Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist

by Jane Yolen

Other authorsRebecca Kai Dotlich (Author), Matt Mahurin (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2013

Status

Available

Call number

811.54

Genres

Publication

WordSong (2013), 40 pages

Description

What were all those fairy-tale characters thinking? Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich answer this question in paired poems, with sometimes startling results. The Princess claims all those mattresses kept her awake?not a silly pea?while the poor pea complains that the princess snores. One Snow White begs the witch to settle by the bay and throw that mirror away. Another boldly tells the mirror she ?won?t be guided by a glass that?s so one-sided.? Grumbles from the Forest is a bewitching brew of voices?grumbling, pleading, bragging, reminiscing, confiding?that bubbles with magic and wonder. The spectacular paintings that tie the poems together are full of surprise and intrigue. This stunning collection includes end notes that briefly describe the tales and their history and an introduction that invites readers to imagine their own poems from unusual perspectives.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Fun collection of paired poems speculating on what fairy tale characters were really thinking.
LibraryThing member huertaen
This is a poem version of classic fairy tales. It covers many many different tales, but the poems are extremely short and give just simple run downs of each story in a quick snippet of verse. The illustrations are dark, simple, and intriguing. Concept: Beginners poetry.
LibraryThing member tmaslen
A collection of poems from the mind's of classic fairy tale characters with a twist. This is a modernized version of fairy tales that leaves the reader comparing the two tales. Would be a great way to introduce modern fairy tales and different perspectives.
LibraryThing member jwied2
Summary: This book takes classic fairy tales and changes them, twists them, or adds to them.
Review: It was a funny book to read after having grown up with these fairy tales. I would definitely keep this book for the older kids due to the tales and illustrations being slightly frightening at times.
LibraryThing member sabdelaz
Poems coming from the traditional told fairy tales including, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Beauty and the Beast, Gingerbread Boy, Cinderella The little Mermaid, Jack and the Beanstalk, The princess and the Pea, Rumpelstiltskin, Frog Prince, Snow White, Little Read Hiding Hood, Three Billy
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Goats Gruff, Thumbelina The Three Bears and two poems for each fable/fairy tale. My personal favorite is on page thirty-one and is "About Grandma Wolf" from the "little Red Hiding Hood." It reads, "Was I fooled? Not a bit. Grandma's nightgown did not fit." The poems are really humorous and entertaining.
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Awards

Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Poetry — 2015)
Charlotte Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2016)

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

40 p.; 9.5 x 0.5 inches

ISBN

1590788672 / 9781590788677

Local notes

Drawing inspiration from 15 familiar fairy tales familiar to the Western world, two authors offer their different takes on each tale.
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