frequently center on experiences that are common in our modern society. For instance, several tales focus on encounters had while driving. Since most people drive, they can easily relate to those experiences. Similarly, some legends appeal to a specific group. As time progresses, many older legends are altered or retold to adopt more modern elements.

Distribution is the key to the evolution of an urban legend. The tale must be retold until it becomes â??popular knowledge.â? In some cases, this is facilitated through the use of chain letters. Such letters explain a story and warn of some negative effect if the tale is not passed on. The development of the internet has greatly impacted the distribution of urban legends. Stories can now circulate faster through use of websites, instant messaging, and mass e-mails. Additionally, web-based urban legends gain credibility from the use of photographs, videos, and other media.

Many urban legends fall into the category of â??cautionary tales.â? These contain elements of horror in an attempt to deter an individual from performing some action. These tales focus on a specific place where a tragic event has occurred or highlight a dangerous situation. Although the specific events in these stories are generally fictional, the ultimate warning has some basis in fact. Thus, the repetition of these types of urban legends may prove beneficial. For instance, some popular urban legends are told about children who eat contaminated Halloween candy. Though rarely reported, it is plausible that such an act could be perpetrated. Other categories of legends include fake news reports, tales of strange animals, and ghost stories.

Although it is nearly impossible to trace the origins of an urban legend, countless researchers and enthusiasts have devoted themselves to investigating these tall tales. There exist numerous books, documentaries, and internet sites devoted to urban legends. One of the most notable is snopes.com, which is also known as the Urban Legends Reference Pages. The site documents thousands of legends and weird news stories. Among the numerous documentaries, several television series devoted to urban legends have also gained popularity. These include Mostly True Stories: Urban Legends Revealed, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, and Mythbusters. There is even a government organization called Hoaxbusters, which deals with computer-related legends.

Urban legends are, by nature, elements of folklore. They lack supporting evidence and cannot be ultimately substantiated. However, this has not stopped decades of investigations and continued assertions that some stories are true. Regardless of their veracity, urban legends are an integral part of modern culture. They have filled a necessary niche for modern humans; one left empty as society moved beyond the myths and legends of history.

John W. Martin
http://www.articlesbase.com/history-articles/urban-legends-modern-tall-tales-698606.html

The Salesian Children’s Project “Children of the Street”, is a foundation with projects throughout Ecuador, dedicated to reintegrating children who live and work on the streets back into society through educational programming and social services. The ‘Action Guambras Program’ needs volunteers who can act as positive role models and help to facilitate educational programming for the street children involved in this project. This program helps to prevent the negative consequences of living on the streets and encourages each child’s personal development.

Volunteers must be of age 18 or above with minimum education of high school. Volunteers with the following special skills are preferred for the placement:- Child & Youth Worker Early Childhood Education At-Risk Youth Work Leadership Programming Recreational Programming Social Worker (BSW) Social Work Student Psychologist Psychology Student Day Care Work Teacher – English Teacher – Math Teacher – Physical Education Football (American) Soccer Basketball Educational Games Social Worker (MSW) Teacher – Social Science  Volunteers can assist by doing following tasks:- Volunteers will help to teach and facilitate educational programming at this project. Most importantly, volunteers will act as positive and influential role models in the street-children’s’ lives, as they may previously never have had positive adult role models to look up to.

 Basecamp International welcomes all the interested volunteers from around the world to volunteer and make a difference. If you are interested in this placement then please contact us for the details: Email: info@basecampcenters.com Website: www.basecampcenters.com Mailing Address 298 Bagot Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7K 3B4 Phone: 613.541.7862 Toll Free : 866.646.4693 Fax: 613.541.1604

Basecamp International Centers
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/volunteer-for-action-guambras-program-in-ecuador-735563.html

Spanish is one of the world’s fastest growing languages and is a phenomenal tool to have up your sleeve. Problem is, can you learn Spanish fast? Today we look at how anyone can learn Spanish quickly and be speaking the language in under three months.

Here are some helpful hints to facilitate the process of learning Spanish. While you’ll still need to have a good textbook, classroom instruction or online course, these steps can speed along the process of mastering the Spanish language.

Subtitles

Watch DVDs of English language movies with the Spanish subtitles turned on. Read along and you’ll eventually start to learn Spanish words as you watch movies! This is a simple and fun way to build your Spanish vocabulary.

Kids’ Books

Reading children’s books is Spanish is another great way to learn the language. These can either be very simple books or ones which you are already familiar with in English – consider picking up a Spanish translation of a favored book; when you already know the book, figuring out the meaning of the Spanish words will be far easier.

TV

Television and radio programs in Spanish are valuable tools for picking up the language as well. Telenovelas (similar to soap operas) are great ways to hear Spanish spoken clearly.

Comic Strips

Reading Spanish language comic strips (available both online and in newspapers) are a great way to learn the language – you’ll get to see idiomatic Spanish you’d never learn from a textbook and the format makes them easy to follow.

3×5 Cards

You can use these cards to create your own flash cards. Carry some with you and when you find words or phrases you are unfamiliar with, write them down and learn the meanings later. You can then add these to your flash cards and have a great learning tool.

Remember High School?

A lot of us took some Spanish in high school or college or perhaps a related Romance language such as French or Italian. These provide you with a good basis to build on, since you’ll have learned a bit about grammar and verb conjugation. If you know some Italian or French you will already have something of a handle on word order within sentences, but keep in mind that pronunciation will be significantly different.

Talk With Native Speakers

If you live in an area with a large Spanish speaking population (for instance, Texas, California, Florida or larger cities like Chicago and New York), you’ll have an easy time meeting native speakers to practice your skills with. However, even if you don’t have a lot of native speakers to converse with in your area, get in contact with a Spanish club or students from a Spanish class.

Practice Every Day

Daily practice will quickly help to build your Spanish language skills. The more you work on your skills, the quicker and easier you will master Spanish. Mix up your study routine to keep things interesting.

By using these tips, you’ll make learning to speak Spanish much quicker and more fun. You should also choose a self-study or classroom Spanish course which has a proven track record and uses a variety of teaching techniques. Many people give up on learning a new language due to burning out on a dull routine. However, there are fun and interactive methods now available which can have you speaking Spanish quickly.

Lynn Halladay
http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/you-can-learn-spanish-in-under-three-months-a-great-tool-for-traveling-688714.html

Parents often seek assistance in selecting the right toys at the most ideal stage of their childâ??s development. Many toys are designed for particular ages based on safety concerns; however, many others are designed to specifically encourage the development of certain abilities in a child.

In this article we will explore the fundamental skills developed by infants at varying ages, and the types of toys that can encourage children to reach their potential.

The Babyâ??s 1st Year

In the first year of a babyâ??s life, they begin exploring and experimenting with their most important senses:

Sound & Smell â?? In the first instance babies begin to match voices with certain faces and facial expressions, mainly from being held, fed and nurtured. Likewise, certain smells can be recognised and associations are gradually made. As they begin to establish these social attachments they become more receptive to different sounds and smells. Toys with sound and music that react to a childâ??s action are especially good at this stage, and simply letting your baby smell something and then see it can encourage development in this area.

Touch & Sight â?? As babies begin to take a little control of their hands; touching and feeling things become an important part of an infant’s development. Similarly, as sight becomes clearer, babies become more receptive to visual aids. Toys for this age are designed to enhance and encourage these traits. Toys should be for seeing, hearing and touching – this encourages the child to respond to the sights and sounds they see and hear. Picture books with sound, teddy bears with different textures and pulley toys that respond to a childâ??s movement are especially beneficial after 6 months old. Toys in bright, monochromic colours can also help to stimulate eyesight in the first year of a childâ??s life.

Ages 1 to 2

This stage is an important time for developing independence and important social skills that will never be lost. Between the ages of 1 and 2 it is surprising how rapidly a child develops from a tentative toddler saying only 1 or 2 words, to a confident child able to easily run and speak around 50 individual words.

From the age of 1, infants begin taking an interest in the effects of their manipulation, and it is very fun to sit back and watch children at this age. They particularly enjoy throwing toys and building things, so building blocks Duplo, and stickle bricks are fantastic toys at this age for encouraging hand and eye coordination, as well as a sense of balance.

From around 18 months, infants are able to walk very well and can run to an extent. When objects are in the way – running can prove difficult. However, with their newfound freedom, children love to explore and try everything out, without a sense of danger, so toys that encourage active play at this age are well received. Balls, Sit nâ?? Rides , Activity Stations, toys that speak or make noises and toys of characters they see on TV are advantageous additions to a toy box at this age – they will encourage children to play actively, and it will also help them sleep well at bed time (an added bonus!).

Language progression is also crucial at this age. Children will begin responding when spoken to and chattering away when playing. This makes it important for adults to talk to children in conversations, read stories and sing nursery rhymes whenever possible.

Ages 2 Years +

As a child turns two years old their abilities in counting and speaking becomes clearer, and bodily strength in running and climbing becomes more refined.

At the turn of two years old, toys that have movement and sound and allow the child to throw and drop are ideal, as they will help to refine their physical strengths. Toys that allow the children to push themselves along, such as sit ‘n’ ride toys that allow children to steer are very desirable.

As they approach 3 years old, outdoor toys such as climbing frames and garden swings are great. Children at this age have good spatial awareness, and refined bodily strength. They can move large toys easily, kick balls forcefully and they also have the ability to use pedals on a bike.

An infantâ??s imagination will develop greatly at this age as well, which is why dressing up and a fascination with make believe is noticeable. Doll sets, action figures, train sets and such toys are favourable at this age and help children express themselves and explore their independence. Children will also start to play with others and learn social skills through play. Cooperation and taking turns are examples of skills that will become extremely important both at a young age and throughout life.

Showing off new skills to family is also a very common trait for children around 3 years and upwards. Toys that mimic adult tasks, such as vacuum cleaners, cookers, shop tills and lawn mowers are especially good for engaging with a child.

While we have focussed on the initial, most advancing years of a childâ??s life in this article, toys have been proven to encourage creativity, self-confidence and academic skills throughout every stage of childhood.

About the Author

Having once owned the second largest toyshop in the UK, the owners of Toys Direct to Your Door (http://www.toysdirecttoyourdoor.co.uk/) have been in the toy business for over 40 years. Today, they continue to proudly provide quality children’s toys across the globe.

Toys Direct

What are some children’s stories that are commonly found in the US, that other cultures have their version of?

For example, we have Cinderella, and China has a very similar Cinderella story, and so do Native Americans (Oochigeaskw– the Rough-Faced Girl), and Africa has one too (The Maiden, the Frog, and the Chief’s Son)

Can you think of any other children’s stories that exhibit this same thing?

I know there are many, I just can’t seem to think of any or find any on Google!

Such a thing is not so strange since there has been interaction between various societies since the 1400′s. Why wouldn’t there be some Fairy Tales thrown into the mix of such exchanges? Then they would simply be interpreted and adapted by the recipient society. After a generation or two, no one can prove whether it was a recent introduction or an ancient one.

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