The Book of Common Ground
Fairytales for a Polarised World
Once upon a time, in the land of Common Ground, people from all walks of life lived together peacefully. Farmers, entrepreneurs, magical creatures, newcomers, young and old – this society had it all. That was until the idyllic harmony they took for granted began to fracture.
Storms became more frequent. The once clear skies darkened with dangerous emissions, linked to the treasured Common Ground frogs, whose meat was a local delicacy.
Tensions simmered as the kingdom faced a growing divide.
Our story starts here –but every tale needs a hero
The heroine of our story, Red Riding Hood, lived deep in the mountains. Red, besides dealing with the usual teenage woes, had one little quirk – a magic cloak.
The cloak, imbued with the power of peaceful conversation, was exactly what the divided town of Common Ground needed from time to time.
Even though Little Red preferred a good party to sorting out everyone else’s problems, she reluctantly found herself stepping in whenever tensions ran too high.
Red hurried around to get her house in order - she’d promised to help her Granny with chores today. She had to pick up fresh food from the market, then find someone to help with the big tree in Granny’s garden, and deliver Granny’s pies to the annual spring festival - she’d better not be late!
Red skipped out the door, humming happily.
Yet it wasn’t long until her peaceful walk was brusquely interrupted. Shouting could be heard from the market – it was Cinderella and Jack, the town’s most successful farmers.
Cinderella was waving an enormous lima bean in Jack’s face. “Look at this! You’ve been using dark magic! I’ll have you reported to the mayor by sundown!”
Jack shot back, “Have you no shame?
Lying about what I’m doing just so you can steal my customers, I can’t believe you Cindy.” Seeing Red approach, they shouted “RED!” in unison. Red pulled her cloak tightly around her. “Both of you, calm down. Tell me what’s going on, one at a time.”
Cinderella, fuming, took a deep breath.
“Today is the start of bean season. Since people are buying less frog meat, this season is extra important. But Jack here has used witchcraft to double the size of his beans!”
Jack snorted. “That’s nonsense! I’ve simply found a new method that’s supercharged their size! Cindy here has lost it because I’ve taken some initiative and she hasn’t.”
Red thought carefully before responding.
“Jack, haven’t you always wondered how Cindy grows her extra-long beans?”
He nodded reluctantly. “And Cindy, you surely want to know how Jack has managed to double the size of his?” She hmmed unconvincingly.
So why don’t you visit each other’s farms so you can learn from each other?”
“Not a chance!” Cinderella and Jack shouted. Red sighed. “Think of the possibilities. Giant, extra-long beans. You could feed more people and make more money working together.”
Aspark of interest flickered in Jack’s eyes.
After all, there were lots of towns people who needed feeding. Cinderella, too, couldn’t help but imagine the potential. Grudgingly, they both agreed it might be worth a shot.
Red glanced at her watch, raising her eyebrows in surprise. “Heavens, I was supposed to be at Granny’s 20 minutes ago! Jack and Cindy, I don’t suppose you could spare me some beans to give her?” In unison, they handed her the beans, but this time, they really did agree on something.
As she walked, Red’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of sobbing. She pushed through the trees to find Pinocchio, sitting alone, looking forlorn.
“Pinocchio! What’s wrong?” she asked.
He wiped his eyes, nose growing as he lied, “Nothing.” He picked up his pencil sharpener and shaved off the growth. “So… something is up,” Red noted. “What are you doing hiding here?”
Pinocchio trembled. “Snow White is holding a lunch for all the newcomers from Cutter Island. They’re expert woodcutters. I can only fell a handful of trees a day. I heard that these woodcutters can do over 20. I’ll never be able to keep up with that.”
Red started to piece it all together.
“Pinocchio, you used to be a tree. Those woodcutters might be skilled, but they don’t have your understanding of the forest. Share what you know, and they’ll respect you for it.”
Pinocchio reflected on what Red had said.
His sobbing slowed. “You think so?” “I do.”
Red replied. “Tell you what, let’s go see.”
Pinocchio took a deep breath and nodded, feeling a spark of confidence. “Okay, let’s do this.”
By the time they got to Snow White’s castle, there was a buzz of noise coming from inside. Snow White stood outside, arms open wide. “Come on in!” she gestured for them to come inside. “A drought in neighbouring lands has forced many to cross the sea.”
Red turned to the skinny woodling and smiled. “Pinocchio has a few questions he’d like to ask first.” Pinocchio mumbled,
“It’s ok, Red, I’m fine now. We can just go in and enjoy lunch.”
Pinocchio’s nose grew immediately. He took the pencil sharpener out of his sack and shaved down his nose. His eyes were downcast. “It’s just I don’t trust these newcomers. I don’t really like them.” “How many people from Cutter Island have you met exactly?” asked Red. “Not many.” Pinocchio’s nose grew a bit more. “Okay. Okay, none.”
Snow White grasped Pinocchio’s hand and gently pulled him towards the garden. You know they’re in need, right? They’ve come to us for help. Their island has struggled since the drought.” Pinocchio rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Working in the garden was a horde of gnomes. The gnomes started waving him over.
“That’s Pinocchio! Come help us out!”
Snow White interrupted as she pushed open the door to the banquet hall.
“ E nough cutting wood, it’s time to eat!”
The sound of music and laughter came spilling out as she turned to Pinocchio, “I told them about the amazing work you do in our forest, they’re eager to work with you and help so it’s not only left to you!”
Red turned to Pinocchio. “You’ve got this!
Don’t be scared.” “Thanks for helping Red” Pinocchio said, smiling a slightly reserved smile. “Maybe these newcomers aren’t so bad.” Beaming, he went and sat down with a group of the gnomes.
By this time, Red was very late for her poor Granny. “Pinocchio, do you think you can come by tomorrow and help Granny with a troublesome tree?” Pinocchio nodded, thrilled to be of use to the community. She hurried out the door towards Granny’s house.
There was no time to waste – if she didn’t get the pies in time, the spring festival would be ruined.
As Red drew near to Granny’s house, she heard a howling from above her. She looked up to see the Big Vegan Wolf flying in a hot air balloon overhead. In the distance, menacing storm clouds were gathering.
There’s a huge storm coming!” she shouted, cupping her hands in front of her mouth. “Quick, land before it hits!”
The Big Vegan Wolf’s balloon landed neatly outside the door of the Three Little Pigs.
By the time Red made it to the doorstep, the Wolf and the Pigs were already arguing. “This is the third big storm this spring. The weather is getting out of control!” exclaimed Little Pig One. “It’s all the fault of climate change,” declared the Vegan Wolf.
The Wolf continued “do you not read the news? Unless more of us change to a sustainable lifestyle – we’re as doomed as a house made of straw in a storm! We need to stop eating frog meat!” Red tried several times to interject, but nobody was listening to her.
The Big Vegan Wolf started to feel his huff and puff rising, as Pig Two, not appreciating orders from a Wolf – even if he was vegan – retorted, “Less of your behavioural change nonsense. W e know that’s not how things work. People will always eat frog meat, it’s the way it goes around here. We can’t change that.
Technology is the answer to our problems!”
The wolf screamed, “No! You have to go VEGAN!” as the Three Little Pigs started to chant, “Tech, Tech, Technology. Tech, Tech, Technology. Tech, Tech, Technology!” The Vegan Wolf’s face got redder and redder. “If you say that nonsense one more time, I’ll, I’ll, I’ll...”
The Wolf curled his lips back to reveal a set of shiny teeth. As he did so, the storm broke loose. Rain started pouring, and lightning struck through the sky. Everyone fell silent.
Taking the moment of calm as her opportunity, Red asked, “Wolf, why are you so focused on changing people’s behaviour?” The Vegan Wolf sighed, his fierce demeanor softening. “I have a little one. I want him to have a future and a safe and healthy place to grow up in.”
The pigs’ eyes widened in surprise. Pig
One stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly. “I’ve got piglets at home too...”
Red nodded. “You see? You all want the same thing. You’re just approaching it from different angles.”
Pig Two chimed in, “But technology can help us solve these problems efficiently. We have the tools, the innovations. We can create sustainable solutions – there are new bio-digesters that can capture methane from frog farms and turn it into clean energy.”
Pig Three added, “This way, we can keep our delicacy AND reduce emissions. We’ve also been working on advanced irrigation systems that can help manage water resources better, even during droughts.”
The Vegan Wolf looked thoughtful. “Maybe there is a way to balance our needs with the health of our environment, but it’s also crucial to change our behaviour. If we continue consuming resources unsustainably, no amount of technology will save us.”
Pig Three stepped closer to the Vegan Wolf. “What if we combined our approaches? We can use technology to make su stainable living easier while also promoting behavioural changes that reduce our environmental impact.”
Red smiled. “Exactly. It doesn’t have to be one way or the other. You can work together.” Seeing the Wolf and the pigs finally seeing eye to eye, she took her opportunity to leave.
Little Red!” called out the Wolf. “Please do take my vegan cookbook with you to Granny – I’m sure she could find use for my recipes!” With that, Little Red skipped down the path towards Granny’s house.
Just in time, my dear,” Granny said as she opened the door. “My apple pies are almost finished baking.” Red asked. “Were you okay in that storm?” “Of course, my dear, I’m storm-proof!” replied Granny.
Red sighed. “I was supposed to be helping you today, I’m so sorry. It’s just… everyone here has so many problems!”
Granny replied “Oh, what nonsense, my dear.
Come and sit down. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. But do tell, what kinds of problems is everyone facing?”
Red and her Granny sat in the cosy living room, surrounded by the sweet aroma of freshly baked apple pie. “Well, Cinderella and Jack were squabbling about beans, Pinocchio was in a pickle about the newcomers, and the Three Little Pigs and the Vegan Wolf were at each other’s throats again!”
Gosh, that does sound like a lot of arguing!” exclaimed Granny. Red continued, “Well, in the end, once they actually listened to each other, it turns out they did have some things in common. They all want the best for our community, but they have different ideas about how to go about it.”
That’s right, dear. We don’t all have to agree, but we do have to listen to each other –we all live here, after all! Let’s walk to the festival, and you can tell me all about it.”
By the time they arrived, the party was already in full swing, with the Three Little Pigs leading a conga line across the dance floor.
As the music thumped and laughter echoed, Red Riding Hood found herself surrounded by the familiar faces of her neighbours, all seemingly having a great time.
“Red!” Cindy called out. “Thank you for your tips!
Jack and I are talking about a joint venture now.”
Red, Red!” Pinocchio came running towards Red and Grandma. “Gosh, the gnomes are so cool. I feel there’s much to learn from them.” He ran off, his nose not growing an inch.
The Vegan Wolf strolled by, whispering, so the Three Little Pigs didn’t hear (he wasn’t quite ready to let them know how much he valued their perspectives). “Thanks , Red – your way of looking at things is refreshing. It seems so simple, but it’s sometimes so difficult to look beyond your own beliefs and principles.”
Red turned to Granny, and a rush of emotions came over her. Her red cloak weighed down heavier than usual, but it was a comforting weight. She felt good. As they danced to the thumping sounds of Cat B2B Fox, it was clear that in the kingdom of Common Ground, everyone was beginning to understand each other, even if just a little bit more.
This book is a collaboration between the Evens Foundation and Awe. (2024)
The body text is set in Merchant, headings in Aktura and initial letter in Harbour.
Text by Lara Bodger, with contributions from Mick ter Reehorst and the Evens Foundation.
Illustrations by Clemens den Exter.
Layout by Lise Blekastad.
With thanks to Re-Imagine Europa.
Polarisation is becoming one of the most urgent issues of our time, dividing genders, generations, and communities.
How can we approach this issue differently? Our solution is unconventional: a fairytale designed to inspire leaders and the public to rethink political divides and engage in meaningful, constructive dialogue. In collaboration with the Evens Foundation and Awe Studio, and guided by Re-Imagine Europa's reframe methodology, this book aims to spark conversation and drive action to address the root causes of polarisation. By weaving complex issues and familiar characters into a new story, we invite readers to explore new ways of thinking and find paths back to common ground.