"The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales" by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

"The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales" 

by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

56 pages /  Print / Fairy Tale

Summary: From the introduction of the book, the author tells us that these are not just fairy tales, but "fairly stupid" fairy tales. Your favorite fairly tales have been transformed into new, funny ones using familiar and new characters. Characters in each of the fairly tales find themselves in the middle of other ones, making this a very entertaining book to read. The fairy tales that are "stupidly" retold are: :Chicken Little"("Chicken Licken"), "The Princess and the Pea" ("The Princess and the Bowling Ball"), "The Ugly Duckling" ("The Really Ugly Duckling"), "The Frog Prince"(“The Other Frog Prince”), "Little Red Riding Hood" ("Little Red Running Shorts") , Jack and the Bean Stalk ("Jack's Bean Problem"), Cinderella/Rumpelstiltskin ("Cinderumpelstiltskin"), "The Tortoise and the Hare" ("The Tortoise and the Hair"), and "The Gingerbread Man" ("The Stinky Cheese Man").

 Evaluation: This book is a collection of fractured fairy tales retold in a unique and funny way。Students love fractured fairy tales because they give a different way of looking at a story, which creates different questions to answer about story elements. Fractured fairy tales also are very funny, which students will appreciate. "The Stinky Cheese Man an Other Fairly Stupid Tales" is also wonderfully illustrated. The creepy and gross way each character and setting is drawn adds to the effect of the book. Fractured Fairy tale books are also great for teaching students that traditional stories are fun to recreate. This could lead to an assignment that makes the student make a fractured fairy tale of their own.

Appeal Terms: fairytale, leisurely, dark, humorous, magical, multiple plotlines, eccentric, quirky

"Far Out Fairy Tales : Hansel and Gretel and Zombies" by Benjamin Harper

   

"Far Out Fairy Tales : Hansel and Gretel and Zombies" 

by Benjamin Harper

40 pages /  Print / Graphic Novel

Summary: Zombie Hansel and Zombie Gretel's parents send them out in the woods to find brains of a tourist to bring back to eat. The parents dress them up in "human" costumes to trick tourists into helping them find their way back home. A witch sees them walking in the forest and she puts on her "human costume" to trick them into her candy house. The witch tricks Hansel into a cage by baiting him with brains. Hansel is fed brains so he can become nice and fat to eat Gretel is chained up and kept as a slave to do housework. The witch asked Gretel to light the oven, but then Gretel locks the witch in the oven. Instead of burning the witch, Gretel bites her and turns her into a zombie. Now all three of them are hungry for brains. The witch reveals that Hansel was not eating real brains, but rather "soy-based brains".  The witch returns the children to their parents. They all live together happily in the forest eating "soy-based brains".

Evaluation: This book is perfect for Halloween or teaching fractured fairy tales. There is a section in the book that explains the differences from the original Hansel and Gretel fairytale. The author also includes some reason comprehension questions to help the reader understand the plot. Kids love zombies these days, and the dialogue is very funny for readers. The story is short so readers can finish it in one sitting and feel accomplished that they read a book.

Appeal Terms: fairy tale, dark, humorous, magical, creepy, spooky, plot twists

"The Arrival" by Shuan Tan

"The Arrival" 

by Shuan Tan

128 pages /  Print / Fantasy

Summary: In an imaginary world, a man must leave his wife and daughter behind to create a better life for them. Through illustrations only, Shuan Tan tells us an inspiring story of immigration and a man's love for his family. We follow the man's struggle of not knowing his new country's language, and finding a place to live and sleep. After some time, the wife and daughter and reunited with the man in the new country and build a new life together instead of isolation.

Evaluation: A beautiful story of immigration that captures the emotions of arriving in a new place with no knowledge of the language, culture or people. Shuan Tan uses an imaginary world, with imaginary text for the man to read, which makes the reader feel alien just as much as the protagonist in the story. The illustrations allow us to look into the mind and backstories of the characters in the story to help the reader realize that everyone in the imaginary land is an immigrant too. This book is a great way to introduce a unit on immigration. The artwork is captivating, Tan uses different dark shades to signal to the reader different passages of time and perspectives. We are to believe that every immigrant has left their country to escape some dark force, or make their life better. The book reads like a filmstrip, which makes for a very interactive reading experience.

Appeal Terms: adventure, graphic novel, historical, science fiction, engrossing, dark, hopeful, mystical, melodramatic, episodic, plot centered, resolved ending, family centered, life like, vivid, multiple point of view, imaginary, introspective