You know your fairy tale favorites such as Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Little. Now, explore these beloved characters in subversive retellings like you’ve never seen them before! Young fairy tale fans won’t want to miss these delightfully spooky, laugh-out-loud funny, and wonderfully quirky twists on these much-loved classics.
Boo Stew
by Donna L. Washington
illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Curly Locks is a good-hearted girl, but she’s an awful cook. All the townspeople of Toadsuck Swamp know to steer clear of her culinary concoctions, but when Scares start terrorizin’ the town at mealtime, Curly Locks gets an inklin’. Can she use her smarts and unique talents to help corral those Scares for good? A delightfully spooky fractured fairy tale and an imaginative twist on the classic “Goldilocks.”
The Boy Who Cried Ninja
by Alex Latimer
Tim witnesses some strange happenings around his house, but no one believes his explanations. In fact, no matter what Tim says, his parents just punish him with chores. To save himself, he hatches a clever plan to expose the truth. Will it work, or will Tim have to spend the rest of his life raking the yard? A quirky twist on the fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
Prairie Chicken Little
by Jackie Mims Hopkins
illustrated by Henry Cole
Mary McBlicken is sure a stampede’s a comin’! She hurries to the ranch, gathering up her friends—a prairie dog, a jack rabbit, and a meadowlark—along the way. Before the fine feathered and furry folks get to their destination, they encounter a coyote who says he knows a shortcut. Should they trust him? Will they find Cowboy Stan and Red Dog Dan in time? And where is that rumbling coming from anyway? A prairie-style twist on “Chicken Little.”
The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas
by Tony Wilson
illustrated by Sue deGennaro
In this modern take on the Princess and the Pea, Prince Henrik decides that sometimes real princesses can be too sensitive! He wants to marry an outdoorsy kind of girl, so instead of a single pea tucked into a pile of bedding, Henrik tests prospective brides with an entire packet of frozen peas shoved under a flimsy camping mattress. Henrik despairs as princess after princess complains, until one day the just-right girl shows up unexpectedly in the form of his old friend, Pippa. Pippa is all too happy to join Henrik in pitching a tent or playing a hard game of hockey, after which she finds the perfect use for that packet of frozen peas!
On her way to Grandma’s house, Little Red meets a wolf. That might scare some little girls, but not this little girl. She knows just what the wolf is up to, and she’s not going to let him get away with it. In this fractured fairy tale update to “The Little Red Riding Hood” features a feminist twist along with sly humor, striking visuals, and a bit of ingenuity to turn a familiar tale on its head for modern readers. Perfect for mighty girls as well as for all young readers who love fairy tales.
Hansel & Gretel
by Bethan Woollvin
Deep in the forest lives a witch named Willow. She is a good witch who only uses good magic―until she meets Hansel and Gretel. Willow never used to worry about messy breadcrumb trails. Or entire portions of her gingerbread house being devoured. Or anyone fiddling with her spells and magic books and causing a ruckus. But Hansel and Gretel are two very naughty and very rude children, and they are trying Willow’s patience. This subversive retelling of “Hansel and Gretel” is sure to have young readers wondering who the real villain is.
Rapunzel lives all alone in a tall, dark tower. Under the threat of a witch’s fearsome curse, the poor girl seems doomed to a life in captivity. But is Rapunzel frightened? Oh no, not she! Rapunzel has a few tricks (and friends) up her sleeve and she’s not afraid to use them. With irreverent humor and striking illustrations, this delightful, laugh-out-loud retelling of the classic fairy tale “Rapunzel” puts a brave, female-empowerment twist on the classic story of a helpless damsel in distress.