Web Smarts

www.storiestogrowby.com

WHAT: If your kindergartner is tired of Jack and the Beanstalk before bed and you are accidentally reciting lines to your coworkers, it's time to find some new bedtime stories. These international fairy tales from around the world will add some exotic flavor before the sandman comes.

BEST POINTS: The site provides a medley of stories from countries such as East Africa to Pakistan. Travel with Guleesh, an Irish boy, when he has to rescue the princess of France. Or, in a story that originated in Tibet and China, find out what happens to a man trapped in an elephant pit. Questions are listed at the end of the story to help your child better understand the meaning. Also, you can click and see how other kids answered the question. If you can't decide on which one to read, choose tales by the values they express or the origin of the story. You won't find any gore or questionable content here; all stories are kid-friendly and suggested age groups are included. The site even allows you or your child to submit a piece, and a list of guidelines provides submissions standards that must be met. A gold mine of parenting, teaching, and children's links are included.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The stories were tested on focus groups of children. They were asked to rate the stories, and only the best ones made it onto the site.

(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society