Fairytales with a twist
These picture books have magically reinvented the traditional fairytales…
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Book? by Lauren Child (Hodder Children’s Books, £6.99)
When Herb falls asleep in the middle of reading his book of fairytales he's startled to wake up to a screeching, impatient Goldilocks, and realises he's actually fallen through the pages. What ensues is a chaotic adventure through a magical land with a medium-sized bear offering porridge which might be ‘too hot or too cold’, Hansel and Gretel rudely screaming ‘Oh, get lost!' and an imperious queen with a rather odd biro moustache. Vibrant images are accompanied by energetic lettering, which tumbles, quivers, grows and shrinks… And magic aside, the book teaches children to treat their books respectfully – no doodling on the queen and creasing the legs of a nice prince, please.
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