Fairly Fairy Tales
Kids current on their fairy tales will appreciate the whimsical way Codell spins the basics by adding one oddball element to each story told by a mother to her recalcitrant boy at bedtime. In the tale of the Three Little Pigs, for instance, solar panels make an appearance along with the straw and bricks. After the boy checks off the tried-and-true elements of Little Red Riding Hood�red hood, wolf, and grandma�he has to pause to consider if shampoo can figure into the plot: NOOOOO! Well, maybe. Chavarri�s colorful, almost wordless two-page spreads imagine how the twists impact each story and are packed with details delighted readers will pore over. At Grandma�s Beauty Salon, for instance, several wolves, one wearing a Big �N� Bad T-shirt, are getting their fur pampered. Baskets of goodies are for sale, and Grandma is painting the heroine�s nails with Lil� Red polish. This fun outing will be a surefire winner whenever it�s read�bedtime or not. Preschool-Grade 2. --Karen Cruze