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Fairy Tales with a Twist

Do you remember having fairy tales read to you when you were a child? I have some fun fairy tales to share with you this month, but these are not your typical fairy tales. These are fairy tales with a twist, otherwise known as “fractured” fairy tales.

Best enjoyed after your child is familiar with the traditional fairy tale, fractured fairy tales begin with the premise of the well-known fairy tale, but that’s where the similarity ends. The twists and turns away from the expected will surprise and delight your child.

Read the synopses of a few of my favorites below, and download my free library list to take with you on your next visit to the library.

Bubba the Cowboy Prince book cover

Bubba the Cowboy Prince
by Helen Ketteman

Are you ready for a fairy tale gone country western? Just pull on your cowboy boots. With a little Texas magic and the help of his fairy god-cow, Bubba the Cowboy Prince goes from being a smelly ranch hand on his stepdaddy’s ranch to being the most popular guy at the ball. Move over, Cinderella, Bubba’s comin’!

Cinder Edna book cover

Cinder Edna
by Ellen Jackson

If you’re looking for a “normal” fairy tale, you’ve come to the wrong picture book. The heroine in this Cinderella story doesn’t even have a fairy godmother. But rather than give up, this resourceful would-be princess finds her own way to the ball and proves that even when life isn’t a fairy tale, you can still live happily ever after—brown loafers and all.

Fanny's Dream book cover

Fanny’s Dream
by Caralyn and Mark Buehner

There are no glass slippers in Fanny’s Dream, but there is a sturdy farm girl who dreams of living the life of a princess. But on one starry night, Fanny chooses the hard work and laughter of real life on the farm over the possibility of living a fairy tale. And as Fanny soon discovers, sometimes reality is even better than dreams!

Goldilocks and Just One Bear

Goldilocks and
Just One Bear

by Leigh Hodgkinson

If you like your fairy tales with a little twist, you’ll find that the twist in Goldilocks and Just One Bear is just right. When “just one bear” suddenly finds himself lost on the streets of the big, noisy city, he decides to hunt for a nice quiet spot to have a snack and a nap. But what (and who!) he finds is the biggest twist of all!

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood book cover

Petite Rouge:
A Cajun Red Riding Hood

by Mike Artell

You’ve probably heard the story of Red Riding Hood, but you’ve likely never heard it told like this before. In irresistible Cajun-French dialogue, Mark Artell tells the tale of a goose, a crafty cat, a hungry alligator, and a gullible grandma. If you think you know how this twisted tale ends, you’re in for a sizzling southern surprise!

The Once Upon a Time Book cover

The Once Upon a Time
Map Book

by B.G. Hennessy

If you’ve ever wanted to explore the kingdoms of your fairy tale dreams, pick up this charming map book and discover some worlds you’ve only read about. You’ll travel through Neverland and Wonderland, and then follow the Yellow Brick Road all the way from Oz to the Emerald City. And you’ll learn a thing or two about maps along the way!

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas

The Princess and the
Packet of Frozen Peas

by Tony Wilson

When Prince Henrik asks for advice on marriage, his brother insists that he marry a real princess. But Henrik soon discovers that real princesses can be kind of sensitive and…whiny. What if Prince Henrik decides he doesn’t want to marry a princess? What if he wants to marry the hockey-loving girl of his dreams instead?

There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight

There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight
by Penny Parker Klostermann

If you thought the tale of the old lady who swallowed a fly was funny, you’re going to love reading about the dragon who swallowed a knight! Not only does the dragon in this slightly twisted tale have a GIANT appetite, he also seems to have forgotten his manners. After all, do you think it’s polite to swallow a knight?

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

The Stinky Cheese Man
and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

by Jon Scieszka

If you’re bored with prince-meets-princess-and-lives-happily-ever-after fairy tales, The Stinky Cheese Man will make your day. These tales, which are definitely not boring, are wonderfully creative, slightly unorthodox, and, well, fairly stupid. And they’ll keep you laughing from the first page until the last “the end.”

The Three Ninja Pigs

The Three Ninja Pigs
by Corey Rosen Schwartz

In this martial arts-inspired retelling of the classic Three Little Pigs, the pigs decide to hone their ninja skills before facing the Big Bad Wolf! The Three Ninja Pigs packs a punch with terrific rhymes, a too-big-for-his-britches wolf, and a rock ’em, sock ’em ending. These pigs are going to take care of the big bad wolf once and for all. Hi-yah!

A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale

A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale
by Penny Parker Klostermann

William may live in the land of fairy tales, but he’s not a prince and he definitely doesn’t know how to woo a princess! What William does know how to do is cook. But can a chef find his own space in such a magical place? This delightfully quirky book will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about fairy tales!

The Princess and the Pig book cover

The Princess and the Pig
by Jonathan Emmett

The Princess and the Pig is a fairy tale mix-up of epic proportions! In one fateful moment, a princess falls from the castle and plops into a farmer’s cart, sending a piglet flying…straight into the castle to be raised by the King and Queen. Can a princess be happy living with an ordinary farm family? And can a pig find true love with a prince?

The Three Pigs book cover

The Three Pigs
by David Wiesner

This is definitely not “The Three Little Pigs” fairy tale you heard as a child! The story starts off well enough, but just when you think you’re in for a traditional tale, everything gets turned upside down…literally! Complete chaos ensues when the three pigs jump out of their own story and begin to wreak havoc on lots of other tales, too!

Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty? book cover

Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty?
by David Levinthal

In the style of a 1940’s detective novel, David Levinthal takes an entertaining and imaginative look at five favorite fairy tales. The hero of them all is Binky, a fedora-wearing toad who just happens to be a first-class detective. Will Binky be able to crack all five cases? First up…figure out Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty!

The Great Fairy Tale Disaster book cover

The Great Fairy Tale Disaster
by David Conway

If anyone can turn a bunch of well-loved fairy tales into a completely mixed-up mess, the Big Bad Wolf can! And that’s exactly what happens when the infamous villain from “The Three Little Pigs” decides he’s tired of huffing and puffing the pigs’ houses down! Get ready to giggle your way through The Great Fairy Tale Disaster!

Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying! book cover

Seriously, Cinderella Is
So Annoying!

by Trisha Speed Shaskan

Everyone knows that Cinderella is the perfect princess, right? Well, you might think differently after you read this hilariously reimagined version of one of the most famous fairy tales of all! After you hear Cinderella’s stepmother tell her side of the story, you will almost certainly agree that Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying!

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs book cover

Goldilocks and the
Three Dinosaurs

by Mo Willems

If you think Goldilocks had trouble with three bears, just wait until she finds herself in the home of three dinosaurs! And to make matters worse, these dinosaurs are hungry. But dinosaurs would never purposely trick a golden-haired girl into coming into their home for the purpose of eating her! Or would they?

Little Red: A Howlingly Good Fairy Tale with a Twist book cover

Little Red: A Howlingly Good
Fairy Tale with a Twist

by Lynn and David Roberts

Set in the late eighteenth century, this delightful (and very different!) retelling of a timeless fairy tale features a small boy named Thomas, a bright red cloak, a nearsighted grandmother, a keg of fizzy ginger beer, and of course, a big, bad wolf. But if you think you know how this story ends, think again!

FREE Fairy Tales with a Twist Library List

Fairy Tales with a Twist library checklist download

Would you like to read some of my favorite fractured fairy tales with your children? Click to download my list to take to your local library.

Looking for MORE books? You can find more great library lists here!

Fractured Fairy Tales Recommended by Our Readers

Do you have a favorite picture book of “fractured” fairy tales? Please share it in the comments and I’ll add it to our Readers’ Picks list!

FREE Picture Book LIbrary Lists

All About Learning Press, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All proceeds from our partnership with Amazon.com will be donated to local libraries.

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rebecca

says:

i LOVE the true story of the three little pigs and fractured fairy tale

Nicole

says:

Three ninja pigs was great! Thanks

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Thank you for letting us know you enjoyed this one, Nicole!

Kaitlin

says:

What a fantastic list! I haven’t heard of many of these before and I am excited to check them out!

Amanda

says:

Thanks for the new ideas! My kids (even the teen!) love fairy tales, especially when they are revamped.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Amanda! I hope you find a lot here to enjoy.

MRW

says:

Thank you for this blog post! I grew up loving the Scandinavian fairy tales with trolls, elves, and fairies.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome!

Misty McCluney

says:

These look fun!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Thanks, Misty. I hope you find lots of these enjoyable.

Paula

says:

Thank you for this list – I’ve read a few of these and I love this genre🙂

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Paula. It is such a fun genre!

Christine

says:

My kiddos love fairy tales like this. We have a few book already but haven’t read these. Thanks for the recommendations.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Christine! I hope your kiddos enjoy these as well.

Alisha

says:

These books interesting, thank you for sharing

Amanda Ruth

says:

Thank you – I get tired of the same old fairy tales and appreciate having some fresh views to read to my kids!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

I hope this can make fairy tales a bit more enjoyable for you, Amanda!

Brandon Hall

says:

The one with the Sheriff who vibrated his ears. His gimmick served the crimerate in his Town sheer Justice. I can not find it with google at ALL.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

The book sounds interesting, Brandon. I didn’t have any luck finding it either, but hopefully, someone that has read it will remember the title and let us know.

Arya Hegde

says:

Thank you for sharing such useful information

Brandon Hall

says:

Forgot to enter that the Sheriff is a Rabbit

Anita

says:

Another series of alternate fairy tale stories for older readers…or awesome read-alouds. Rump by Leslie Shurtliff. She also wrote Red and Jack. My kids have literally been sitting on the edge of their seat. They beg me to read more and more!!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Thank you for this review, Anita! I’m always looking for some great read alouds for my kids.

Lauryn R

says:

These fairy tales withba twist books look great! I would definitely love to read them to my littles! :)

Laurie

says:

Thanks for sharing this list. We love this type of book at our house. We also enjoy two already mentioned:
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig and
An Undone Fairy Tale

JA

says:

The Three Little Wolves and The Big Bad Pig is one of our favorites too!

Robin E. at All About Learning Press

says: Customer Service

Laurie,
These sound great! Thank you for the recommendations.

Heather Berry

says:

These look awesome! I look forward to buying them!

Stacy

says:

I love reading and comparing classic fairy tales with their revamped counterparts.

Caroline

says:

I love how creative different authors can be when coming up with new fractured fairy tales or unconventional takes at old fairy tales. Thanks for putting together a great list here!
I haven’t read this one yet, but I heard that Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood just came out recently. I’ll be checking it out at the library soon.

Gwen

says:

I was going to say Interstellar Cinderella! :) Love that one!

Caroline,
Thanks for the the recommendation. I’ll have to check it out too.

Allison

says:

These look really awesome!

Janel

says:

These look like such fun!

Karen Wallace

says:

Thanks for this list of “Fairy Tales”. Your book lists have been so valuable for us! Another one of these that we love is by a great illustrator and author, David Wiesner, called The Three Pigs. It is very unique and even my 12 year old was intrigued by it.

Marie Rippel

says: Customer Service

I’m glad to hear that our book lists have been valuable to you, Karen! And thanks for mentioning David Weisner. You may enjoy some of his other books–we have reviews up for “Tuesday” and “Sector 7.” Here are the links if you’re interested:
http://blog.allaboutlearningpress.com/reviews-tuesday/
http://blog.allaboutlearningpress.com/reviews-sector-7/

Bridgett

says:

These look fun! I printed out the list to have for our next library trip.

Brandy Hill

says:

Thans for the awesome list! As a third grade teacher, I used these twisted fairy tales quite often, for activities such as comparing & contrasting! I also like to have the students write their own fractured fairy tale and these make great mentor texts for that!! Thanks again!

Kendra Rippel

says:

Oh, you’re so welcome, Brandy. I hope this list is a hit with your third-graders. Honestly, we had so much fun reading all the fractured-fairy tales that went into making this list! Never has separating the wheat from the chaff been so much fun. :)

Jenn Khurshid

says:

Thanks for this great list! I can’t wait to check these out!

Natalie Pankonin

says:

My daughter loves The Princess and the Pig! We read it over and over amongst lots of giggles! What a great resource for other fun books. We will be checking these out. Thanks!

Marie Rippel

says: Customer Service

Thanks for your comment, Natalie. I hope you and your daughter love these fairy tales. And live happily ever after, of course!

Sarah

says:

Thank you for this list! I’ll be requesting some of these this summer!

Marie Rippel

says: Customer Service

Have fun with the books Sarah! :)

faith Robeson

says:

these look like some really good books…thank you for sharing

Brandi Gandy

says:

Almost all of these are new to me! Thanks for the suggestion!

Marie Rippel

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Brandi! I hope you find your happily-ever-after in this book list. :)

frances

says:

It love book reviews/suggestions. Thanks!

Janice

says:

Thanks for the great list! We love fractured fairy tales, and many of these are new to us. . .so off to the library!