I have a soft spot for fractured fairy tales. I love it when authors turn predictable stories upside down and inside out for kids. It gives children a new perspective and shows them how far they can take their imaginations. These stories usually have a humorous twist with some satire thrown in, and who doesn't love their Jack and the Beanstalk with a side of sarcasm?!
But in the end, the charm of the fractured fairytale is twofold. They hark back to stories we know and love, and they give us an updated reminder that a good story has a moral at the end.
The moral of this week's post—go out and get your kids reading a fairytale. They will be all the wiser for it.
Title: The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
Author: Christopher Healy
Target: Grades 3-6
Series: This is the first book in a planned series
What this book is about:
So you think you know the story of Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. You can recite Rapunzel or Snow White in your sleep, and frankly they didn’t impress you that much the first time. Well, think again! It turns out Prince Charming has a name—can you say Gustav?—and the four princes from these stories are sick and tired of the girls getting all the glory. In an attempt to set the record straight, these four disparate princes find themselves in their own adventure. Can they save their kingdoms, or will their own distinct personalities get in the way of their ever finding true glory?
Why I love this book:
This book is just a laugh on every page. I have read some reviews that compare it to The Princess Bride, and I think that is an accurate description. Some of our princes are heroic and charming, others have lead a life of pampered luxury, still others give names to their animal friends such as Leroy and Conrad, and don’t forget the prince who always runs into battle, even if there is no battle.
I love books that give us a different way of looking at something we have always taken for granted, in this case the princess stories. How fun it is for the reader to see that the perspective changes based on who you ask, and in this case the Prince Charmings see things very differently.
Who this book is for:
Emphasis in the book is on the princes, so both boys and girls will enjoy this story. Great for kids who like funny books.
Final thoughts:
Don’t believe every bard who comes along with a pretty tale!
To see my full selection of fractured fairytales, including picture books and stories for teens, visit my website at www.onegreatbook.com
