Fairytales

Here’s a picture book version of Aesop’s fables that should be in every classroom. Pinkney’s watercolor creatures illustrate more than 60 tales that end with one of Aesop’s moral lessons. Try it as a crowd-pleasing read-aloud for younger grades and as a wonderful resource for older children.

Through the voice of a washerwoman living on the island of Martinique comes the story of a beautiful servant girl, a cruel stepmother and stepsisters, a magnificent ball, a magic wand, and a lost slipper. French Creole words and phrases illustrate the melodious language of the Caribbean. Vibrant pictures add to the depth of this heartwarming tale.

Hunky Dory’s mother always told her, “You’ll be the wickedest witch wherever the four winds blow.” And why not? She’s at the top of her class in charm school. She can make flowers wilt like wet spaghetti. And she can turn any prince into a frog–but she always changes him back. That’s when she knows she has a problem. Hunky Dory’s interest in wishcraft over witchcraft gets her kicked out of charm school. Now she’s determined to follow her heart and become a fairy godmother. But how to go about doing it? She gives a woodsman a new mustache, and grants Wolf his strange wish for a grandmother costume. Finally, motivated by jealousy over her friend Rumpelstiltskin’s crush on the girl in the roomful of straw, she meets the ticket to realizing her career dream–Cinderella. This fresh, funny twist on fairy tales is just right for girls who have not quite outgrown the magic of classic stories–and who are open to unconventional happily-ever-afters!

At her birth, a fairy blesses baby Eleanor with the gift of obedience. But for Ella this is a curse. She must spend her life doing literally everything that is asked of her, from sweeping the floor to handing over valued jewelry. When her mother dies, her father sends her away to boarding school with two cruel sisters. Ella’s spunk keeps her afloat until she meets her charming prince, breaks the wicked spell, and begins her “happily ever after” life.

8 popular tales: The Story of Deirdre, The Fate of the Children of Lir, Morraha, five others. For young and old alike-eight captivating tales filled with whimsy, charm and magic: The Fate of the Children of Lir, The Shepherd of Middvai, Beth Gellert, The Tale of Ivan, Morraha, The Story of Deirdre, The Llanfabon Changeling, and The Sea-Maiden. Reset in large, easy-to-read type.

Goldilocks has always felt guilty about breaking into the Bears’ house and causing all that damage. So as she grew up she shortened her name to Goldi and opened a lock and key shop to help people protect themselves against snoops. It’s 50 years later and Goldi can’t stand it anymore. She must return to the scene of her crime to make amends. Finding no one home again, Goldi plasters the finest locks all up and down the Bears’ door, and then takes it upon herself to restock their cabinets and “spruce things up a bit!” When the Bears return, readers learn that one person’s improvements may well be another’s disaster! But read on — a surprise ending just might set things straight.

Igraine, who turns twelve tomorrow, dreams of becoming a famous knight. But today, like most days, life at the family castle remains . . . rather boring. Until the nefarious nephew of the baroness-next-door shows up. Greedy Osmund’s got a dastardly plan to capture Pimpernel Castle and steal the singing magic books that belong to Igraine’s mom and dad. Complicating matters, on the eve of the siege her parents misspeak a spell and turn themselves into pigs! (How inconvenient.) Igraine’s birthday wish has come true, and the challenge is bigger than she ever bargained for: Will she face her fears and find the courage to save the day–and the books?

Young received a Caldecott Medal for this book’s watercolor and pastel picture sequences which are reminiscent of traditional Chinese decorative panels. The children’s frightened eyes, the wolf’s evil eyes, and the matter-of-fact text lend this ancient Chinese tale added drama. The canny wolf tricks the children into thinking he is their grandmother, but the eldest child successfully plots and then executes (with the help of her siblings) the wolf’s demise.