Long Ago and Far Away

The children's literature series "Long Ago and Far Away", which aired on PBS in the late 1980's and early 1990's, needs to return! I am an elementary school teacher who recalls the rich and wonderful stories presented in this award-winning children's literature series, and would love to use them as part of my teaching. Years ago I even managed to secure a Discussion and Activity Guide, only to discover that the series was no longer available. To quote the guide's writer, Susan Hepler, "Television is a far-reaching, influential, and entertaining medium. Its potential for educating young children in the humanities, however, has largely been unrealized. Yet educators have seen the value of such public television programming... in motivating children to read the books that these programs feature. Long Ago and Far Away focuses on timeless stories, dramatizing or animating them to appeal to an audience of children five to nine years old and their families. The dramatizations are faithful to the spirit and intent of their literary sources. ... Subtleties in characterization and narrative, as well as the visual power of each film, invite children to experience the power of the story as it has been told or written. Consequently, when children encounter the actual book or a story similar to the one they have just viewed, they already have some familiarity with its content. This familiarity invites them to return to the literary source and to move into related literature." When there is something wonderful like this, and an enthusiastic audience waiting in the wings, why is it withheld for so long from the general public? Again, I appeal to a persuasive body to set this series in motion again. It is sorely needed.

When this most excellent series was being broadcast on PBS, we taped a few of them "As Long as He can Count the Cows" being the first one we kept. This grouping of programs is extraordinarily literate, well-produced, and of diverse style and ethnic background. I have spend many hours on the internet trying to purchase this series, to no avail. If anyone can direct us all to a source, it would be a real public service. The only copy I could find in my research was at a college library in California. This series should be brought back on air, it is a real treasure, especially in these times of such a dearth of children's quality programming.

I loved this when I was a kid. James Earl Jones narrates in a deep voice. Different media, topic, creator, and culture/country every week. Some deep philosophical topics (what if we were part of a dream?), fables/tales from different countries. This was really mind-bending and absorbing, and I'd love to own a DVD of this so I could share it with my daughter!

magnificent series that i started watching (and started taping the second or third week) when i was pregnant with my first child. cannot write highly enough of the exquisite contents and james earl jones' wonderful sensitivity in introducing each story. we still have the (poor quality) videotapes that i made. each story is so extraordinary, so beautifully rendered, such wonderful messages, so much diverse culture, it should be made available on DVD to the world - it would help heal so much misunderstanding, fears, intolerance - and help to usher in so much joy, beauty, wonder, and sense of the miraculousness of life, the heart, and the capacities of the imagination!

I watched all these programs with my four children. I have always felt that this was one of the greatest TV program that my children watched and enjoyed a great deal besides learning and benefiting from the fairy tales. As Einstien has said that stimulating IMAGINATION is what helps children enhance their minds. And of course the great book by Bruno Battelheim..."the uses of enchantment" emphasizes the same thing.

We taped some of them but would like to get my hands on DVD or other format if anyone has found.

I must express my disappointment with PBS -(whom I supported for quite a long time)- that they have at least up till now failed to retain and maintain such superb programs for children.