Three Tales of Three

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University and an avid outdoor recreationist. She is the
author of several books, including The Mountain Is Moving: Japanese
Women’s Lives, Kurlek and Margaret Laurence: T

These six classic fairy tales, retold by Marilyn Helmer, feature bold,
colorful illustrations on every page that add a fresh perspective to all
the stories.

In Three Prince Charming Tales, Kasia Charko’s romantic and
melodramatic scenes star a wicked witch and a handsome prince in
“Rapunzel” and “Snow White” and amusingly wicked stepsisters in
“Cinderella.” Young girls may enjoy these stories more than boys.

Three Tales of Three runs to comedy and mock-horror aimed at very young
boys and girls. The mood of Chris Jackson’s illustrations is high
farce. In “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” Goldilocks is a cartoon
character, while the Bears are a parody of a suburban family.
Jackson’s imagination runs riot in the “The Three Billy Goats
Gruff” and “The Three Little Pigs”; I especially liked the
horned-rimmed glasses on the pig that outsmarts the Big Bad Wolf.

The books are nicely produced with hard glossy covers that should
withstand considerable punishment. Three Prince Charming Tales is
recommended, while Three Tales of Three is highly recommended.