The Database Of All The Reviews
Snoring beauty
Bruce Hale
Illustrated by Howard Fine
Picture Book
Ages 6 to 8
Harcourt, 2008, 978-0-15-216314-3
Most of you have probably heard the story of Sleeping Beauty. Well this is a similar tale, but there are a few quite astonishing differences. It all begins in the normal way: a king and queen have a baby girl and they plan to have a large christening party for her. They invite everyone who is anyone, except for one “really cranky fairy named Beebo” who gets very annoyed when she finds out that she was passed over. As a result, when it is time to hand out the christening gifts, Beebo declares that when Princess Marge is sixteen “she will be run over by a pie wagon and die.”
Tintinnitus, a rather hard-of-hearing fairy, does her best to modify the curse. She says that Marge will not die when she is run over. Instead she will become a sleeping dragon who will be awakened by a quince. Yes, a quince, as in the pear like fruit. As I said, Tintinnitus was rather hard-of-hearing. She was told to say Prince but…well…you get the idea.
What follows is a hilarious story which can be enjoyed on various levels by both children and grownups. Readers will be hard pressed to find a more novel and unique fairy tale. The language is clever, the plot full of unexpected twists and turns, and the artwork will make even the glummest face crack into a smile.
The creator of the very popular Chet Gecko series, Bruce Hale has a deliciously quirky sense of humor which Howard Fine’s artwork compliments to a T.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Blog| Contact Us| Search | About us
An Online Children’s Book Review Journal
Through The Looking Glass Children’s Book Review
Online book reviews for the child in your life featuring both new and popular children's book authors
Kids book reviews, including book reviews of chapter books, novels, picture books, and non-fiction from famous children’s literature authors. Your review site of books for children.
Action Alert
Reading is Fundamental (RIF) needs your help. The President's proposed fiscal year 2009 budget released in February eliminates the Inexpensive Book Distribution Program, which is the RIF Book Distribution Program. Unless Congress reinstates funding for this program, RIF will be unable to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation's youngest and most at-risk children. RIF serves 4.6 million children. Please click on the link below to visit the RIF Action Alert page so you can make your voice heard and support their efforts.
 |