The Sleeping Beauty by Berlie Doherty and Jane Ray

What is it?

The Sleeping Beauty In The Forest

Who wrote it?

Berlie Doherty

Illustrated by Jane Ray

Where can it be found?

 Walker Illustrated Classics: Classic Fairy Tales

Adaptation?

No, just a re-telling.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

ALWAYS remember to invite the most evil and powerful fairy.

Cinderella by Barbara McClintock

What is it?

Cinderella

Who wrote it?

 Barbara McClintock

Where can it be found?

 It's a Picture Book edition

Adaptation?

Retold from the Charles Perrault version and illustrated by...

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

The traditional story, just as insipid as usual, nicely illustrated.

Hansel And Gretel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

What is it?

 Hansel and Gretel

Who wrote it?

 Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Where can it be found?

in 'The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales'
Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

It is one of the few revised versions the Grimms published.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Women are evil, men are weak. Children must stick together.

Wait! No Paint! by Bruce Whatley

What is it?

 Wait! No Paint!

Who wrote it?

 Bruce Whatley

Adaptation?

This is 'The Three Little Pigs' when the role of the illustrator is literally brought into the story.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

 Perfect meta-fictive irreverence. There are many Laugh out Loud moments.

The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

What is it?

The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats

Who wrote it?

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Where can it be found?

in The Annotated Brothers Grimm
Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

Recorded by the Grimms

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

The Wolf slept as deep as general anaesthetic – I wish!

Rumpelstiltskin by Berlie Doherty and Jane Ray

What is it?

Rumpelstiltskin

Who wrote it?

Berlie Doherty

Illustrated by Jane Ray

Where can it be found?

Classic Fairy Tales (Walker Illustrated Classics)

Adaptation?

More a re-telling with a gentle ending.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Greedy, patriarchal colonialists take what they will, but beautifully written.

The Really Ugly Duckling by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

What is it?

The Really Ugly Duckling

Who wrote it?

Jon Scieszka
illustrated by Lane Smith

Where can it be found?

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Adaptation?

Yes, a very different ending to Hans Christian Andersen’s version.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

A brilliantly brief and hilarious spin on Andersen’s renowned sentimentality.

Hansel and Gretel by James Finn Garner

What is it?

Hansel and Gretel

Who wrote it?

James Finn Garner

Where can it be found?

in: Once Upon a More Enlightened Time: More politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Adaptation?

Another of the ‘PC’ kind.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Not a ‘witch’ but ‘Wiccan’ and defender of Mother Earth.

Goldilocks on CCTV by John Agard and Satoshi Kitamura

What is it?

Goldilocks On CCTV

Who wrote it?

John Agard

Illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura

Where can it be found?

In ‘Goldilocks On CCTV’

Adaptation?

Yes, a different spin on this story, focusing more on the aftermath.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Breaking and entering, theft, vandalism: Bears were prepared with CCTV

Extended thoughts:

When I was reading this collection of contemporary takes on fairy tale characters, I was trying to decide which poem to write about. In the end I picked the title poem because I think it’s rather funny. It talks about how the news reported of the girl who was caught sleeping at the scene of the crime and how the Bears decided to drop the charges.

Like other poems in the book, it adds an element to the stories we know that I think high school age kids will appreciate. Drawing on the more mature concepts behind some of the stories, they poke fun at both classic conventions engrained in fairy tales as well as having a little giggle at contemporary life.

Favourite Quote:

“There she was, tucking in
to a bowl of their muesli.
Every move on CCTV.

How she vandalised a chair
in the nursery
then tried out their Jacuzzi”

Moral of the story in my own words:

Crime doesn’t pay. Especially when security cameras are around.

3 Silver Stars

Find it on Goodreads

The Princess and The Pea by James Finn Garner

What is it?

The Princess and the Pea

Who wrote it?

James Finn Garner

Where can it be found?

in: Once Upon a More Enlightened Time: More politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Adaptation?

Yes! Of the ‘politically correct’ variety.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

‘PC’ to the extreme unearths the flaws in this story.

The Princess And The Pea by Hans Christian Andersen

What is it?

The Princess and the Pea

Who wrote it?

Hans Christian Andersen
(Compiled by Russell Ash and Bernard Highton

Where can it be found?

A Classic Illustrated Edition: Tales From Hans Christian Andersen

  

Adaptation?

I’m not entirely sure. It is certainly shorter than other versions I know, but whether that is in the editing, I don’t know.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

This Prince has ridiculous constructs about women. Thin-skinned indeed!

Extended thoughts:

More so in this version than in others, I was struck by how unreasonable the prince was in his search for a wife. She had to be a real princess (italics from the book) and every princess he met, the world over, “wasn’t quite right”. It begs to question if he actually wanted to marry at all, or if the whole thing was a charade to appease parents who wanted him to marry. It gets a bit silly. And who says that such a ‘Thin-skinned’ woman maketh a real princess anyway? Dose that imply that real royalty has never done a day’s work and has had no opportunity get thick-skin? Is the queen equally afflicted by these disproportional bruises? Should they see a doctor? And why, oh why, would a real princess appear on the doorstep in the middle of a thunder storm, looking a mess and simply claiming she was a princess? Something smells of a con job…

I do love the Edmond Dulac illustration that accompanies it though. He has a fantastic way with perspective and sweeping angles.

Favourite Quote:

“The pea was placed in the royal museum, where it can still be seen, unless someone has taken it.”

Moral of the story in my own words:

(Mmm, this one is hard).

If you’re too picky in finding a partner, you might end up with a lying, homeless person with a medical condition. 

3 Silver Stars

Find it on Goodreads

Yummy: My Favourite Nursery Stories by Lucy Cousins

What is it?

Red Riding Hood

Who wrote it?

Lucy Cousins

Where can it be found?

in Yummy: My Favourite Nursery Stories by Lucy Cousins

Adaptation?

Not so much adaptation as abbreviation, or brief re-write.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Like Cousins’ illustrations, this version is bright, bold and succinct.

Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault

What is it?

Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper

Who wrote it?

Charles Perrault

Where can it be found?

The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales
Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

Only in that Perrault wrote down his version of story that he had heard.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Almost painfully lovely, Cinderella repudiates her soot and metaphorical shackles.

A Fairy Tale About A Boy Who Left Home To Learn About Fear by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

What is it?

A Fairy Tale About A Boy Who Left Home To Learn About Fear

Who wrote it?

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Where can it be found?

in The Annotated Brothers Grimm
Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

Recorded by the Grimms

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

No fear, no sense, and an overworked sense of compassion.

The Lion And The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

What is it?

The Lion & The Mouse

Who wrote it?

Jerry Pinkney (kind of… read on)

 

Where can it be found?

On its own (Picture Book).

Adaptation?

Fairly straight forward telling (or should I say showing) of the Aesop fable.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Pinkney’s version has everything it needs: words were not included.

The Frog King, or Iron Heinrich by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

What is it?

The Frog King, or Iron Heinrich

Who wrote it?

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Where can it be found?

in The Annotated Brothers Grimm
Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

Original Grimm Brothers form.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Romantic American versions have shielded me form this violent princess.

Hansel and Gretel by Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark

What is it?

Hansel and Gretel

Who wrote it?

Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark

Where can it be found?

Bookshops/Libraries (individual story)

Adaptation?

Yes – To a degree

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

All the misfortune is caused by one single wicked witch.

The Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli

This book was originally lent to me with a slip of paper taped over the blurb on the back cover. I was instructed to read it without reading the blurb on the back, or any other descriptions about the story. I wish I could do the same for everyone, because I LOVED reading it that way, not knowing was so good.

Not knowing? you might ask. Not knowing what? Well, you won't find out on this blog. I'm going to have to try and craft this review without giving the game away. What you do with your own time, and if you want to take that extra element of surprise away from yourself, that's up to you.

This is the book that led me to a love of all things Donna Jo Napoli. Return readers might know my love of fairy tales and their adaptations, and technically, this post should be part of my 'Fairytale Friday' series, but unfortunately the questions I pose myself in those posts would reveal too much.

Instead, what I'll say is this: this is an adaption of a fairy tale that puts an entirely different spin on the events and characters. The first half of the story takes place before the story that we know, and there are hints as to where it's going, but it's not until one point where you sit back and go AAAHHHHH!

So very good! Donna Jo Napoli is a genius of re-working a well known story and adding so many layers to what we think we know, adding depth to characters that turn out to be misunderstood. She gives me shivers. It's one of my goals to read everything she has written, which is A LOT!

I recommend hunting this one down with your eyes closed. Trust me.

4.5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen

What is it?

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Who wrote it?

Hans Christian Andersen

Where can it be found?

The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen

Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

Yes. I learned that it is an adaptation of a fourteenth-century cautionary tale by Infante Don Juan Manuel.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

Vanity’s a shortcoming that’ll end with your flaws on display.

Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

What is it?

Little Red Riding Hood

Who wrote it?

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Where can it be found?

in ‘The Annotated Classic Fairy Tales’
Edited by Maria Tatar

Adaptation?

According to the introduction, it was changed slightly by the Grimms from the traditional oral versions at the time to be more overtly a cautionary tale.

My thoughts in exactly 10 words:

The story as generally known with interesting turns of phrase.