Despite their 'for the girls' reputation traditional fairy tales have always been very popular in this house. So has Nick Sharratt. The two in combination are pretty irresistable. Following a trip to the Puppet Theatre yesterday to see Norwich Puppet Theatre's spooky, back-to-roots production of 'Red Riding Hood' we found ourselves falling into a bookshop once again on the way home and walking out once again (ahem) with a discreet package ('3 for 2'- it would have been rude not to!). 'Asterix and the Olympic Games' and 'Super Diaper Baby 2' were our other 'bargains' but Hilary Robinson and Nick Sharratt's 'Mixed Up Fairy Tales' was what I at least was really after.
One of the wonderful things about acquiring a canon of classics as your literary backbone is of course the opportunity to re-appreciate them as they are endlessly reinvented.
Thus yesterday morning, in preparation for our theatre treat, we ended up reading the pretty trad. Hutchinson Treasury of Fairy Tales version of 'Red Riding Hood' and also Laurence Anholt's Seriously Silly 'Little Red Riding Wolf'. We took the Read it Yourself Ladybird version with us on the bus. The puppet show drew on both Perrault and the Brothers Grimm and had an ending that I'd never encountered before; with two washerwomen performing the woodcutter role of rescue (not to mention Red Riding Hood's escape by way of faking the need for a poo).
Nick Sharratt was where we ended up however- and probably just as well for the prevention of nightmares (the poo was popular but the puppet wolves definitely threatening). This book of split pages allows the retelling and mixing of 12 different traditional tales in ever more inventive- and of course silly ways. We've all been enjoying it since but particularly Master Eddie. Here he is demonstrating (he also demonstrates his efficient but not necessarily charming double nostril nose pick-please avert your eyes):
although he has yet to really get the hang of arbitrary mixing in the manner of his big bro. who finds it hysterical to end all his stories with 'a helping of porridge'. He's right actually. That is pretty funny stuff. Especially if you're marrying Cinderella to it.
'Mixed Up Fairy Tales', written Hilary Robinson, illus. Nick Sharratt, pub. Hodder isbn 978-0-340-87558
Hello Polly, Eddie and Bill,
ReplyDeleteI love hearing your voices and sharing your books so far away. Thank you for these wonderful posts. I haven't seen the mixed up fairy tales book but I may have to look for it now,
cheers from Jenny Ashby in Oz
Hi Jenny! lovely to hear from you and hope all well with you and yours. The wooden Aussie animal pot holder/coasters you kindly gave us gets appreciated by B and E and their friends on a daily basis...so we think of you often. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYes I am going to look for it too.
ReplyDeleteI gave you a Liebster award today, if you look on my blog there are details (wwww.green-pastures-new.blogspot.com)
How very kind! I have seen these on other's blogs and look forward to spreading the love. Thank you.
DeleteDo you know Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes? I think you might enjoy his take on RRH too.
ReplyDeleteYour sister sent me to your blog - Hi from a fellow kidlit lover. I blog at www.thebookchook.com about children's literacy, literature and learning which is a lovely wide umbrella to dance beneath! I can see you've joined in with some of the kidlitosphere memes. Let me know if I can help or you want to chat anytime.
Susan, aka the Book Chook
I do know them, not read them with the boys yet- but Bill probably ready for a bit of pistol from knicker pulling action...Thank you for the welcome and the support. I'm heading straight over to yours to enjoy:)
DeleteHi Polly!
ReplyDeleteI'm the author of Mixed Up Fairy Tales and this is a delightful review - thank you so much! Clearly I share the same sense of humour as Eddie and Bill as I love all stories that end with porridge!
This is also a lovely blog site - well done.
Best wishes
Hilary (Robinson)
Terribly honoured by your visit Hilary and what a clever and very smiley book it continues to be for us. Last week I took it into be read with/by the three Yr 1 readers I help through Volunteer Reading Help. They had a RIOT- so enthused and enthusing- one of the most successful books I've tried with them. They didn't want to stop playing with it all session. Thank you again :)
Delete(we've so moved on from porridge...it's all about the soup now ;)...and I do like making everybody nibble grass too)
Great to read about this book - I'm looking for some new readalouds with my group of 30 5-7 year olds at school and this has been suggested to me on twitter.
ReplyDelete