What ever happened to the seven dwarfs after Snow White ditched them? What was life like for the giant above the beanstalk? Readers need wonder no more. This collection of 13 fantasy short stories takes favorite folk tales on a wild spin through the imagination. The roster of authors includes Michael Cadnum, Jane Yolen, Garth Nix, Tanith Lee, and Gregory Maguire.
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Gr 5-8-This well-written collection revisits both familiar and lesser-known stories with creative revisions by a variety of familiar writers. The tales range from Jane Yolen's comic "Cinder Elephant" to Garth Nix's downright creepy "Hansel's Eyes," in which the witch no longer eats children, but instead harvests their organs for sale. It's easy to recognize the traditional tale in most instances, but some are likely to be unfamiliar to many readers, particularly Katherine Vaz's "The Kingdom of Melting Glances," based on two Portuguese tales. Tanith Lee's "A Wolf at the Door," set in the next ice age, and Janeen Webb's "Ali Baba and the Forty Aliens" enter the realm of science fiction. Neil Gaiman's "Instructions" is a poem of advice for those finding themselves in the midst of fairy tales. Gregory Maguire's "The Seven Stage a Comeback" is a song in which the dwarves consider taking back Snow White. The diversity of content, style, and tone makes this an excellent collection for sampling. Most of these stories ask readers to think a bit more about fairy tales and what they may be saying to and about us. Overall, Wolf is enjoyable reading for those who like fairy tales, particularly fans of revisionist versions who don't expect humor in every story.-Ellen A. Greever, University of New Orleans, LA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
From: Reed Elsevier Inc.
Copyright Reed Business Information
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Introduction |
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The Months of Manhattan |
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Cinder Elephant |
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Instructions |
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Mrs. Big: ""Jack and the Beanstalk"" Retold |
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Falada: The Goose Girl's Horse |
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A Wolf at the Door |
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Ali Baba and the Forty Aliens |
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The Kingdom of Melting Glances |
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Hansel's Eyes |
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Becoming Charise |
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The Seven Stage a Comeback |
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The Twelve Dancing Princesses |
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