The Literacy Classroom
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English teaching and learning
Alternative Fairy Tales
Mixed Up Fairy Tales
by Hilary Robinson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt
This fantastic split page, spiral bound book allows the reader to mix and match different combinations of fairy tales with hilarious results. What would happen if Goldilocks had two horrid stepsisters and fell asleep for a hundred years? Would she be woken by a hungry wolf or Little Red Riding Hood's Granny?
Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig
by Eugene Trivizas, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
The classic fight between pigs and wolves as you’ve never seen it before! A subversive and hilarious take on the well-loved fairy tale.
The three little wolves erect first a solid brick house. The big bad pig comes along and when huffing and puffing fails to work, he uses a sledgehammer to bring the house down. Next they build a home of concrete: The pig demolishes it with his pneumatic drill. The three little wolves choose an even stronger design next time round: They erect a house, made of steel, barbed wire, armor plates and video entry system, but the pig finds a way to demolish it too. It is only when the wolves construct a rather fragile house made of cherry blossoms, daffodils, pink roses, and marigolds that the pig has a change of heart
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
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You may think you know the story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf - but only one person knows the real story. And that person is A. Wolf. His tale starts with a birthday cake for his dear old granny, a bad head cold and a bad reputation. The rest (as they say) is history.
A hilariously inventive retelling of the popular story which Publishers Weekly called the 'Funniest book of the year'.
The Wolf's Story
by Toby Forward, illustrated by Izhar Cohen
The real story of Little Red Riding Hood - told by the Wolf himself! Recounted in the confidential, conversational voice of a New York wheeler-dealer, this funny version of the Grimm Brothers' Little Red Riding Hood is retold from a fresh perspective - the Wolf's! Full of humorous revelations and surprises, the story shows, as it unfolds, how a series of misunderstandings and accidents leads to his vilification.
Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten!: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood as Told by the Wolf
by Trisha Speed Shaskan, illustrated by Gerald Guerlais
OF COURSE you think I did a horrible thing by eating Little Red Riding Hood and her granny. You don't know the other side of the story. Well, let me tell you...
Snow White in New York
by Fiona French
This is the tale of Snow White, transposed to New York in the 1920s. Snow White's wicked stepmother uses her position of influence in the city's underworld to contract the killing of Snow White. But the hired gun cannot shoot Snow White and abandons her instead to wander the streets. She stumbles into a club where the seven jazz-men take pity on her and she joins their band. A reporter who hears her sing propels her into the headlines . . . but her fame puts her once again in the sights of her evil stepmother. She is poisoned with a cocktail cherry. A shocked city mourns the death of the beautiful and talented Snow White but as her coffin is carried up the church steps by the grief-stricken jazz-men, Snow White's eyes open and her gaze is met by the reporter. They fall in love and live happily ever after.
Fiona French's iconic re-imagining of a classic fairy tale, with stunning Art Deco illustrations, won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1986.
Goldilocks and Just the One Bear
by Leigh Hodgkinson
Many years have passed since Goldilocks caused chaos at the Bears' house in the woods, but what happens when Little Bear as was wanders out of his fairytale and into the big city where Goldilocks now lives? Awarding-winning artist and animator Leigh Hodgkinson is the creator of this funny and clever fractured fairytale based on the familiar story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Goldilocks is now grown up with a family and a rather smart apartment, so how will she react to coming home and finding that a very lost bear has been scoffing porridge, breaking chairs and sleeping in beds? Will she be cross, or is finally time to make amends?
Mr Wolf and the Three Bears
by Jan Fearnley
A brilliantly funny take on well-loved fairy tales such as The Three Bears and Little Red Riding Hood from Jan Fearnley.
Mr Wolf is off on another rip-roaring adventure. And this time he’s having people over for a big event! Mr Wolf is having a party! The Three Bears have come round for Baby Bear’s birthday. Even Grandma Wolf has come to help. And then the worst party guest EVER barges in. Who invited her? It’s time for Grandma to come to Mr Wolf’s rescue and save the day.
Jan Fearnley’s Mr Wolf stories are perennially popular with children who love to share read-aloud stories. Mr Wolf and the Three Bears is a follow-up picture book to Mr Wolf’s Pancakes, with more humour and fun to make young readers howl with laughter.
Jack and the Jelly Bean Stalk
by Rachael Mortimer, illustrated by Liz Pichon
A fun, light-hearted twist on the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale. Any child that's familiar with the original will find plenty of giggles here.
When Jack sells his cow for jelly beans, his mum is furious! But these are magic beans and soon Jack is on a big adventure in the clouds.
'A fresh and funny twist on a classic fairytale. Will provide laughs for any child familiar with the original.' - Guardian Bookshop
Jack and the Baked Beanstalk
by Colin Stimpson
In a 1950's-style future, Jack and his mum run a little burger cafe. They are close to broke, so when Jack buys a can of baked beans with their last pennies, his mother throws it out of the window - starting a GIGANTIC baked beanstalk adventure!
The Great Fairy Tale Disaster
by David Conway, illustrated by Melanie Williamson
A follow up to the bestselling The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster. Fairy tales have never been funnier than in this outrageously silly picture book!
Once upon a time there lived an old Big Bad Wolf. He no longer has any huff and puff to blow down the Three Little Pigs' houses so he scampers off into the pages of the Fairy Tale book to find a new one. He tries one tale after another, but things never quite work to plan. Will he find a fairy tale that suits him perfectly?
With all the well-known and well-loved fairy tales, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Prince Cinders
by Babette Cole
Prince Cinders leads a very hard life. Bullied by his three hairy brothers about his less-than-perfect looks, he spends all his time cleaning and tidying up after them. One Saturday night Prince Cinders' luck changes as a small, dirty fairy falls down the chimney and promises that his wishes shall come true. Not all the fairy's spells turn out as planned in this zany twist of a traditional story.
Snow White and The Seven Aliens (Seriously Silly Stories)
by Laurence Anholt, illustrated by Arthur Robins
The ugly old Mean Queen is jealous of Snow White, because she has a pretty little nose and wants to be a pop star. The Mean Queen tries to stop Snow White's dream coming true, but will she be a match for seven singing aliens?
Red Riding Hood and the Sweet Little Wolf
by Rachael Mortimer , illustrated by Liz Pichon
Little Wolf doesn't want to be a big bad wolf. She dreams of being good and kind. But when she is sent out to catch dinner and meets Red Riding Hood, what will she do?
From the team behind the popular The Three Billy Goats Fluff, as seen on CBeebies, comes a fun, light-hearted twist on the fairy tale. Any child that's familiar with the original will find plenty of giggles here.
Written by Liz Pichon, the creator of the phenomenal number one bestseller The Brilliant World of Tom Gates.
Don't Cook Cinderella: A School Story with a Difference
by Francesca Simon , illustrated by Tony Ross
It's just an ordinary day at Mother Goose's Academy. There's Miss Good Fairy teaching the Three Little Pigs, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood to read and write - while Miss Bad Fairy is inciting the Ugly Sisters, the Big Bad Wolf, Troll, Wicked Stepmother, Wicked Witch and Jealous Queen to gobble them all up. The result? Chaos!
Witty, fast-paced and anarchic, this is a complete story with ten short chapters ('C.A.T. Spells Dog', 'What Troll Learned', 'Snakes and Snails for Lunch') that take us through the school day. Originally published as Big Class, Little Class, this freshly illustrated reissue brings Francesca Simon and Tony Ross together again in a wonderful romp that Horrid Henry fans will revel in.