Grump: The Fairly True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

I always enjoy reading a classic fairy tale that has been fractured to tell the story from a different character's point of view.

Grump the dwarf was born too close to the Earth's surface and therefore isn't suited for life in the mines - he becomes physically ill when he goes too far underground. He longs to go to the surface of the Earth and see what life is like, and when he begins working in the mine, he finally finds a way to sneak to the surface. He meets Snow White and the evil queen and the traditional tale unfolds from there, told from Grump's point of view.

I love the details that Liesl Shurtliff provides about life underground in the dwarf community, especially their diet and the way the dwarves are named.

Visit Shurtliff's website to find out more about her and see her list of works.
World Over interview with Liesl Shurtliff
Book Trailer for Red
Book Trailer for Rump
Book Trailer for Jack

Ninja Tales

Every year, I save fractured tales for the end of the year. We read the original, then 2 or 3 fractured versions and create a chart showing which parts of the tales have been changed, or fractured, from the original.

As I was gathering books for this year's Fractured Fairy Tale Extravaganza, I decided I needed a few new ones. Scrolling through Amazon, I came across these two ninja variations by Corey Rosen Schwartz. My Kinders and first graders thought they were hilarious!

The poor wolves in these stories get schooled by these unlikely ninjas and everyone learns the importance of hard work and dedication.

Corey Rosen Schwartz website
Dan Santat website

Sleeping Ugly

This book makes me laugh!  Jane Yolen is a gifted storyteller and is perhaps best-known for the touching Owl Moon, so it surprised me to read such a witty, even sarcastic, fracture of Sleeping Beauty.

Sleeping Ugly begins by introducing us to Princess Miserella - a spoiled, snotty, completely beautiful princess.  She gets lost while out on a walk and, finding an old woman napping under a tree, rudely wakens her and demands to be guided home.  It doesn't quite work out as she planned and they end up at Plain Jane's ramshackle cottage deep in the woods.

Miserella refuses to rein in her boorish behavior and the old woman, who is a fairy in disguise, tires of listening to her and, in a fit of frustration, casts a sleeping spell on her, which affects all three women since her ferocity breaks the wand.

They slumber through hundreds of year until Prince JoJo "who was the youngest son of a youngest son and so had no gold or jewels or property to speak of..." enters the cottage and decides to practice his kiss on the old woman first, then Jane, and in a moment of clarity, decides against kissing the gorgeous Miserella because "JoJo knew that kind of princess.  He had three cousins just like her;  Pretty on the outside.  Ugly within."

He and Jane marry, have children and add a granny flat to the cottage for their friend the old woman/fairy.  They never wake up Miserella who often serves as a coat rack for their guests.

Humorous, clever, completely fractured fairy tale.