I think the comment about Harry Potter is especially well taken, because, while we were enjoying them as adults, we were aware that JK Rowling was drawing from Tolkien, CS Lewis, Kenneth Grahame, Lewis Carroll et al. The beauty of the Harry Potter seriess that they serve as a "jumping off" point for contemporary children to move on to those earlier (and let's face it, much better) writers.

I agree that our cultural vocabulary is being gradually coarsened and erased by the ignorance and indifference of society in general. Every small strike we can make to keep traditional stories, songs and customs alive must make a difference, and is a cause well worth the effort, because once it's "lost", it can be damned hard to find again, and that's a loss to everyone..