Fractured Fairy Tales

The Other Side of the Story series, multiple titles, authors and illustrators, Picture Window Books, 2011-2019.

Summary - This series of fractured fairy tales provides alternate points of view with these retellings of classic princess stories and other fairy/folk tales, narrated by other characters from the stories. Some of the stories represented are Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Pea, and The Little Mermaid.

Librarian Review - These humorous tales are not only entertaining, but a helpful reminder that there is always more than one side to any story. While fun for leisure reading, they are also designed to be a teaching tool about point of view. Each tale ends with a page of discussion questions, glossary, selected bibliography of classic and modern versions of the original story, and a link to vetted, safe internet sites related to the story. The stories are enhanced with bright, cartoonish illustrations that vary slightly in style from book to book. Highly recommended for ages 4-10.

Professional Review - "Glib, colloquial texts and bright, cartoon-style illustrations create an ironic, knowing atmosphere...amusing...makes a good teaching tool...will be welcomed in creative-writing classes." - Heidi Estrin, School Library Journal (review of Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying!)

Cinderelephant by Emma Dodd, Arthur A. Levine, 2013.

Summary - In this fractured version, the characters are replaced by zoo animals, with Cinderella and the royal family portrayed as elephants, the wicked stepsisters replaced by wicked warthog cousins, and a Fairy Godmouse.

Librarian Review - This story is just silly and lacks the more sophisticated humor of the stories in The Other Side of The Story series, so will be more appealing to younger kids. The digital art is big, bold, and a little quirky, with plenty of pink and sparkles to satisfy the most princessy readers. Recommended for ages 3-5.

Professional Review - "Cartoony digital art features eye-catching patterns and bold lines that capture the action. Dodd walks the fine line between making jokes at Cinderelephant’s expense and provoking sympathy for her; she could, after all, squash the Warty Sisters, but she is an astonishingly gentle soul who will, in the future, be living large. Quirky children will adore this." - Jeanne McDermott, Booklist

Falling For Rapunzel, written by Leah Wilcox and illustrated by Lydia Monks, Putnam, 2003.

Summary - In this tongue-in-cheek version, Rapunzel is upset about a bad hair day, and a passing prince thinks she is calling for help. He calls to her to let down her hair, but she can't hear him clearly and throws down her underwear! He tries again and again, each time she misunderstands. Finally, he tells her to let down her braid, and instead she throws down her maid, who the prince promptly falls in love with. As the prince and the maid ride off into the sunset, Rapunzel wishes them well, and hopes that if they return for a visit, they use the back door instead!

Librarian Review - This fractured fairy tale is full of very obvious humor young readers will love, even if they are not familiar with the original tale, but even more so if they are. The bright, colorful illustrations are done in a combination of acrylic paint and college, which adds some interesting patterns and textures. Fans of Amelia Bedelia are sure to love this tale of misunderstanding and miscommunication with humorous results as well. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Professional Review - "Acrylic paint, colored pencil, and collage mix together in slapstick pictures that match the text in cheeky appeal. Of course, the story is funnier if children know the original tale, but even if they don’t, this version takes on a bouncy life of its own." Ilene Cooper, Booklist

Cinder Edna, written by Ellen Jackson and illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, HarperCollins, 1994.

Summary - This book shows the traditional Cinderella story, but simultaneously tells the story of her neighbor, Cinder Edna. Cinder Edna is in a similar situation, but she doesn't wait around for a Fairy Godmother and Prince to rescue her, she takes matters into her own hands. She makes extra money working on the side and saves up for a dress, wears sensible shoes, takes the bus to the ball where she meets the crown prince's younger brother. Edna and Prince Rupert dance, and talk, and laugh and end up with a marriage based on common interests.

Librarian Review - While the stories of Edna and Ella are humorous, especially in contrast, this also sends a great message about being self-sufficient and resourceful, and basing relationships on more than looks and status. A bit text heavy for younger kids, but attractive artwork. Recommended for ages 5-8.

Professional Review - “Exuberant and funny....Kids will love this version of the familiar story for its humor and vibrant artwork.” - Susan Hepler, School Library Journal

Waking Beauty, written by Leah Wilcox and illustrated by Lydia Monks, Putnam, 2008.

Summary - Prince Charming follows a horrible sound to find a beautiful princess who has been sleeping (and snoring) for a hundred years. Three delightfully diverse fairies tell him only a prince can wake her up, be before they can say "with a kiss", he interrupts. The prince tries shouting "Wake up, Lazybones!" and when that doesn't work, he tries jumping on the bed, throwing cold water on her, and shooting her out of a cannon before he finally listens to the fairies, and grudgingly gives her a kiss (girls have germs, after all), but does not expect what he gets in return!

Librarian Review - A silly, funny story that just begs to be read aloud! Kids will enjoy shouting "kiss" at the prince, and are sure to laugh at all the things he tries. Boys will relate to the prince's reluctance to kiss the princess. The diversity of the fairies is an appreciated touch, though I wish either the prince or princess had been portrayed with more diversity. The illustrations done with acrylics and collage are bright, with interesting textures and patterns. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Professional Review - "The creators of the comical Falling for Rapunzel (Putnam. 2003) present an equally funny spoof of "Sleeping Beauty". The flashy cover will beckon children in, and the fun-filled story will appeal to girls as well as boys (especially those who, like the prince, are still in the "girls are yucky" stage)." - Kirsten Cutler, School Library Journal

Cindy Ellen, written by Susan Lowell and illustrated by Jane Manning, Harper Collins, 2000.

Summary - This version of Cinderella is set in the Wild West. Instead of a ball, Cindy Ellen goes to a rodeo and a hoe-down, and instead of glass slippers she wears cowboy boots with diamond-studded spurs.

Librarian Review - A spunky heroine, lots of action, humor, and western expressions make this adaptation of Cinderells a "rootin' tootin' good time." The humor will delight all children, and this spunky cowgirl version of Cinderella will appeal to those who are not the pink, sparkly, helpless types. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Professional Review - "The heroine is the very picture of spirited sweetness, with auburn hair, a "daredevil grin," and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose. The text is lengthy for a picture book, but is told in language as lively, colorful, and detailed as the watercolor illustrations, and is a delight to read aloud. An abundance of action combined with humor and high-spirited hyperbole make this a rip-roaring rendition that will hold children's attention all the way to the satisfying, though expected, conclusion." - Starr LaTronica, School Library Journal

Snoring Beauty, written by Bruce Hale and illustrated by Howard Fine, HMH Books for Young Readers, 2008.

Summary - A truly irreverent version of the story, full of silly, ridiculous names like King Gluteus, Queen Esophogus, and Princess Drachmina Lofresca Malvolio Margarine (Marge for short). As in the original, all the good fairies give the new princess blessings, while the excluded grumpy fairy curses her to be hit by a wagon and die. The good fairy Tintinnitus can't undo the curse, but she can modify it. However, not having heard correctly, she changes it to the princess will turn into a dragon and sleep, and can only be wakened by a quince.

Librarian Review - The humor is truly ridiculous in its absurdity, but some of the word play is rather clever, though younger kids won't get a lot of it. It is nice to have some more sophisticated inside jokes for the adult reader or audience members, however. This would be a great read-aloud or readers' theater for older kids. The bright watercolor illustrations are wonderful, especially the images of the princess as a dragon, with eyelashes, lipstick, and painted nails. Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Professional Review - "Hale's sassy, tongue-in-cheek tale may sound like just another silly "Sleeping Beauty" rewrite. However, enriched by Fine's large, double-page watercolor paintings with their whimsical human visages, distinctive fairies, and frog courtiers; the inimitable sleeping dragon princess; a repetitive refrain ("Yada, yada, hippity-hop"); and those cacophonous snores, this fantastic story is a delightful treat that begs to be read aloud." - Susan Scheps, School Library Journal

Interstellar Cinderella, written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Meg Hunt, Chronicle Books, 2015.

Summary - This fresh and futuristic Cinderella story is set in space and features a heroine who has mad mechanical skills, a mechanical mouse sidekick, and a fairy godrobot, who helps Cinderella attend the spaceship parade where she repairs the Prince's ship. In the end, after the Prince finds Cinderella, she turns down his proposal of marriage, and asks to be his chief mechanic instead.

Librarian Review - This is a wonderful modern take on the classic story, with a much more empowering and healthy message. The Prince and Cinderella bond over a common interest after spending the day conversing, rather than love at first sight after a dance, and having Cinderella recognize she is too young for marriage, and wants a fulfilling job instead is so much better than teaching young girls they need a man to swoop in and solve all of their problems. A fun story with a positive message and charming, cartoonish multimedia artwork. The use of the endpapers to show all of Cinderella's tools, with labels, is a nice touch. Recommended for ages 3-8.

Professional Review - "Cinder for a younger set, this retelling focuses on what Cinderella can do, not what she can wear. Though the meter occasionally falters, Underwood finds clever ways to tell a celestial tale within a rhyming text. Hunt’s illustrations—using gouache, brush and ink, graphite, rubylith, and digital process—incorporate muted pinks, purples, and greens to give the setting a zippy sci-fi feel." - Shoshana Flax, Horn Book Magazine