Graphic Novel: Piper

Piper by Jay Asher and Jessica Freeburg, illustrated by Jeff Stokely, Razorbill and imprint of Penguin Random House, 2017.

This is a very interesting retelling of the story of the Pied Piper.  The illustrations are fantastic, and in color throughout.  In this retelling a young woman, hard of hearing, plays a part in earning the trust and love of the Piper.   And for a time, this affection is returned; until the young woman is able to see the heart of the Piper.  Someone who would kill rats, and lead children away, and use his flute to control others, was not someone with whom she could spend her life.

The Emperor's New Clothes

The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson, retold by Carol Sorgen, A mini fairy tale Classic, Ottenheimer Publishers, 1995.

I did not remember this tale as being Hans Christian Anderson.  It is one of those classic stories.  This story shows us that naivete is sometimes pure wisdom.  And why should the emperor run around in his underwear, just to show that he was smart.  Sometimes pride can get the best of us.

Stories I Like: Hansel and Gretel

Hansel & Gretel A Grimm Tale, Adapted by Joe Loesch illustrated by Kevin Menck, Dalmatian Press, Franklin, Tennessee, 2001.
I just read a 2001 version of the Hansel and Gretel story.  This was my favorite story growing up.  I loved my mother to tell this story; and then I retold it myself many times.  However this version is not true to the original I remember in my mind.  This story does not include an evil stepmother.  The children become lost in the woods because they wander too much when the play.  However they learn their lesson when they are unable to get home.  In this version they meet the witch with the house of candy.  They discover the witch's plot to eat them, and push her into the over and make their escape.  Lucky they find a chest of gold and take all they can carry in a couple potato bags and take it home with them so they will never be poor again.

Story Review: The Elves and the Shoemaker

This story appeared in 1806 in Grimm's Fairy Tales.  It has been rewritten in many different versions with slight variations.  Basically this is a story of a poor shoemaker and his wife.  He only has enough money for the leather for one pair of shoes.  He cuts out the leather, then goes to bed.  During the night two elves sew the shoes for him.  He finds them completed the next morning, and says them for more than his asking prices.  He now has leather for two shoes, which he buys and cuts out and leaves again for the next day.  He again finds them done the next morning.  Needless to say the exquisite sewing he is able to make the money to pay his debts and becomes successful.  One night he and his wife wait up to see who sews the shoes.  They discover the elves, but also find that their clothing is tattered and worn and they must be cold.  The next day the wife makes them clothes.  They leave the clothes, and when the elves receive them they are delighted, and leave to never return.  However their fortunes of our shoemaker have changed forever.

Book Review: The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle

The Heroes Guide to Storming the Castle, Christopher Healy, Walden Pond Press, New York, 2013.

This book is a fun ride.  It is the sequel to “The heroes Guide to Saving Your Kingdom”.  For the most part, it has the same characters, except for adding the really bad people from Dar.  They intermingle with the robbers of Rauberia, and threaten the world. 

But I am getting ahead of myself.  This book starts with the forced marriage of Briar Rose and Liam, or sleeping beauty and her Prince Charming.  Turned out in the last book, Liam wanted out of the marriage, but Briar rose could not have that.  In addition, Briar has a plot to steal a sword with magical powers from the robbers Rauber.  This is the sword of Arinthia, the which was stolen by Deeb Rauber and his men, but they do not know its magical powers.  Liam and the Order of Prince Charming are given the task.  They recruit a troll, a giantess, Rapunzel who is a healer, a bounty hunter, Liam’s sister Lila who is also adept and getting into small places, Snow White, Ella (Cinderella) as well as the original order of the four Princes Charming, and they are off.  Unfortunately they also recruit someone to pretend to be a thief; but turns out to really be a thief.  Everything goes wrong, or at least not like they had planned it. 

This is a very enjoyable book and I recommend it highly.  It leaves things in the air, and the next book has not come out yet which is a bit frustrating.

Book Review: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, written by: Christopher Healy, drawings by : Todd Harris, Walden Pond Press, New York, 2012.
This book was fun.  It is taking the stories of the Prince Charmings, and making fun how Charming is a generic name, and the story telling skips any specifics other than the accomplishments of the women who are saved.  Some of the personalities are not what you would expect.  In this case the Charmings face a mean witch, and a band of robbers headed by a ten year old.
This book is well done.  It does get a bit slow in the middle, but not too slow.  The author makes good use of humor.  This keeps the story moving through the slow parts.  As for a theme I think that would be that their is an importance to having friends, and in working together you can accomplish more.

Musical Movie Review: **^The Frog Prince (1986)

This is not the Disney version, but a made for T.V. version, which not only has the prince who has been turned into a frog, but also two princesses, nieces of the king, and only one is a rightful princess.  The older sister is elegant and gives off the look of a princess; but she is also mean spirited, and treats others poorly.  However the younger sister has self esteem issues, mostly brought on by her sister who is always putting her down.  She wishes for a friend, and finds a frog.  However she and she frog become friends, and she now has someone to talk to.  Her sister notices the change in her, and kidnaps the frog, putting him in a pit where he is sure to die due to lack of water.  The music in this musical is forgettable, but I liked it for the characters, the king who has a good heart, the prince and the younger sister.  Aileen Quinn (also Annie) stars as the young princess, Helen Hunt as the mean sister.