Fairy Tale Spotlight: Far Out Fairy Tale Graphic Novel Series

Understanding visual cues is often an overlooked literacy skill. In our contemporary world, students must be able to construct meaning from visual as well as written texts as a result of the rapid advances in technology. Graphic novels help emerging and developing readers with visual literacy. Like many picture books, the illustrations are vital to fully comprehending the story. Children can be instructed on perspective, framing, style, color scheme, and other visual clues to gain a greater understanding of the text’s meaning.   

Far Out Fairy Tales is a series for young readers. It is an excellent introduction to graphic novels. Each book includes a visual question section to challenge readers to look more closely at the relationship between the text and the illustrations.

This series is also for the fractured fairy tale lover. Many readers will enjoy seeing their favorite tales reimagined using modern elements like super heroes, robots, ninjas, and video games. An overview of the original story is presented at the end as well as some comparisons between the traditional and new tale.

Currently, there are 4 books in the series.

Red Riding Hood, Superhero

Otis Frampton

While taking a tour of Area 54 with her grandmother, the President of the United States, little Ruby Topper discovers a mysterious little alien carrying a red hood. When Ruby dons the crimson cape and cowl, it grants her AMAZING SUPERPOWERS! But will her newfound abilities be enough to save the White House -- and her grandmother -- from the rampaging Big Bad Wolf-Bot?

Ninja-rella

Joey Comeau/Omar Lozano

Cinderella's stepmother and two stepsisters treat her like dirt. Each and every day, they force her to clean their clothes, cook their meals, and only give her rags to wear and crumbs to eat. But each night, in secret and in shadows, Cinderella trains to be a ninja! More than anything, Cinderella yearns to become the Prince's personal bodyguard. When the opportunity to prove her worth to the Prince finally arrives in the form of an invitation to a royal costume ball, Cinderella's stepmother won't let her go! But this time around, Ninja-rella isn't going to take ""no"" for an answer . . .

Snow White and the Seven Robots

Louise Simonson/Jimena Sanchez

Far, far away, on a distant planet called Techworld, a little girl named Snow White is born. Created by the planets smartest minds to be the perfect scientist, Snow immediately shows a knack for working with electronics. The Queen, fearing for her crown, exiles Snow White so she cannot grow up and take the Queens place as the most intelligent person on the planet. However, Snow White's willingness to help those in need -- especially the downtrodden robots of Techworld -- earns her many friends, and they are all quite eager to help her cause.

Super Billy Goats Gruff

Sean Tulien/Fernando Cano

Once upon a time, three billy goats named Gruff were traveling to the hillside to snack on some green grass -- when they suddenly find themselves trapped inside a video game! The good news: the three billy goat brothers become SUPER billy goats! One becomes a Warrior, one becomes a Ninja, and one becomes a Wizard. The bad news: the green field of grass is gone -- and in its place is Hillside Castle, a dangerous dungeon filled with creepy-crawlies and fantastical foes! Can the goats make their way through the castle to get their grass -- or will the toothsome troll named Final Boss feast on them for his lunch?

*The individual book summaries are from Amazon.

Fairy Tale Friday: Cinderella (Multicultural)

Reading Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters a few weeks ago, I was prompted to think about Cinderella stories.  It seems that nearly every culture has at least one such tale.  Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is not at all like the Western fairy tales I have read.  There is no evil step-mother.  The protagonist does not sit around and wait for fate. Instead, she goes on quest to meet the prince.  Along the way she completes different "tests."  Her snake companion (rather than birds and mice) is the prince in disguise!   I began reading similar fairy tales to examine:  What makes a narrative a Cinderella story?

In most contemporary Cinderella tales or retellings, a step-mother and sister(s) are the cause of hardship and oppression.  However, in The Egyptian Cinderella (by Shirley Climo) the protagonist (Rhodopis) is a slave, a Greek girl stolen as a child from her parents.   Three other slave girls in the house are envious of Rhodopis because of her blond hair, fair skin, and great beauty.  Like many of the tales, there is a benevolent father-figure.  In this case, it is the slave master.  He is oblivious of the ill-treatment the girl receives from the others.   Interestingly, in some early Cinderella tales, though, the father is the cause of the girl difficulties.   These tales have been modified or fallen out of use.   According to the Author’s Note, the tale of Rhodopis is one of the world’s oldest Cinderella stories, recorded in the first century B.C.   It is believed to be based on some truth because there was a Greek slave girl by the same name that married Pharaoh Amasis and became Queen of Egypt. 

The Korean Cinderella (by Shirley Climo) follows many of the familiar plot elements, beginning with the step-mother and step-sister being the nefarious task masters.   In this version, the protagonist is named Pear Blossom.  Most of the Cinderella protagonists are connected with nature, often through the friendship of animals.  Pear Blossom is connected by her name and through her only friends, the crickets.   She must complete several tasks in order to earn the right to attend the ball.  Each one is impossible but for the help of an animal (frog, sparrows, ox).  She eventually attends the party and marries a nobleman, rather than a king, who locates her using her lost sandal.

Adelita (Tomie dePaola) is a Mexican Cinderella story.  There are no animal helpers or direct connections to nature.   Instead, she receives help from a former servant who was her nurse maid when she was growing up.  There is no magic either. The beloved old woman reveals the location of her mother’s chest that holds what she needs to prepare for the party at the wealthy rancher’s home.  With one other exception, the other tales all use some sort of slipper or shoe.  Adelita is distinguished by her reboza (a type of shawl).  She hangs it outside her window after the party which allows the rancher’s son to identify her after the party. 

One Indonesian version is The Gift of the Crocodile (by Judy Sierra).  In this region, Cinderella tales are characterized by a heroine losing something in the river and finding a magical helper.  In this narrative, a crocodile befriends the protagonist, Damura.   Grandmother Crocodile helps the kind-hearted girl by not only retrieving her sarong but replacing it with a far lovelier one.  When the feast for the prince occurs, Grandmother Crocodile provides all that Damura needs to attend.  She successfully wins over the prince, but the step-mother and step-sister are eaten up with jealousy.  They feign kindness and reconciliation to lure her on a boat ride. The duo pushes Damura into the river where she is eaten by a crocodile.  Grandmother Crocodile rescues her.  The step-mother and step-sister flee.  From then on, Damura and her children safely splash in the river, talk to the animals, and play in the shade of the trees (again that connection to nature). 

My favorite multicultural version is Sootface (by Robert D. San Souci), an Ojibwa Cinderella Story.  Sootface overcomes horrible bullying not only from her jealous sisters but from the rest of the village.  Because she works hard all day, her hair is singed, her face is dirty, and her clothes worn out.  She does not rely on magic or a helper to transform her.  Instead, her resourcefulness and diligence provide her with the necessary items.  Another unique plot element is the “prince.”  He is a famed hunter with the ability to become invisible.   One day, he tells his sister to announce that he will marry the woman who can see him, which means the woman is kind and honest.  To verify the maiden can in fact see him, she must describe his bow.  Of course, all the women try but fail.  Sootface is the only one who is able to truly see him.  The hunter changes her name to Dawn-Light, and they marry.  Every one is pleased, except her sisters who now have to do all the cooking and cleaning. 

From all these tales, it is clear there are many variations.  As a result, defining what makes a Cinderella tale a Cinderella tale is a challenge.  I realize, also, that I just reviewed a sampling.  From it, I can conclude that in all the tales a protagonist must overcome great hardship (usually as a result of family/step-family members) to become successful (which usually means finding a husband).  In all the mainstream tales, Cinderella is humble, obedient, and diligent.  Though in some tales (especially earlier ones), she had other character qualities, such as being clever, resourceful, and, even, vengeful.  The modern world’s fascination with Cinderella tales has always amazed me.  I cannot speak for all cultures, but it seems to me that what appeals most to us as Americans is that Cinderella is the quintessential icon of pulling one’s self up by his/her boot straps to be a success.  Isn’t that what the American dream is all about?

Fairy Tale Friday: Cinderella

In preparation for Fairy Tale Friday, I have been reading versions of Cinderella from various cultures.  I am making careful notes in my study.  I was hoping to complete it in time for this week's post, but I don’t want to rush it. The post will have to wait one more week.   Instead, I am sharing two of my favorite picture book retellings of Cinderella.  If you have a fairy tale post this week, add a link in the comments. 

Cinderella (illustrated by K.Y. Craft):

The text is adapted from The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book (1923) and Andrew Lang’s The Blue Fairy Book (1889).  The story follows the familiar plot line:  Father remarries and dies shortly after.  The stepmother and her two daughters treat Cinderella like a slave while they live lavishly.  Like the movie Ever After though, Cinderella actually meets the prince prior to the ball.  He sees her in the woods and becomes enamored with her beauty.  She is helping an injured bird, but quickly (and ashamedly) excuses herself and runs off.   After the step –sisters leave for the ball, the bird Cinderella helped turns into a beautiful fairy.  Like the Disney movie, the fairy turns a pumpkin, mice, rats, and lizards into the servants, horses, and coachmen.  There are two nights of dancing before Cinderella loses her glass slipper.  The prince scourers the kingdom until he finds her.  After they marry, they are renowned as “the fairest and kindest rulers the people had ever known.”  With only a few changes, this version follows the most commonly known one in America:  Disney’s.  The breath-taking illustrations in Craft's picture book make it stand out!  Craft states, “The illustrations for this story depict an imaginary setting around the time of Voltaire, who lived in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century France.”  Most of the layouts have a full-paged framed picture on one side and the text on the other.  To highlight pivotal plot details, occasion two-page spreads are used.  I am a huge fan of Craft's soft coloring and intricate details which give the pictures a magical-essence.   Her style beautifully compliments fairy tale retellings.   If you (or a little one in your home) are a fan of Cinderella tale, you MUST check this one out!

Cinderella (by Amy Ehrlich, illustrated by Susan Jeffers):

Ehrlich uses the Charles Perrault version which has many similarities to the accounts Craft utilized.  Interestingly, in this one the father does not die, but rather, he is ruled by his new wife entirely. As a result, Cinderella does not ever complain to him.  There is no pre-ball meeting between her and the prince.  Her godmother, a fairy, visits her after everyone has left for the ball. She uses magic to transform objects into all that Cinderella needs for a memorable arrival at the palace.  While at the ball, Cinderella shows her good-nature by sharing a special treat with her sisters.  At the end, the two sisters beg for forgiveness.  Not only does she forgive them, but she also gives them a place in the palace.  I adore Jeffers' illustrations which use fine-lines and delicate colors.  Like Craft, she uses the eighteenth-century attire and setting as her inspiration.  Her life-like expressions and details spill over to make two-page spreads that envelop and energize the narrative, making this book a must-read!

What is your favorite version of Cinderella?  Please share in the comments, which enters you in the Fairy Tale Friday July Giveaway.  

Fairy Tale Friday: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (by John Steptoe)

It is Fairy Tale Friday!  As much as I love fairy tales, I have been so busy that I have had little time to read them lately.  I am revisiting a tale I have read for years.  It was actually introduced to me in my first children’s literature course.   As I reread it, I was struck by the gorgeous illustrations and pleased with the beautiful storytelling. 

Summary of Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters:  An African Tale (by John Steptoe)

Mufaro lives in a small village with his two beautiful daughters:  Manyara and Nyasha.   Manyara is bad tempered and proud.  She treats her sister cruelly, but carefully, for her father is oblivious to it.   Nyasha always responds with kindness and humbleness.  She spends her time working a small plot of land that grows food abundantly.  A snake, she calls him Nyoka, is her companion as she works.  One day, the king calls for all the worthy single women to come to the city, so he can choose a wife.   Manyara leaves for the journey in the middle of the night, in hopes of beating her sister and the others.    She comes across a hungry boy who requests a bite to eat.  Of course, Manyara yells at him and leaves him with nothing.  Then, she is warned by an old woman of some situations ahead, but in her pride Manyara ignores her.  When she finally goes before the king, she finds a hideous monster who reveals her faults to her.  Nyasha travels with her village the next morning.  Seeing the young boy, she immediately offers him her lunch.   For the old woman, she gives her a pouch of sunflower seeds.  The pure-hearted daughter passes the tests that lie ahead.  When she goes in to see the king, there is something entirely different in the chamber.   

Evaluation

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters won the Caldecott Honor award for its illustrations.  For inspiration, Steptoe effectively used the ruins of an ancient city in Zimbabwe as well as the flora and fauna of the region.   The true nature’s and personalities’ of the girls comes through his realistic and powerful depictions.   The storytelling is tight, not a wasted word or scene.  Everything comes full-circle, producing a satisfying ending both emotionally and structurally.  Even though the plot elements are very different than the Western Cinderella stories, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is categorized as one.  It challenged me to consider:  What makes a fairy tale a “Cinderella” story?    I’d like to hear what you think.  I will share my thoughts next week.