WHO IS IT?

Several classic fairy tales receive a topsy-turvy retelling in this cheerfully irreverent collection of short tales. Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood, The Billy Goats Gruff, and Jack and the Beanstalk come with generous heapings of suspense and zany humor. Grindley (What Are Friends For?, 1998, etc.) remains faithful to the original stories. Instead, she turns each into a series of questions that relay the fundamental elements of the tale, focus on key characters, and culminate in the query: “Who is it?” “Someone’s stealing the giant’s enormous bag of gold! Who is it? It’s Jack. And the giant’s waked up! Get out of there fast, Jack!” One caveat: readers need to be familiar with the original story in order to guess the answers and catch the joke. However, clues are provided in both the text and artwork prior to the resolution to help uncertain readers. Beardshaw’s lavishly colored, full-page illustrations are a perfect match for this rambunctious book, capturing the exuberant spirit of the tales. She cleverly hides the main character’s face from view until the climax, deliciously prolonging readers’ anticipation and suspense. Preschoolers will savor the outrageous humor and enjoy guessing the correct answers, making for a boisterous read-aloud session. A playfully tongue-in-cheek game to tickle readers’ fancies. (Picture book. 3-8)