Tag Archives: fairy tales

Elementary

Knock. Knock. Who’s There?: A Review of ‘Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China’

“Never trust a stranger-friend; no one knows how it will end.  As you’re pretty, so be wise; wolves may lurk in every guise.” – Charles Perrault, Little Red Riding Hood

Reading Level:  

2.6         [according to Scholastic – reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]

K – 1      [according to common core]

3.5         [AR]

Interest Level:    K-2         [Ages  6-8]

A little house…. a basket…. a grandmother….. and a wolf.   These are all familiar elements in the fairy tale Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China. The reader will be intrigued with this version of the story while mentally checking off differences and similarities to the more familiar traditional tale.

The story begins with the customary visit to Grandmother, but this time it is the mother who visits Grandmother while her three children stay home.  As any concerned mother, she warns them to keep the door locked because she will be gone overnight.  This of course is a clue to the discerning reader that they may not follow her instructions and that disobedience will put them in great danger. Continue reading Knock. Knock. Who’s There?: A Review of ‘Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China’ →

Elementary

Achieving Hero Status: A Review of ‘The Irish Cinderlad’

“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” – C.S. Lewis

Reading Level:

Grades 2-3 [according to common core]

Grade   3.5  [according to Scholastic – reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]

Interest Level: K – 2

Review and Comments:

The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo is a story that takes place in ages past in Ireland.  It is a familiar tale based on Doublas Hyde’s “The Bracket Bull” and on Sara Cone Bryant’s “Billy Beg and His Bull.” It also brings to mind the very familiar fairy tale, Cinderella. Continue reading Achieving Hero Status: A Review of ‘The Irish Cinderlad’ →

For the Adults, High School

Reclaiming the Beauty of Fantasy: A Review of ‘The Land’s Whisper’

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“Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist.  Children already know that dragons exist.  Fairy tales tell children the dragon can be killed.” —G. K. Chesterton

Suggested Grade Level:

Grades 9-12+

Review and Thoughts:

I have to admit, I am not a huge fan of fantasy.  With the exception of the more classic fantasies like the “The Chronicles of Narnia”, “The Lord of the Rings”, and “The Harry Potter Series”, I generally steer clear of the imaginary worlds invented in others’ heads.  I have also found that more modern fantasies reduce themselves to including a lot of sex and violence to make the story more captivating.  (“Game of Thrones” anyone?)  I am happy to say, that when I read “The Land’s Whisper” I was pleasantly surprised. Continue reading Reclaiming the Beauty of Fantasy: A Review of ‘The Land’s Whisper’ →

High School

Guard your Mind: A Review of ‘Poisoned Apples’

“She is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.”–Proverbs 31:25

Suggested Grade Levels:

Grades 9-12

Review and Thoughts

My mother raised me to be a strong woman.  She always told us we could be anything we wanted to be and taught us to fight for our right to do certain things.  My mother ALSO taught us that we were still women.  She taught us that God had created us with special gifts and beauties that men do not possess and because of that, we have a lot to offer the world because of our sex. My feminism is strong, but I acknowledge my weaknesses and am appreciative of the strengths of the men I am surrounded by.  Our different strengths and weaknesses complement each other and we are better for having both sexes.  Perhaps this is why I had such a difficult time reading Poisoned Apples by Christine Hepperman. Continue reading Guard your Mind: A Review of ‘Poisoned Apples’ →

Elementary

I Spy a Fun Read!:A Review of ‘Each Peach Pear Plum’

“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back, relax, all you need is a book.” Dr.  Seuss

Reading Level:

Grades K-1 [according to common core]

Grade   2.5 [according to Scholastic – reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]

Interest Level:

Grades K-2

Review and Comments:

Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is a treasury of poetry, familiar fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters and corresponding illustrations that compliment every detail of the text.  It all begins with a little poem that invites the reader to play a game of “I Spy.”  Then the fun begins.  Young readers, even non readers, will love to listen carefully to the short rhyme on each page so they can identify familiar characters and then search for those characters in the illustrations.  The text is simple and repetitive and the very detailed and colorful pictures make the search lots of fun. This book is the perfect opportunity to introduce a few fairy tales and nursery rhymes to children or retell old favorites. Continue reading I Spy a Fun Read!:A Review of ‘Each Peach Pear Plum’ →