Fairly Fairy Tales by Esme Raji Codell

Codell, Esme Raji.  Fairly Fairy Tales.  Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri.  Aladdin, 2011.  $16.99.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content, G.  As a young child goes to sleep, he reviews all the fairy tales with a list of three main parts of each tale, and one element that is not found in the classic telling.  The page following each fairy tale’s list, shows the fairy tale altered to include the last element.  For example, Little Red Riding Hood’s tale, says, “Red hood? Yes.  Wolf?  Yes.  Grandma? Yes.  Shampoo?  No.”  Then the next page says, “Well, maybe.” And has an illustration of Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma getting their nails done in a salon with the wolf getting his hair washed.  This book is a fun twist on the classic fairy tales.  The illustrations are beautiful and colorful.  My kids were answering the questions, “Yes”, “No”, “Well, maybe” by the end of the book.  It was fun and could be used in the classroom on a unit about fairy tales. EL (K-3), EL – ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson, teacher.