Brave Red, Smart Frog: A New Book of Old Tales - Hardcover

Jenkins, Emily

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763665584 ISBN 13: 9780763665586

Publisher: Candlewick, 2017

Synopsis

Step into a wintry forest where seven iconic fairy tales unfold, retold with keen insight and touches of humor.

There once was a frozen forest so cold, you could feel it through the soles of your boots. It was a strange place where some kisses broke enchantments and others began them. Many said witches lived there — some with cold hearts, others with hot ovens and ugly appetites — and also dwarves in tiny houses made of stones. In this icy wood, a stepmother might eat a girl’s heart to restore her own beauty, while a woodcutter might become stupid with grief at the death of his donkey. Here a princess with too many dresses grows spiteful out of loneliness, while a mistreated girl who is kind to a crone finds pearls dropping from her mouth whenever she speaks. With empathy and an ear for emotion, Emily Jenkins retells seven fairy tales in contemporary language that reveals both the pathos and humor of some of our most beloved stories. Charming illustrations by Rohan Daniel Eason add whimsical details that enhance every new reading.

About this title

About the Author

Emily Jenkins is the author of many books for children, including Tiger and Badger, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay, and A Fine Dessert, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. She is also the author of the middle grade Toys series, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, and its picture book companion, Toys Meet Snow. Emily Jenkins lives in New York City.

Rohan Daniel Eason has illustrated several books for children, including My First Kafka: Runaways, Rodents, and Giant Bugs by Matthue Roth. Rohan Daniel Eason lives and works in London.

Reviews

Gr 3–5—Although wordy at times, Jenkins's skillful narration generally stays faithful to the source material of seven retold tales and provides depth for some characters. However, the author makes some tweaks, and her idea of "happy-ever-after" is a little different than in the original stories. In "The Frog Prince," Crystal doesn't get to throw the frog against the wall, but when the frog turns into a prince, they do fall in love and marry. Cherry—the good sister in "Toads and Pearls"—does not marry the king's son as in the Charles Perrault version. ("She wanted to make a life for herself somewhere new…. She came to a town, rented a room, and paid in pearls.") It's not clear whether Snow White will marry Prince Beacon. But Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, and the "Three Great Noodles" end up pretty much as expected. Jenkins explains in a concluding author's note that her intent was to be faithful, though not necessarily accurate, in retelling the tales "to bring out what's most meaningful to me." Her occasional references to bunnies and bluebirds are a bit too cute, but the contemporary tone is effective. This slim, handsome volume includes an illustrated title page for each tale with a simple, nicely sketched setting usually framed in the forest's twining branches. VERDICT A welcome visit for fairy-tale fans, and a useful introduction for readers not so familiar with these enduring stories.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763665584
• ISBN 13: 9780763665586
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Eason Rohan Daniel
• Number of pages: 104