“Ten old yarns cleverly ‘re-spun.’” —The Wall Street Journal
“Abundantly magical.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Award-winning author Hilary McKay reimagines classic fairy tales with humorous and heartfelt twists in this illustrated collection of short stories that Booklist calls “a real delight.”

Imagine Hansel and Gretel’s story from their teacher’s point of view, when Gretel submits her report of, “What I Did in the Holidays, and Why Hansel’s Jacket Is So Tight.” Learn the story of how Rumpelstiltskin was used by a greedy girl who wanted to marry a prince in “Straw into Gold.” Find out what was really underneath all those mattresses the unlucky princess had to sleep on—and who the prince was really in love with—in “The Prince and the Problem.”

Award-winning author Hilary McKay brings a modern sensibility and inventive quirkiness to this beautiful collection of ten classic fairy tales, reimagining them with emotional depth and lighthearted humor. Each story is also accompanied by delicate black and white illustrations.

This sure-to-be treasured collection includes:
Rapunzel
Cinderella
The Princess and the Pea
Rumpelstiltskin
The Pied Piper
The Swan Brothers
Snow White
Red Riding Hood
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Hansel and Gretel

Excerpt

Straw into Gold

About The Author

Photograph by Bella McKay

Hilary McKay

Hilary McKay is the award-winning author of The Time of Green Magic (which received five starred reviews), The Skylarks’ War (which was a Boston Globe Best Book and received three starred reviews), Binny Bewitched (which was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and received two starred reviews), Binny in Secret (which received three starred reviews), Binny for Short (which received four starred reviews), and six novels about the Casson family: Saffy’s Angel, Indigo’s Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, Forever Rose, and Caddy’s World. She is also the author of The Swallows’ Flight, Rosa by Starlight, and Wishing for Tomorrow, the sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess. Hilary lives with her family in Derbyshire, England. Visit her at HilaryMcKay.co.uk.

About The Illustrator

Sarah Gibb

Sarah Gibb studied at Saint Martin’s School of Art (now Central Saint Martins) before completing her MA in illustration at Brighton College of Art. She illustrated Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole series, many classic children’s fairy tales and even the Harrods Christmas window display. She lives in Wandsworth, London.

Product Details

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (February 4, 2020)
Length: 320 pages
ISBN13: 9781534432857
Ages: 8 - 12
Lexile ® 720L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

Raves and Reviews

“This book is a real delight…A thought-provoking take on familiar, well-loved stories, ideal for anyone who can't get enough fairy tales.”

– Booklist

* "Abundantly magical"

– Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Within the context of varied tellers and points of view, the gist of the classic stories remains largely intact, but McKay brings her own warm, insightful humor into the magical world.”

– Horn Book

“Ten familiar Western tales are buffed up, inventively recast, and infused with tenderness and warm good humor.”

– Kirkus

“Ten old yarns cleverly ‘re-spun.'"

– The Wall Street Journal