SOME GREAT GRAPHICS

Sparks by Ian Boothby and Nina Matsumoto  

Two new Graphic Novel versions from Far Out Fairy Tales series Sleeping Beauty, Magic Master by Stephanie True Peters illustrated C.S. Jennings

Goldilocks and the Three Vampires by Laurie Sutton and illustrated by Alex Lopez

THREE LITTLE PIGS AND THE BIG BAD COLD

Blow Your Nose, Big Bad Wolf! In this fractured fairy tale written by Steve Smallman and illustrated by Bruno Merz, the classic story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf is revisited and interwoven with a humorously presented lesson about spreading germs.

Three little pigs each leave home with money, a box of tissues, and mother pig’s gentle admonishment to please use a tissue when sneezing. Following the structure of the original fairy tale, the three little pigs each meet a seller and build homes from straw, stick, brick in turn.

Meanwhile, poor Big Bad is suffering from a nasty cold with a dreadful runny nose. All the (really quite nice) wolf wants when he knocks politely on the newly settled pigs’ doors is  A-A-A-A-TISSUE! * for his nose. But when each little pig in succession rejects his plea, Big Bad’s enormous, snotty, slimy, sneezes inadvertently blow their houses down!

Big Bad ultimately gets A-A-A-A-TISSUE! * that he so desperately needs, while the three little pigs get A-A-A-A-LESSON! * much deserved in sharing and germ control.

For other fun fractured versions of The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, check out The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs allegedly by “A. Wolf” as told to Jon Scieszka and Huff & Puff by Claudia Rueda.

Ages 4+

(*Gesundheit!)

A NEW FAR OUT GRAPHIC SERIES...UMMM... NEW COMIC BOOKS

A new contender to enter the chaotic foray of graphic novels is a series of amazing fractured fairy tales by many different authors and illustrators.  

Red Riding Hood, Superhero:  a Graphic Novel by Otis Frampton

When Red Riding Hood (RRH) visited Area 54 some years ago, a very frightened alien threw his magical red cape at her giving the young girl extraordinary powers such as laser-ray vision and super strength. In this action-packed version, Grandma is no helpless elderly lady but the president of the United States, RRH is empowered, her mom is still clueless and our canine villain, Professor Grimm,built himself a giant wolf robot in order to kidnap the president while trying to also rid himself of the awesome superhero. This fractured tale is has a great layout and fantastic illustrations.  

Reviewed by Cecile 

In Ninja-rella by Joey Comeau and illustrated by Omar Lozano, the expected path for the trod-upon title orphan gets turned on its head. Her stepmother and stepsisters are still evil and self-serving, but instead of having starry-eyed aspirations of marrying the prince, Ninja-rella dreams of protecting him with her fierce ninja skills. And when her fairy godninja sends her to the royal ball with a special glass katana sword, she finally gets her chance. But when she must flee at midnight, she leaves the glass sword behind--the only clue by which the prince might find his new royal bodyguard. This twist on the classic fairy tale Cinderella, is a empowering and action-packed story, sure to make readers cheer for the katana-wielding heroine.

Reviewed by Meghan

Super Billy Goats Gruff: a Graphic Novel by Sean Tulien; illustrated by Fernando Cano

In a retelling of The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Sean Tulien, two squabbling billy goats and their mediating brother embark on an unexpected journey when they consume three mysterious mushrooms en route to their favorite grassy hillside. Unbeknownst to the hungry goats, these curiously pixelated, Minecraft-styled mushrooms endow super powers, transforming them into the Ninja-Goat, Wizard-Goat, and Warrior-Goat. Transported to a grim landscape where a dark castle awaits them, the new Super Billy Goats Gruff must battle their way through a trove of video gaming references, including giant directional arrows, diverging paths, mysterious doors, magical monsters, boss fights, and power ups. It’s a wacky, action-packed, fractured fairy tale, graphic novel, multiplayer video game kind of adventure, where the winner is crowned the fattest goat of all time.
Reviewed by Sherry

Also check out Snow White and the Seven Robots where everyone in Techworld is green skinned except for Snow White, who with her white skin, red lips, black hair and seven additional virtues is the smartest of of them all for which she has been exiled to another world far from the ruling queen.

Each entry in the Far Out Fairy Tales graphic novel series include some excellent backmatter to communicate information in a highly entertaining way, including an explanation of the origins of the tale, a quick rundown of the twists seen in this version, a glossary, and a set of “visual questions” meant to show story comprehension and analysis in the graphic format.

Any one of these tales will make lively and engaging reads for kids in 3rd grade and up.

READING IS SO DELICIOUS... REHASHED

These three beautifully illustrated rehashed fairy tales are hilarious and in one instance, someone is literally eaten.  Read them and see if you can figure out who it is. 

Corey Rosen Schwartz and Dan Santat have created an over the top rework of The Three Little Pigs as martial arts warriors defeating the Big Bad Pig with their moves.  The Three Ninja Pigs is worth a few chuckles while being read-a-loud to the family.  




In Goldilocks and Just One Bear, Leigh Hodgkinson sets Baby Bear on a path through the city where he becomes  lost and accidentally stumbles upon an old friend's house and their friendship is renewed, but does Baby Bear really belong in the city?    


Each two page spread has a different nursery tale character in the middle of a crime.  Now that you are familiar with the classic rhymes, you'll love reading these twists on them.  Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty? And Other Notorious Nursery Tale Mysteries by David Levinthal and John Nickle is a hilarious romp for everyone. 

CHOCOLATE-FILLED!

A review from Mr. B of the Grandview Branch: 

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

Re-told and illustrated by Mo Willems

Some of Mo Willems’ books are best enjoyed by readers and listeners a year or two beyond the pre-school level.   Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (“ages 4 and up”) re-told and illustrated by the ever-so-clever Mo Willems (of Knuffle Bunny fame) is definitely for the slightly older reader and the youngster hiding in that reader’s parent's lap.  In this version, the Dinosaurs (Papa, Mama, “and some other Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway”) use three bowls of chocolate pudding to set a trap for what they hope will be a “chocolate-filled-little-girl-bonbon.”  How she, Goldilocks, takes the bait (all three bowls of it!) only to discover she’s in the wrong story is jaw-dropping funny at any age level; made even funnier by Willems’ witty illustrations. If you are a young reader, share it with your parents. If you are a parent, share it with your friends.

RL: 2-4 / Age: 6+