More Grin Than Grimm

Created byKate- Updated on February 02^nd2018

I'm a fan of twisted fairy tales, retellings and folklore from other cultures having grown up with favorites like Steven Kellogg, Tomie dePaola, and Jerry Pinkney. There are new versions that come out all the time; I've enjoyed finding the best ones to share with my kids combining excellent art with stories that are fun, fairly short, and just a little unexpected.

The princess and the frogs

Bartles, Veronica, author.

From the Publisher

Princess Cassandra has everything she wants except a pet to play with that would match her favorite green dress, but each time someone brings her a frog and she kisses him goodnight, he turns into a prince.

My Thoughts

Of course I always love a protagonist who's a reader, as well as scientifically-minded! But I also liked the message of being true to yourself despite other people's expectations.

Hans my hedgehog : a tale from the Brothers Grimm

Coombs, Kate.

From the Publisher

Riding a silver-shoed rooster and playing magical music on his bagpipes, a young man who's half hedgehog, half human, wins the hand of a beautiful princess.

My Thoughts

I hadn't heard of this story prior to seeing this version, and so I think I'm not alone in finding the idea pretty funny. I do really like Coombs' updating of the original, since the Grimm brothers live up to their name.

Princess Zelda and the frog

Gardner, Carol W.

From the Publisher

"Once upon a time there was a princess named Zelda. One day, when she is out in her finest dress playing with her favorite golden ball, she tosses her ball up in the air, and it lands--splat!--in the mud. Princesses don't go in the mud. How will she ever get back her favorite ball? Along comes an ugly, disgusting frog who will help her, but in return, Zelda must promise to be his best friend forever!"--From publisher.

My Thoughts

声音是绝对推荐这一个!The rhyming and flow of the story is great, and kids love the pictures.

A bean, a stalk, and a boy named Jack

Joyce, William, 1957- author.

From the Publisher

A magic bean and an ordinary boy solve a royal problem for King Blah Blah Blah.

My Thoughts

The beautiful two-page spreads are a major factor in my preference for this one. But, my three year old loves the humor, too.

The boy who cried Bigfoot!

Magoon, Scott.

From the Publisher

Ben has so often tried to convince people he has seen Bigfoot that when a real yeti arrives and borrows his bicycle, no one comes to see if Ben is telling the truth.

My Thoughts

Another twist on a classic tale with very cute art.

Dino duckling

Murray, Alison (Illustrator), author, illustrator.

From the Publisher

A funny and touching celebration of difference, based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling. Dino Duckling can dive, swim and fish just like his duckling brothers and sisters. But when the time comes for the family to fly south for the winter, Dino Duckling finds he really is different!

My Thoughts

Great art and a flowing story with a lovely message of acceptance. And, of course, dinosaurs.

The true story of the 3 little pigs

Scieszka, Jon, author.

From the Publisher

The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs.

My Thoughts

I'm sure other moms will recognize this one! John Scieszka ("rhymes with Fresca") has written a lot of very funny books over the years.

Interstellar Cinderella

Underwood, Deborah, author.

From the Publisher

In this outer space adaptation of the fairy tale in rhyme, Cinderella dreams of becoming a spaceship mechanic.

My Thoughts

伟大的押韵的文本和图片相同ails to point out featuring a very smudgy and mechanically talented space princess.

Once upon an ABC

Masson, Sophie, 1959- author.

From the Publisher

A romp through the alphabet and the world of folk tale! Sophie Masson's lively verse gathers together a dazzling range of folklore, made vividly contemporary with Chris Nielsen's striking artwork. Rhyming verse makes this a fun read-aloud tale, which is complemented by zany illustrations.

My Thoughts

Simple and cute, this introduces a lot of fairy tale characters without much further explanation. (I was intrigued by "V for Vassilisa," and when I did some looking I found Katherine Arden recently did an excellent job of retelling the Russian folktale in "The Bear and the Nightingale.")

Little Red Hood

Leray, Marjolaine, author, illustrator.

From the Publisher

In this retelling of the famous story, Little Red Hood questions the wolf's personal hygiene before tricking her predator into his demise.

My Thoughts

It's a quick little read which seems simple on the surface; the art is a stylized pencil scratch and the story is entirely dialog, but it's evocative and Leray gives Little Red a sassy attitude, which I love.