________________ CM . . . . Volume XXI Number 38 . . . . June 5, 2015

cover

Rapunzel and the Prince of Pop. (Tadpoles: Fairytale Twists).

Karyn Gorman. Illustrated by Laura Ellen Anderson.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2015.
32 pp., pbk., hc., & eBook, $8.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-1955-7 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-1929-8 (RLB.), ISBN 978-1-4271-7685-1 (eBook).

Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8.

Review by Kate Hachborn.

*** /4

   

excerpt:

"Who are you?" Rapunzel screamed. "I'm the Prince of Pop," replied the Prince. "I represent all of Faraway Land's top talent. I heard you sing, and you shall be my next big star!"


In this fractured fairy tale, Rapunzel's prince is a slimy music executive who hears her singing and wants to make an album with her in an effort to become filthy rich. He visits her each night to help her train in all the areas necessary for pop stars: singing, dancing and star appeal. The night the Prince of Pop arrives to free Rapunzel, he is surprised to find she has freed herself and is committed to another agent - the witch.

      Rapunzel and the Prince of Pop is part of the "Tadpoles: Fairytale Twists" series, and readers familiar with the original story of Rapunzel will recognize the traditional elements of plot and character and be able to identify the differences. The Prince of Pop is overtly greedy and receives the comeuppance that he deserves as Rapunzel exerts her power of choice. Though the Witch has a minor role, all of the information readers are given about her is from the perspective of the Prince of Pop whose opinion is based on assumption.

      Because the book is intended for young readers, the font is large and the full-colour illustrations pair well with the text. At the end of the main body of text are two comprehension puzzles: one asks readers to put events from the story in sequence, and the other asks readers to pair dialogue with the character most likely to have said it.

Recommended.

Kate Hachborn is a library technician at the W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford, ON.

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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