  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 07/01/2017 Gr 3–5—Although wordy at times, Jenkins's skillful narration generally stays faithful to the source material of seven retold tales and provides depth for some characters. However, the author makes some tweaks, and her idea of "happy-ever-after" is a little different than in the original stories. In "The Frog Prince," Crystal doesn't get to throw the frog against the wall, but when the frog turns into a prince, they do fall in love and marry. Cherry—the good sister in "Toads and Pearls"—does not marry the king's son as in the Charles Perrault version. ("She wanted to make a life for herself somewhere new…. She came to a town, rented a room, and paid in pearls.") It's not clear whether Snow White will marry Prince Beacon. But Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, and the "Three Great Noodles" end up pretty much as expected. Jenkins explains in a concluding author's note that her intent was to be faithful, though not necessarily accurate, in retelling the tales "to bring out what's most meaningful to me." Her occasional references to bunnies and bluebirds are a bit too cute, but the contemporary tone is effective. This slim, handsome volume includes an illustrated title page for each tale with a simple, nicely sketched setting usually framed in the forest's twining branches. VERDICT A welcome visit for fairy-tale fans, and a useful introduction for readers not so familiar with these enduring stories.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/01/2017 In an author’s note to this brief, charming collection, Jenkins mentions that her goal is not to reimagine classic fairy tales, but rather tell them in a way that honors the oral tradition of the original stories. In simple, straightforward narratives, she retells seven stories, some of which (“Snow White,” “Red Riding Hood,” “Hansel and Gretel”) will be familiar to readers, while others (“Three Wishes,” “Toads and Pearls,” “The Three Great Noodles”) will most likely be completely new. Jenkins’ version of “The Frog Prince” expands somewhat in its characterizations, while the rest of the stories stick more or less to familiar territory. Though there’s no real overlap between stories, they’re loosely connected by setting (“There was once a forest; a strange forest, where it was always winter. You have heard of it before”), and each tale opens with a full-color postcard-style illustration that showcases that setting. Jenkins doesn’t deviate much from the well-trod forest path, but she still puts a stamp on these stories that’s all her own. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
 |