Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Here's a nifty idea from a British team: take four stories from the fairy-tale canonÄGoldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood, Three Billy Goats Gruff and Jack and the BeanstalkÄand turn them into riddles, with an added gotcha! at the punch line for a soupon of excitement. For example, after giving a trio of clues (involving a mysterious interloper with only her blond tresses visible, a bowl of porridge, a chair and a bed), Grindley asks, "Who is it?" A turn of the page reveals, "It's Goldilocks!/ Wake up, Goldilocks. The Bears are after you!" Beardshaw works in dense, jewel-toned acrylics and pastels to create full-bleed illustrations, some cropped for dramatic effect. She plants visual clues with her tongue firmly in her cheek: Goldilocks is first seen as a pair of pigtails, while Jack is a pair of high-tops. A final riddle at book's end, written in mock ominous tones, makes the reader the focal point of the puzzler ("Someone's watching you read this book. Someone can't wait till you reach the last page") and should induce a cascade of giggles. Ages 2-6. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-In this oversized picture-book guessing game, each illustration, accompanied by a question or two, gives clues to the identity of a character from a nursery tale. Several stories are represented, including "The Three Bears" and "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," but only snippets of the plots are included, so familiarity with the tales is a must. For example, the final spread for "Jack and the Beanstalk" features a huge, leering giant face with a frightened little Jack with no where to go. While the illustrations are bright and childlike, these unresolved endings feature a frightened child or animal and a scary villain. Youngsters may be left feeling unsettled even if they know how things turn out. Stick with the many wonderful versions of these old stories and skip the guess work.-Denise Reitsma, Howe Library, Hanover, NH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Someone's going into Grandma's cottage. Someone's eating Grandma up. Someone's wearing Grandma's nightclothes. Who is it? The very young will enjoy these simple guessing games revolving around four fairy tales, not to mention the book's surprise gotcha ending. The color-slathered illustrations, which bleed off most pages, provide visual clues. From HORN BOOK Spring 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Several classic fairy tales receive a topsy-turvy retelling in this cheerfully irreverent collection of short tales. Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood, The Billy Goats Gruff, and Jack and the Beanstalk come with generous heapings of suspense and zany humor. Grindley ( What Are Friends For? , 1998, etc.) remains faithful to the original stories. Instead, she turns each into a series of questions that relay the fundamental elements of the tale, focus on key characters, and culminate in the query: Who is it? Someones stealing the giants enormous bag of gold! Who is it? Its Jack. And the giants waked up! Get out of there fast, Jack! One caveat: readers need to be familiar with the original story in order to guess the answers and catch the joke. However, clues are provided in both the text and artwork prior to the resolution to help uncertain readers. Beardshaws lavishly colored, full-page illustrations are a perfect match for this rambunctious book, capturing the exuberant spirit of the tales. She cleverly hides the main characters face from view until the climax, deliciously prolonging readers anticipation and suspense. Preschoolers will savor the outrageous humor and enjoy guessing the correct answers, making for a boisterous read-aloud session. A playfully tongue-in-cheek game to tickle readers fancies. (Picture book. 3-8)
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