Ever heard of a fractured fairy tale? It’s a twist on the original story, as told from a different perspective, in modern form, or with slightly changed characters. Enjoy these zany twists on familiar tales.
The Three Little Pigs
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
You think you know the story of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf…but you might be wrong. Alexander T. Wolf is here to set the story straight. He’s not the bad guy he’s been painted to be at all! It was all a misunderstanding!
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas
The Three Little Wolves are building houses to live in. The only problem is the threat of the Big Bad Pig–who seems to be everywhere they go.
Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz
The three little pigs are tired of that bully wolf tearing down and destroying all of their houses and they are determined to do something about it. Enter aikido lessons for all the pigs–turning them into ninjas!
The Three Javelinas by Susan Lowell
The three javelinas live quiet lives in houses made of tumbleweeds and saguaro ribs. That is, until a ravenous coyote gets a little too close with his bottle of red chile sauce. Now the javelinas are on the run!
The Three Horrid Little Pigs by Liz Pichon
Three horrid little pigs get kicked out of their mom’s place and set off to find new housing…in the meanest of ways.
Three Little Cajun Pigs by Mike Artell
Three pigs are off to make their own homes down in the bayou. Along comes Claude the ‘gator, ready to munch on the porcine wonders.
The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague
Soda and chips accompany the pig’s traditional building materials of hay, brick, and mortar in this hilarious tale of three piggies and an iffy bad wolf.
The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot by Margaret McNamara
For kids who love aliens and space comes the perfect fractured fairy tale that also works in some lessons about the planets.
Cinderella
Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella by Susan Lowell
The cowgirl version of Cinderella–complete with boot spurs, gun-firing, and a no-nonsense fairy godmother.
Think Cinderella was the perfect model of goodness? Her stepmother thinks not. Here she tells her version of the story.
Did you know Cinderella had a neighbor? Cinder Edna lived next door and took a different course than Cinderella but still managed to find her happy ending.
Prince Cinders by Babette Cole
The male version of the familiar tale.
Cinderella Penguin, Or, The Little Glass Flipper by Janet Perlman
A cute cast of penguins takes the stage in this twist on the classic Cinderella.
Joe Cinders by Marianne Mitchell
Wild west cowpoke Joe Cinders stars in this hilarious fractured tale.
Trollerella, the Tooth Fairy, and a gigantic glass slipper make this an interesting story with a lot of crazy twists and turns!
Cinderella: The Untold Story by Russell Shorto
This upside-down tale tells two versions of the story depending on which way you flip the book.
Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett
Cinders, a hen who is often bullied by her flock, becomes Prince Cockerel’s chosen hen at the royal ball.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Dusty Locks and the Three Bears by Susan Lowell
In the Wild West live a family of three bears who pride themselves on their tidy household. But when the bears head out for an afternoon walk, Dusty Locks breaks into the house, bringing her dirt with her.
Yours Truly, Goldilocks by Alma Flor Ada
Goldilocks and her familiar fairy tale friends are heading to a party at the home of the three little pigs. Only problem is, the wolves are on their way too!
Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks!: The Story of the Three Bears, As Told By Baby Bear by Nancy Loewen
This twist on the classic tale is told from baby bear’s perspective–turns out Goldilocks wasn’t the villian we’ve all been led to believe.
When Junior Bear goes missing, Officer Goldie is the investigating policewoman to show up. What follows is an interesting series of events and missed connections.
Goldie and the Three Hares by Margie Palatini
The Hare family is relaxing in their rabbit hole one afternoon when they hear a loud thump. It’s Goldilocks, who has fallen down the rabbit hole after running away from the three bears.
Somebody and the Three Blairs by Marilyn Tolhurst
Somebody the bear stumbles across the Blair family home. Hilarity ensues.
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems
For dinosaur lovers everywhere–the one where dinosaurs replace the bears.
Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians by Jackie Mims Hopkins
Goldie and her family of libearians own a giant collection of books. One day when her parents step out, Goldie dives into a story and becomes so fixated on it that she doesn’t hear the door when the bears return.
Goldilocks and Just the One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson
Written as a sequel to the original tale, this story stars the littlest bear all grown up and heading off to the big city for the first time. Goldilocks is nothing more than a distant memory, but when you’re a lonely bear lost in a metropolis, what could be more comforting than to cross paths with the one person who knows how you like your porridge?
Goldi Rocks and the Three Bears by Corey Rosen Schwartz
The three members of the bear family are in need of a new singer for their band, so they interview everyone they can think of. Everyone seems to miss the mark, until a surprise audition stops them in their tracks.
Goatilocks and the Three Bears by Erica S. Perl
Goatilocks has always had a voracious appetite, so when she gets into her neighbor’s house, she gobbles up more than porridge.
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Cowboy Hat by Susan Lowell
A fresh take on the old favorite tale, set in the wild west!
Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Set in the rolling prairie of the midwest, this story is sure to engage and delight readers of all ages. Watch as Little Red Riding Hood rides away from a wily coyote on her red bicycle.
Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood by Mike Artell
Petite Rouge looks like a scrumptious meal to Big Bad Gator Claude. However, he’s no match for the clever girl with some hot sauce up her sleeve.
Good Little Wolf by Nadia Shireen
A gentle wolf named Rolf lives with kindly old Mrs. Boggins, who has always told him he is a good wolf. But one day, Rolf meets a vicious wolf who wants him to do an evil thing to Mrs. Boggins. Rolf learns he must stand up to the Big Bad Wolf.
Little Red: A Fizzingly Funny Fairy Tale by Lynn Roberts
Little Red is transporting a bottle of ginger ale to his grandmother when a sneaky wolf steals his cape and runs ahead to the cottage to eat grandmother!
Everyone knows the wolf is the bad guy in this story. Or is he? Here’s the real story, according to the wolf who is convinced he did us all a favor.
Little Red Writing by Joan Holub
Little Red Writing is a red pencil who cleverly finds a way through the composing of a story, even evading the Wolf 3000, the biggest pencil sharpener around.
Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar
Figure skater Little Red has worn out her ice skates and needs a new pair. To get some, she must win a partner competition. Her mystery partner has long teeth, silky fur, and seems a bit suspicious…
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith
The classic tale with a safari spin! Little Red is on her way to visit her sick auntie. She expertly makes her way around zebras, elephants, and more only to encounter a very hungry lion!
The Gingerbread Man
The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
An old man and old woman decide to mix up a gingerbread dough and bake a girl. Problem is, when they open the oven, she runs off just like her brother did in the original.
The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers by Lisa Campbell Ernst
The gingerbread girl is back again, this time with some feisty animal crackers in tow! Problem is, the animal crackers don’t want to listen to the smart cookie. If they don’t watch out they might end up as a fox’s lunch!
The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup
One Christmas Eve, Jim prepares a plate of pirate gingerbread Christmas cookies and leaves them out for Santa. Jim’s favorite, Captain Cookie, waits for the house to fall quiet and sets out to rescue his crew from the pirate-eating monster Santa Claus.
The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires
The Gingerbread Cowboy is on the run from the rancher. He speeds past the javelinas and the cattle munching on mesa grass with ease. But what will happen when he comes upon a sleeping coyote?
The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray
It’s Saint Patrick’s Day and a leprechaun is causing chaos all over the school. Luckily, the Gingerbread Man is back to save the day!
Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Bratun
One wintry night, a branch falls on mouse’s home, forcing her to find a new place to stay. After searching for a while, she finds a colorful gingerbread house and moves into the cozy space.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary Had a Little Lamp by Jack Lechner
“Mary had a little lamp, the bendy gooseneck kind”…and so begins this hilarious story in which young Mary has become so attached to her lamp that she cannot bear to go anywhere without it.
Rumpelstiltskin
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstitskin by Liesl Shurtliff
Rump lives in a place where your name is connected to your destiny. Obviously that’s not such a great thing for someone named Rump. But when he stumbles upon an old spinning wheel and discovers he can use it to change straw into gold, Rump starts to hope that things may be looking up for him.
The Frog Prince
The Frog Prince, Continued by Jon Scieszka
The long-awaited sequel to the original story. After marrying, the Princess begins to realize that some of the Prince’s froggy habits are quite obnoxious! The Prince is miserable and starts to wish he could be turned back into a frog and just hop away from it all. Will a witch be able to cast a spell that grants his wish?
Rapunzel
Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
The Prince just wants one thing–to climb up into the tower and meet Rapunzel. But Rapunzel is a little hard of hearing. So when the Prince asks her to throw down her curly locks, she tosses out her dirty socks. When he calls for her silky tresses, she drops down her lacy dresses.
Humpty Dumpty
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat
Before his accident, Humpty Dumpty’s favorite place to be was on top of the wall, bird-watching to his heart’s content. Now terrified of heights, Humpty has to dig deep for the bravery that’s hidden inside.
Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty? by David Levinthal
Was Humpty Dumpty’s fall really an accident? Or is something more sinister going on here? Binky the investigative toad takes readers through a series of fairy tales and helps provide the background information needed to come t
o your own conclusions about what really happened.
Hansel and Gretel
Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Hensel and Gretel find themselves in a dire predicament when a sly fox captures their dad. The chicks must put their ninja skills to work to save him before he’s turned into strips!
It’s Not Hansel and Gretel by Josh Funk
In this Hansel and Gretel tale, the main characters take over! And they plan for the story to go their way this time!
The Princess and the Pea
The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas by Tony Wilson
Henrik the prince can’t wait for the day he will meet his true love and be married. He’s hoping that his new bride will embrace the outdoors like he does, so he puts each potential girl to the test by shoving a packet of frozen peas under their camping mattress. Everyone complains, until Henrik’s friend Pippa shows up. Not only does she remain silent about the icy veggies, she also finds a use for them!
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty has a terrible snoring problem! She’s so loud she keeps the whole castle awake at night. One member of the household decides he has had enough and puts a plan in place. He will get Prince Max to kiss the princess and wake her up! But when Prince Max arrives, will he give her true love’s kiss and bring sweet silence, or will he run as fast as he can away from the racket?
Jack and the Beanstalk
You may think you know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. But think again! The giant is here to set the record straight. Turns out Jack is the mean and scary one!
Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries by Mark Teague
Jack makes a trade and gives up his cow for a pack of magic beans. But now, he’s got WAY too many and he doesn’t know what to do with them all! He’s eating beans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Just as he’s about to put a stop to the beans by cutting down the stalk, Jack meets a giant who is also sick of beans. Can the two of them come up with a way to solve their problem?
It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk by Josh Funk
Jack thinks the narrator of his story is annoying and makes some bad choices. What if he doesn’t want to give away his pet cow? What if he doesn’t want to climb the scary beanstalk and steal things from a giant? Jack decides to take over, with hilarious results!
The Giant and the Beanstalk by Diane Stanley
Otto is the nicest giant around, in stark contrast to the rest of them. Otto would be content just to play with his pet hen all day. But when a crafty boy climbs into Otto’s house and steals away his beloved pet, Otto will stop at nothing to get her back.
A Bean, A Stalk, and A Boy Named Jack by William Joyce
The sky has been dry for days and the land desperately needs rain before the king’s pinky gets too stinky! Jack and a pea pod step in to save the day. Soon, Jack realizes there is a GIANT reason for the drought. What can he do to bring rain to the kingdom once more?
Jack and the Baked Beanstalk by Colin Stimpson
Jack and his mother run a cafe that has fallen on hard times. When Jack brings home a can of baked beans one afternoon, his mother scoffs and throws them out. Then some strange things begin to happen…
Waynetta and the Cornstalk: A Texas Fairy Tale by Helen Ketteman
A young Texan girl finds that magic leads her to the top of a towering cornstalk.
I have a suggestion for another Gingerbread Man fractured fairytale: THE KING CAKE BABY, published by Pelican Publishing, by moi. In this fractured Gingerbread Man tale, the runaway is the little plastic baby hidden inside a traditional Mardi Gras King Cake. He escapes, and the chase begins!
https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781455620135
Keila