Reading Level: Grades 2-3 Interest Level: Grades K – 3
In this whale of a tale, the Big Bad Shark is looking for a tasty snack … when he comes across three delicious-looking narwhals! The loveable, pointy-horned creatures—show-off Spike, arty Spiral, and shy Stubby—discover a sunken pirate ship and use the parts to build their own homes. Now they are out of their depth, locked in a battle of wits with the munching, crunching villain.
These are twisted takes on classic tales. The gingerbread boy is reimagined as a ninja. The three little pigs are three little narwhals hiding from a great big shark who will crunch and munch and eat their house for lunch. Little Red Riding Hood decides to stop being rude after the wolf gets sick of her and eats her. The storytelling is consistent across all installments, even with multiple authors. Like the tales that inspired them, these books are text-heavy, making them good fits for long read-alouds or for more experienced readers to enjoy on their own. The same illustrator adorns all the stories with his appealing art. These stories will appeal to young readers unfamiliar with the concept of a fractured fairy tale but may also be unusual enough to attract readers who have already experienced their fair share of them. VERDICT Any of these titles would be a fun addition to large picture book or fairy tale collection.
