Scan barcode
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
'Brave Red, Smart Frog: A New Book of Old Tales' by Emily Jenkins with illustrations by Rohan Daniel Eason is a collection of familiar fairy tales retold.
Along with tales I was familiart with, like Snow White and The Frog Prince, are a few I was less familiar with like The Three Great Noodles and Toads and Pearls.
The seven stories in this collection are retold in a fresh way that I really enjoyed. In the Author's Note at the end, it's stated that the idea was not to change the meanings for modern sensibilities, but to tell them in a kind of oral tradition method. One that works well for this collection.
Along with tales I was familiart with, like Snow White and The Frog Prince, are a few I was less familiar with like The Three Great Noodles and Toads and Pearls.
The seven stories in this collection are retold in a fresh way that I really enjoyed. In the Author's Note at the end, it's stated that the idea was not to change the meanings for modern sensibilities, but to tell them in a kind of oral tradition method. One that works well for this collection.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
5.0
Discussion guide: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=14497
novelesque_life's review against another edition
2.0
RATING: 2 STARS
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)
This is a retelling of fairytales. For me, it was nothing new or exciting, but I do like the classics.
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)
This is a retelling of fairytales. For me, it was nothing new or exciting, but I do like the classics.
eruanna317's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
earth_and_silver's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
turrean's review against another edition
3.0
Jenkins (author of the splendid Toys Go Out stories) retells seven traditional tales. In an author’s note at the finish, she explains that she wished to tell the tales faithfully, but also to answer questions about why a stepmother might reject her stepchildren, or an elegant princess come to love a slimy frog.
They are indeed faithful retellings, with plenty of amusing dialog (especially the noodleheads in the two comic tales.) The linking of the tales was clever; the frozen forest and the neighboring sunny forest are home to woodcutters and evil stepmothers aplenty. And the artwork by Eason is gorgeous — I remember the cover he did for The Wolves of Willloughby Chase!
Jenkins does not always answer her questions more clearly than many other retellings. For example, in some of the other versions of the story, authors simply state that Hansel and Gretel’s stepmother died in the children’s absence. Jenkins asks why stepmother should have died. When the witch has died, Hansel comments that he’s sure Stepmother is dead, too: “...Old Mother and Stepmother, too,“ said Hansel. “I am mostly certain.“ And he’s right. Were the Stepmother and Old Mother the same person? If so, why would the stepmother consent to starve with her new husband and children when she could make an edible house with her powers? Or was she herself eaten by those hungry creatures on the way home? If Jenkins means me to infer more, it’s too subtle for me.
The Frog Prince was easily my favorite of the tales. The arguments between the bored princess and the clever frog are funny, and the ending is lovely. I was delighted to read that the now-wedded couple occasionally quarreled to keep the dullness at bay.
They are indeed faithful retellings, with plenty of amusing dialog (especially the noodleheads in the two comic tales.) The linking of the tales was clever; the frozen forest and the neighboring sunny forest are home to woodcutters and evil stepmothers aplenty. And the artwork by Eason is gorgeous — I remember the cover he did for The Wolves of Willloughby Chase!
Jenkins does not always answer her questions more clearly than many other retellings. For example, in some of the other versions of the story, authors simply state that Hansel and Gretel’s stepmother died in the children’s absence. Jenkins asks why stepmother should have died. When the witch has died, Hansel comments that he’s sure Stepmother is dead, too: “...Old Mother and Stepmother, too,“ said Hansel. “I am mostly certain.“ And he’s right. Were the Stepmother and Old Mother the same person? If so, why would the stepmother consent to starve with her new husband and children when she could make an edible house with her powers? Or was she herself eaten by those hungry creatures on the way home? If Jenkins means me to infer more, it’s too subtle for me.
The Frog Prince was easily my favorite of the tales. The arguments between the bored princess and the clever frog are funny, and the ending is lovely. I was delighted to read that the now-wedded couple occasionally quarreled to keep the dullness at bay.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
3.0
This is an interesting, but not terribly novel, retelling of fairy and folk tales. Like the author, I took classes on the oral tradition of story telling, and thus, like the author, I am well aware, as she points out in her afterward, that these stories were told, and retold, and tweaked with each new telling.
And that is all very well and good, but don't go reading this and hoping for a new, novel view of these classic tales of Little Read Riding Hood, or the Frog Prince, or, Snow White. There is some inside, and humor thrown in, but, as Jenkins points out, it is not her goal to add anything modern to the stories, just to explain some things, such as why step-mothers were cruel, or why fathers were thoughtless.
You might enjoy reading these. I found, although the humor was cute, that I grew boarded with how little she ended up changing things.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And that is all very well and good, but don't go reading this and hoping for a new, novel view of these classic tales of Little Read Riding Hood, or the Frog Prince, or, Snow White. There is some inside, and humor thrown in, but, as Jenkins points out, it is not her goal to add anything modern to the stories, just to explain some things, such as why step-mothers were cruel, or why fathers were thoughtless.
You might enjoy reading these. I found, although the humor was cute, that I grew boarded with how little she ended up changing things.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
mckenzierichardson's review against another edition
3.0
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
A nice collection of fairy tales. It contains the stories, "Snow White", "The Frog Prince", "Three Wishes", "Toads and Pearls", "Red Riding Hood", "The Three Great Noodles", and "Hansel and Gretel".
The book does not adhere strictly to the originals nor are they reinvented into completely new tales. Instead, as Jenkins writes in her Author's Note, "I wrote them simply as I myself want to tell them, using the storytelling techniques I have at my disposal". It is a nice middle-ground between the originals and new retellings. While the stories are not reinvented, they do take place in and near the same icy forest, which is a fun detail. There are some connections between the stories which adds an interesting (and sometimes humorous- I enjoyed all of the "noodle" references) element.
The writing is fairly simple but does contain some great descriptions and details. Jenkins notes that she tried to answer various questions while she wrote, such as "Why would Red trust the wolf?" and "How would it feel to have pearls dropping from your mouth?" While reading, I enjoyed these extra details added to the stories that had not been brought to light in other renditions.
With that, the overall reading experience was good. The book provides its own unique voice as well as a few added details, but for the most part sticks to the elements of the original tales. I think the subtitle, "A New Book of Old Tales" is very appropriate and describes the content perfectly.
A nice collection of fairy tales. It contains the stories, "Snow White", "The Frog Prince", "Three Wishes", "Toads and Pearls", "Red Riding Hood", "The Three Great Noodles", and "Hansel and Gretel".
The book does not adhere strictly to the originals nor are they reinvented into completely new tales. Instead, as Jenkins writes in her Author's Note, "I wrote them simply as I myself want to tell them, using the storytelling techniques I have at my disposal". It is a nice middle-ground between the originals and new retellings. While the stories are not reinvented, they do take place in and near the same icy forest, which is a fun detail. There are some connections between the stories which adds an interesting (and sometimes humorous- I enjoyed all of the "noodle" references) element.
The writing is fairly simple but does contain some great descriptions and details. Jenkins notes that she tried to answer various questions while she wrote, such as "Why would Red trust the wolf?" and "How would it feel to have pearls dropping from your mouth?" While reading, I enjoyed these extra details added to the stories that had not been brought to light in other renditions.
With that, the overall reading experience was good. The book provides its own unique voice as well as a few added details, but for the most part sticks to the elements of the original tales. I think the subtitle, "A New Book of Old Tales" is very appropriate and describes the content perfectly.
critterbee's review against another edition
2.0
A collection of some of the more well-known fairy tales, with beautiful illustrations and a rather stilted writing style. I think these stories would be OK for younger middle grade readers, but they lack a lyrical quality that I look for in fairy tales.
Upon reading the Author's note, it appears the stories were intentionally written simply, in a way the author feels is more akin to the tales' oral tradition.
*eARC Netgalley*
Upon reading the Author's note, it appears the stories were intentionally written simply, in a way the author feels is more akin to the tales' oral tradition.
*eARC Netgalley*