The Fairy's Mistake (The Princess Tales, Book 1) - Gail Levine
A fairy's reward and punishment backfire.
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- Author:Gail Levine
- # of pages: 87
- Publisher:HarperCollins Children's Books
- Original Publication Date: 08/29/2004
- Genre: Fiction - Fairy Tale
- Hardcover: $8.95
- Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 7-12
- Read Aloud: 7+
- Read Alone: 8+
Parents need to know
Families can talk about how the fairy's reward and punishment are exploited. Do you think she could have foreseen the consequences? Would you be happy if jewels fell out of your mouth every time you spoke?
Message
Social Behavior:
The greedy, selfish, mean sister uses her punishment as a reward by blackmailing others into giving her whatever she wants. The good sister agrees to marry a prince just to get out of the house.
Consumerism:
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Violence
Sex
Language
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Amy Brotman
Is it any good?
This is the first of The Princess Tales, a series of short retellings of fairytales by the Newbery-honored author of Ella Enchanted. Her light sense of humor and deadpan descriptions of absurdities, along with the short length and easy to read text, make this a delightful snack, rather than a heavy meal. But she never talks down to her audience, which makes this a good choice for young readers, reluctant readers, and reading aloud.
Some may find the values here a little questionable: Myrtle's outrageous behavior is never punished, bringing success to her and her nasty mother. She even helps Rosella deceive the prince to get him to behave somewhat better, but he still gets to keep half of all the jewels Rosella produces, while she gets to give the rest to the poor. But it's all meant in fun, and it's unlikely any young readers will take Myrtle as their role model.
From the Book:
Something funny was happening in her mouth. Had she lost a tooth? There was something hard under her tongue. And something hard in her cheek. "Excuse me." Now there was something in her other cheek. She spat delicately into her hand.
They weren't teeth. She was holding a diamond and two opals.
"There, dearie," Ethelinda smiled. "Isn't that nice?"
Other choices
Other Books by Gail Carson Levine
Ella Enchanted
The Princess Test
Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep
Cinderellis and the Glass Hill
For Biddle's Sake
The Fairy's Return
More Fractured Fairy Tales
Truly Grim Tales by Priscilla Galloway
Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird by Vivian Vande Velde
The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Parents and kids say
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