________________ CM . . . . Volume XXI Number 12. . . .November 21, 2014

cover

Sleeping Beauty – 100 Years Later. (Tadpoles: Fairytale Twists).

Laura North. Illustrated by Gary Northfield.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2014.
32 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.) $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-0479-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-0444-7 (RLB.), ISBN 978-1-4271-7564-9 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-7556-4 (html).

Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8.

Review by Jennifer Baetz.

*** /4

   

excerpt:

“Let’s go to the amusement park,” Harry said. The Princess whizzed around and upside down on a roller coaster. “I’ve never had so much fun!” she screamed.

 

A story for realists!

internal art      This amusing early reader is based on the original Sleeping Beauty fairytale, but it takes a turn when the Princess really does wake up 100 years later to find the world has changed drastically. Her Prince (who prefers to be called “Harry”) drives a convertible, talks on a cell phone, and wears jeans. After Harry awakens the Princess from her cursed slumber, he takes her out on a date where she discovers how different (and fun!) the modern world is compared to her life a century before.

     Sleeping Beauty – 100 Years Later, part of a series called “Tadpoles: Fairytale Twists”, will be appreciated by young readers who are familiar with the original story but enjoy a humourous and updated retelling. There are realists among the very young who appreciate stories that reflect the world they live in, and these readers will enjoy reading and relating to the modern version of a traditional favourite.

     The book includes prompts for adults who are sharing the reading experience with youngsters, and the prompts offer valuable steps to support literacy development. However, the layout of the book could be improved to make these exercises more visible and, therefore, more likely to be employed. For example, the prompts for before, during, and after reading the book are included at the very back of the book, after the story and two puzzles. It would be advantageous for this section to be moved to the beginning of the book, before the story, to ensure adults see and take advantage of these easy exercises. Layout aside, the prompts are excellent and extend the reading experience to support literacy and skill development.

     Overall, this book is a fun and refreshing addition to the wide array of early reader offerings.

Recommended.

Jennifer Baetz is a Fine Arts Librarian in Saskatoon, SK.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

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