The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith (1992)

Plot Summary:This collection of ten fractured fairy tales is classic Jon Scieszka.  Some of the titles include "The Princess and the Bowling Ball," "Little Red Running Shorts," "The Other Frog Prince," and "The Really Ugly Duckling." Readers will laugh out loud at the silly stories with their ridiculously funny illustrations. Humor abounds in this book!

Genre:  Humor/Fairy Tales


Subjects/Themes:  fractured fairy tales, humor


Reviews:  Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal & Booklist


Age Group:  Grades 2-6

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (1997)

Plot Summary:  This story is a creative version of Cinderella written for tweens.  Ella is born and bestowed a gift from her fairy godmother that is more like a curse.  She is given the gift of obedience.  This is a terrible gift, and although her godmother Lucinda does not see it that way, Ella is tormented by it.  Only her mother and the cook, Mandy, are aware of this gift.  When Ella's mother dies, she commands Ella not to tell anyone of her secret, in the fear that they may use it against her.  Ella, of course, must obey, and because of this is quite an unhappy child.  When her father pursues a woman that he thinks is rich in order to marry her, Ella realizes that she will be stuck with two horrible step-sisters and a mean stepmother. 

Ella meets Prince Charmot and they hit it off, much to the chagrin of her stalking stepsisters.  Ella decides to try to find her fairy godmother in order to get her to take the gift back.  She sets off on a long journey that involves fleeing ogres, dealing with elves and attending a wedding with many giants.  Ella also sees Prince Charmot, and it is obvious that they both are interested in each other.    Will Ella make it to the royal ball as Prince Charmot's date?  Or is she forever destined to live with this curse? This fairy tale is not your average one, and readers will enjoy its twists and turns. 

Genre:  Fantasy

Subjects/Themes: Enchantment, fairy tales, romance

Reviews:  Publishers Weekly Review, School Library Journal, and Booklist

Age Group:  Grades 5-8

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The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz (2010)

Summary:  This cookbook is sure to please Harry Potter fans of all ages.  Hogwarts is well known for the fabulous banquets  that are served in the large hall and this book tries to cover all of them.  It contains over 150 recipes that are featured in the series by J.K. Rowling.  Each recipe includes a description of where it appeared within the series, as well as historical snippets of the origins of the food.  It includes favorites such as Hagrid's Rock Cakes, Pumpkin Pasties from the Hogwarts Express snack witch, and don't forget Mrs. Weasley's Fudge.  The recipes within this cookbook are fun and easy for tweens to make, sometimes with a little help from an adult.  A great resource for those planning a Harry Potter party.

Genre:  Nonfiction (Cooking with Kids)

Ages: 9-12 years old

Sharks: Challengers of the Deep by Mary M. Cerullo (1993)

Summary:  This comprehensive book on sharks focuses on dispensing with the myths that have been created about these ominous and forbidding creatures.  This high interest book contains many facts about different types of sharks-their physical abilities, behavior, eating habits, and birth just to name a few of the topics that are covered.  It also explains why it is believed that most sharks attack.  The various color photographs within the book help to provide knowledge about these elusive "fish."

Genre:  Non-fiction

Subjects/Themes:  Sharks, shark attacks, survival

Reviews:  School Library Journal and Booklist

Age Group:  Grades 5-9

Fairest by Gail Carson Levin (2006)

Plot Summary:  Aza was left on her now parents' doorstep when she was only a baby. Abandoned, she was taken in by them and loved as one of their own, along with their three other children.  Owners of the Featherbed inn, Aza's parents raised her to be a sweet and kind girl, despite the fact that in their village of Ayortha, she is considered homely.  Because she is so unattractive looking with her large boned body and pale skin, Aza keeps to herself, hidden away within the inn.  She is quite helpful to her parents by doing some maid duties for their guests, and Aza has been blessed with a beautiful singing voice. All of the people of Ayortha can sing, but Aza's voice is the best of all.  Since Aza spends most of her time singing while she is working, she was excited to discover one day that she has a peculiar talent-a talent of being able to "throw" her voice.  She begins to practice it again and again, calling it "illusing." 

Aza also finds that she can not only make her voice sound like it is coming from another direction, but she can also make it sound like specific people.  Aza keeps her gift a secret, not wanting to draw attention to herself. 

When a duchess arrives at the inn in preparation for attending the King's wedding, her attendant becomes ill and she requests that Aza takes her place as her traveling companion.  Aza doesn't want to go, but she doesn't really have a choice, and is sent to attend the wedding with the duchess. 

While at the castle,  Aza is practicing her illusing out the in the courtyard thinking that she was alone.  When she finished, she heard clapping, turned around, and realized that she had been watched by the Queen!  The queen's discovery of her gift is disastrous, since she wants to use it for her own dirty deeds.  This discovery is just the beginning of the journey that Aza must complete in order to recognize her own worth and to realize that she needs to look deeper into herself in order to find her beauty.

Genre:  Fantasy

Subjects/Themes: Beauty, singing, fairy tales

Reviews:  *Starred Review* in Booklist, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, Kirkus, Horn Book Guide

Age Group:  Grades 6 and up

High Interest Annotation:  A great fairy tale story that will appeal to tween readers who enjoy royal stories.  For those who are fans of Ella Enchanted, this story is set within the same world.  There is also a third novel by the author, Ever.