I have always loved feminist fractured fairy tales, of which there are plenty published. But Gender Swapped Fairy Tales by Karrie Fransman and Jonathan Plackett (Faber) is an anthology like no other. Rather than fracture and rewrite the traditional tales, what the creators have done is ‘simply’ switch the genders in each story. Nothing less, …
Dave Skinner (text) & Aurélie Guillerey (artwork)(Orchard Books) With her darling dimples, charming freckles and an adorable button nose, Lucy Lupin is as sweet as pie … or is she? Little Lucy might look like butter wouldn’t melt, but she likes a good prank, particularly when visiting the library. But lying and being naughty always …
Hansel and Gretel (Two Hoots), the third fractured fairy tale retelling from Bethan Woollvin, takes readers to the woods once more where they come across Willow, a kind and gentle witch who lives alone in her Gingerbread House. Willow is the heroine of this story, rather than the eponymous siblings, a popular motif of twisted fairy …
Shannon Hale & Dean Hale (text), LeUyen Pham (artwork) (Walker Books) Princess Magnolia is entertaining nosy Duchess Wigtower with hot chocolate and scones when an alarm sounds. Magnolia plays innocent, blaming noisy birds, but really she knows it signifies a monster has entered the realms of her kingdom, and that her alter ego the Princess in …
Alex T Smith (Scholastic Children’s Books) Alex T Smith takes the fractured fairy tale genre to a whole new level of ingenuity with this brilliantly executed version of Little Red Riding Hood. When Little Red sets off to visit her poorly auntie Rosie, she meets many friendly animals, until the Lion appears on her path. He …
Sally Gardner, with artwork by David Roberts (Indigo, an imprint of Orion Children’s Books) Otto has been a soldier for most of his life, and tired of war and wounded, he nonetheless makes a final stand by defying Death. His escape takes him to a dark world of magic, mystery and blood-thirsty beasts. He also …
Mario Ramos“C’est moi le plus fort”, translated by Jean Anderson(Gecko Press) A rather conceited wolf decides after his lunch to wander through the forest for a bit of an ego polishing exercise. Each small creature he comes across is accosted and bullied into tell him that yes, indeed, he is the strongest creature in the …
