The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst Dutton Children's books, 2006 32 pages Retellings of classic nursery stories are as plentiful (and sometimes as grating) as the sand on the seashore, but every now and then an author manages to turn out a clever, engaging version of a familiar tale. My favorites tend to be … Continue reading The Gingerbread Girl
Precocious Princesses: Spindle’s End
This is the fifth (and final) post in my "Precocious Princesses" series, reviews of inspiring alternatives to traditional princess tales. Spindle's End by Robin McKinley Ace Books, 2001 354 pages If "Rapunzel" is progressive as princess tales go, "Sleeping Beauty" is at the opposite end of the spectrum. However embellished, the story usually goes something … Continue reading Precocious Princesses: Spindle’s End
Precocious Princesses: Rapunzel
This is the fourth post in my "Precocious Princesses" series, reviews of inspiring alternatives to traditional princess fairy tales. Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale, ill. by Nathan Hale Bloomsbury, 2008 144 pages For a princess story, the tale of Rapunzel is fairly subversive. To begin with, she's not actually a princess, or even … Continue reading Precocious Princesses: Rapunzel
Read Like a Girl 