Anyway . . . one of my favorite picture book genres is the "fractured fairy tale and fable" variety. Authors take well-known stories like Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk and change the characters, setting, or both, resulting in some humorous twists on old favorites.
I got requests from teachers all the time for these types of stories, both because they are always a hit with kids, and because they make wonderful models for student writing and a great vehicle for learning similarities and differences. Younger kids will enjoy the basic plot of the story while older students (yes, even middle school age) will appreciate the more sophisticated elements of parody and imitation.
So if you're at a loss for what to check out from the library, consider grabbing some traditional fairy tales and fables and their fractured counterparts. Here's just a few to get you started!
Tortuga in Trouble
by Ann Whitford Paul is a twist on the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Tortuga, on his way to see his abuela, is tricked by Coyote, who wants Tortuga's basket full of ensalada, tamales and flan. Fortunately, Tortuga's friends, Conejo, Culebra and Iguana are nearby to help rescue him and save dinner from Coyote's large dientes. What I love about this book is the way the author weaves Spanish words throughout the story so that non-Spanish speakers understand their meaning. While there is a glossary at the beginning of the book, the context clues within the story reveal the definitions of the Spanish words. Besides being a "fractured fable" this book is great for English and Spanish speakers alike and would provide common ground for a diverse classroom. Tortuga's buddies provide comic relief and the element of repetition that is important in books for students just learning to read. The predictability will have readers chanting along with Culebra and Conejo as they bid "adios" to the ensalada, tamales and flan every few pages. Illustrations by Ethan Long are bright and eye-catching.
Falling For Rapunzel
by Leah Wilcox reveals what happens when Rapunzel misunderstands the prince's request for her to "let down her hair." A variety of things get thrown out of Rapunzel's window in lieu of her braided tresses: her underwear, pancake batter, and her blue-ribbon swine, to name a few. With each increasingly ridiculous misunderstanding, readers will laugh harder and harder, right up to the final unexpected ending. The rhyming stanzas allow an extra level of participation as readers try
to predict just exactly what Rapunzel will throw down to the prince.
This book, along with Waking Beauty, Wilcox's take on Sleeping Beauty, are always HUGE kid pleasers.
If you've ever questioned why Goldilocks wasn't sharp enough to realize that walking into an abandoned house in the middle of the woods was not a good idea, then Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs: As Retold by Mo Willems
is a must-read. Mama and Papa Dinosaur, along with some other dinosaur who was visiting from Norway, set some not-so-subtle traps in hopes that a clueless little girl will wander along in time for dinner. Bonus factor: If your kids have read Willems' pigeon books, they might just find a favorite bus driving blue buddy among the illustrations.
Sisters Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel team up to deliver a "punny" take on The Little Red Hen. The Little Red Pen
is a humorous story about the importance of teamwork when faced with an impossible task. While attempting to grade papers all on her own, the little red pen falls asleep and rolls into the "pit of no return" (the trash). The stapler, push pin, highlighter and scissors must find away to grade the papers and rescue their friend before the students arrive. This will be a favorite of any teacher who has had the There are gazillions more fractured fairy tales and fables to explore. Hop on over to your local bookstore or public library and see for yourself!
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