Fable Vision is a collection of different sites that work to spread original stories. This review will focus on FableVision Place, specifically the TeleFable Library and FVTV. According to the site’s creators, FableVision Place is “designed to stimulate curiosity and spark the imagination.” The library and TV station provide two opportunities to share stories. Some stories are presented both as a short animated film in the TV station and a digital book in the library. The digital books in the library offer opportunities for the reader to interact with the text. For example, in The North Star, the reader can choose the character from whose point-of-view the story will be told.
The submissions are from a variety of authors, with different skill levels. Although all the submissions meet a minimum standard, there are differences in the quality of the work. Although the submissions teach a moral, like fables, there still is a variety of styles. Some, such as Cosmic Lobsters, have a definite science fiction feel, while others, such as Counting Sheep, feel more like fantasy. Some of the works would appeal to children’s more than others. Counting Sheep is a humorous story to which children could relate. He Was Me is a more serious story reflecting on the changes that growing-up brings. This story would not appeal to the same audience as Counting Sheep, as it is more serious and provides a deeper message. It would appeal to older children and adults. There are stand-alone stories as well as series that continue from week to week. There are digital presentations of traditional picture-book formats and comic-strip formats. There is a fable that would appeal to anyone on FableVision.
FableVision is a useful resource for teaching students about fables and demonstrating that fables can be written with a modern setting. There are also opportunities for users to create their own animated stories and submit them to FableVision. At least one story from FableVision, The Clever Stick by John Lechner, has been published in print-format by a traditional publisher. I would recommend FableVision Place for children ages seven and up. Having a variety of submissions, stories can be found that would interest a variety of ages.
FableVision was on the spring 210 list of “Great Interactive Software for Kids” compiled by the Association for Library Service to children (ALSC) a part of the American Library Association.
"FableVision Place." FableVision. FableVision, Inc., 2008. Web. 18 Nov 2010.
