Chatting About Books:
Recommendations for Young Readers

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Episode 9—Fractured Fairy Tales

Book Chat

• Rapunzel's Revenge written by Shannon and Dean Hale; illustrated by Nathan Hale (Bloomsbury, 2008)

Picture it…a rough n’ ride ’em Rapunzel living in the Old West escapes the tower with no help from a prince. She meets up with other fairy tale characters and sets out on a mission to save her real mother from her evil stepmother Gothel’s slave mine. All of that adventure plus more set this Rapunzel apart from the version you thought you knew. Set in a graphic novel format that is sure to captivate young readers, this book has been listed as a Fall '08 Kids' Indie Next List selection, a Junior Library Guild Premier Selection, a 2009 nominee for YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens, and a nominee for the 2009–2010 TLA Lone Star Reading List.
Best for grades 3 to 8, ages 8 to 14.


• Bubba the Cowboy Prince written by Helen Ketteman; illustrated by James Warhola (Scholastic Press, 1997)

What do you get when you give Cinderella a Texas twist? Bubba the Cowboy Prince! Bubba lives on a Texas ranch with his wicked stepdaddy and his wicked stepbrothers Dwayne and Milton. When Miz Lurleen, the “purtiest girl west of the Brazos,” throws a party in order to find herself a cowboy, Bubba’s family does everything they can to stop Bubba from going. But, with a little help from his Fairy Godcow, Bubba gets the help he needs and ends up winning Miz Lurleen’s heart. Bubba the Cowboy Prince has been featured on the Reader’s Choice Awards List in eight states and received the 2001 Nebraska Golden Sower Award.
Best for grades K to 2, ages 4 to 8.


• Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood written by Mike Artell; illustrated by Jim Harris (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2001)

Petite Rouge Riding Hood’s grand-mere has come down with the flu and Petite Rouge needs to deliver some gumbo and bodin to make her feel better. But “Claude, dat ol’ gator” is causing some problems down at the swamp and has plans of his own. This Cajun version of Little Red Riding Hood will have you laughing out loud. It makes a great read-aloud for kids. Petite Rouge was named a 2002 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, a Storytelling World 2002 Honor Book, and won the 2004 Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award.
Best for grades K to 2, ages 4 to 8.

Cookies and Milk
Emily enjoys cookies and milk with Andrew and Cassidy. Together they analyze Rapunzel’s Revenge, comparing and contrasting this new adventurous version with the traditional version of Rapunzel.

About the Host

Emily Manning started teaching first grade in 1999 and is now a reading intervention teacher for third- through fifth-graders. Emily’s passion is reading; she enjoys the challenge each year of finding books that will spark the love of reading in her students. Emily’s favorite books are the ones kids ask to read over and over — the ones that are worn out from so many readings, complete with wrinkled pages and loose bindings.

These include

• Bubba the Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman (Scholastic, 1997)
• Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh (Yearling, 2001)
• The Jazz Fly by Matthew Gollub (Tortuga, 2000)
• The Magical, Marvelous, Mystical Coat by Catherine Ann Cullen (Little, Brown, 2001)
• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (Puffin, 2004)