Classic & Derivative. By: Angelica Rinebarger & Matt Remos

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Dominick Silvester Townsend
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1 Classic & Derivative By: Angelica Rinebarger & Matt Remos

The Ugly Duckling Author: Rachel Isadora Illustrator: Rachel Isadora Genre: Traditional Literature: Classic Fairy Tale Grade Range: Preschool-1 st Plot Summary: This retelling of the Ugly Duckling is

The young duckling runs away and almost freezes before the surprise plot ending of him turning into a beautiful Black Swan at the end of winter, and finding a home amongst his fellow Swans.

2 The Ugly Duckling Author: Rachel Isadora Illustrator: Rachel Isadora Genre: Traditional Literature: Classic Fairy Tale Grade Range: Preschool-1 st Plot Summary: This retelling of the Ugly Duckling is set on an African farm where other animals shun the character of the ugly duckling because he looks different than them. The young duckling runs away and almost freezes before the surprise plot ending of him turning into a beautiful Black Swan at the end of winter, and finding a home amongst his fellow Swans. This story exhibits themes of inner beauty and respecting others for their differences. Reader Response Activity: After reading this book, students can talk about why the other animals weren t so nice to him and how that made him feel. Teachers can then assist students in drawing what makes them unique from their classmates and present their drawings to the class. An Undone Fairy Tale Author: Ian Lendler Illustrator: Whitney Martin Grade Range: 1 st -3 rd Plot Summary: Set in medieval times, this story tells the tale of a nonsensical king that locks his stepdaughter away in a high tower so she can only bake her delicious pies for him. Many knights try to rescue her but are unable to because of the three tasks in which the king says they must pass. Ned, the book s supposed illustrator, is introduced while another man, the narrator, begs readers to slow down so that the illustrations can be completed. Unable to keep up, the story s characters of narrator and illustrator improvise throughout the story, creating a truly unique plot. This book exhibits themes of fun and chaos. Reader Response Activity: Although just reading this book is an activity in itself, a good follow-up activity would be for students to create their own undone fairy tales and present those to the class. Students could also write letters to Ned apologizing for how fast they read but also giving funny alternatives of what he could have improvised with instead.

Jack and the Beanstalk Author: Primarius Corporation Illustrator: Paul Meisel Grade Range: Preschool-1 st Plot Summary: In this retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, the main character Jack is out

The beanstalk that grows takes him on a wild plot adventure to treasure chests on the seafloor, being chased by a one-eyed giant, and even finding a chocolate castle in the sky, all whilst making

3 Jack and the Beanstalk Author: Primarius Corporation Illustrator: Paul Meisel Grade Range: Preschool-1 st Plot Summary: In this retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, the main character Jack is out riding his brand new bicycle, set during summertime, when a man asks to trade his bike for some magic beans. Jack obliges and plants the beans. The beanstalk that grows takes him on a wild plot adventure to treasure chests on the seafloor, being chased by a one-eyed giant, and even finding a chocolate castle in the sky, all whilst making sure Jack is always asking before he takes something that isn t his. The theme exhibited in this story is to always ask before taking something that isn t yours. Reader Response Activity: Students could draw what they would want to find at the top of a beanstalk and then create one giant beanstalk for the classroom wall of all of their drawings. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig Author: Eugene Trivizas Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury Grade Range: 3 rd -5 th Plot Summary: Being a derivative story of the original three little pigs story the wolves grow up and are sent out to build homes of their own. Before they leave they are warned by their mother of a big bad pig that terrorizes the community. They assure her they will be a strong home and hide in it if they even encounter this mean pig. Right from the beginning it appears to be a simple role reversal of the well-known characters yet the story is altered in more ways than one. The wolves unlike the traditional pigs work together first building a home of very sturdy bricks. Immediately the audience questions how the pig will knock down the house he huffs and puffs yet nothing happens. He reemerges with a sledgehammer and knocks their home down. The wolves proceed to make two more homes of even stronger proportions out of concrete and steel both of which are demolished in very heinous ways. Lastly, they ask a Flamingo if they may have some flowers to build a home. Figuring they must be building their homes wrong

because they re always destroyed they create an entire home of flowers. The pig is so hypnotized by the beautiful aroma their home gives off he realizes the error of his ways and begins to dance.

4 because they re always destroyed they create an entire home of flowers. The pig is so hypnotized by the beautiful aroma their home gives off he realizes the error of his ways and begins to dance. They all become friends and live happily ever after. Reader Response Activity: After the story give the students paper, glue, scissors, and drawing utensils. Allow them to think like a little wolf and design their own home. After drawing out a home of their creation have them write a few sentences describing their home and why they chose it. The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers Author: Lisa Campbell Ernest Illustrator: Lisa Campbell Ernest Grade Range: K-2 nd Plot Summary: This is the story follows the sister of the original gingerbread man. It a year after the fox tricked and ate her brother. It s her birthday and the baker and his wife got her a gift to unwrap for it. Pulling the wrapping paper off she discovers a box of animal crackers. Overjoyed at the thought of friends like her she lifts open the lid and out pours a stampede of animal crackers. They rush past many would be consumers as they chant We re wild Animal Crackers, hear our fierce roar. You can t catch us, we re off to explore!, keeping the original rhythm of the story alive. The climax of the story occurs when all the hungry pursuers force the animal crackers to the shore of a river. The fox appears and convinces the crackers he will give them safe passage to the other side of the river, but gingerbread girl isn t falling for his trick. She quickly shouts, Stop, but the fox was too far. Quickly she devised a plan, although they were small if they worked together they could roar in the fox s ear and make him stop. Roaring in unison the Fox rushed back to the shore to escape such a sound. Finally free the animal crackers all cheered for the Gingerbread girl. Reader Response Activity: Throughout the story the individual animals bragged of how great each one of them was, yet when the fox captured them they were powerless to stop him. The Gingerbread Girl taught the animals that although they were small they could overcome great things working together. Create groups of four students; each student will be labeled a different animal character from the story. They will be given construction paper and other materials and instructed how to make their animal hat. After making their hat they must work with their fellow animal crackers to solve an activity (word search, puzzle, etc.).

5 Cinderella Author: K. Y. Craft Illustrator: K. Y. Craft Genre: Traditional Literature: Classic Fairy Tale Grade Range: 4 th -6 th Plot Summary: A traditional retelling of Cinderella, an orphaned girl raised by her stepmother and two stepsisters. She meets a prince while she is tending to a wounded bird in the forest. The prince invites Cinderella s stepsisters to a ball. After preparing her stepsisters Cinderella began to cry wishing she could also attend the ball and see the prince again. Suddenly the little bird she nursed back to health flew in and transformed into a beautiful fairy. She explains to Cinderella she s her fairy godmother. Her fairy godmother returned the act of kindness to Cinderella transforming a pumpkin from the garden into a carriage, and mice into horses and men. Much like the well-known Disney depiction she goes to the ball and has a great time with the prince. With the well known clause of only lasting until the last stroke of midnight she hurried away from the ball slipping out of one of her glass slippers. The prince discovers her lost shoe and searches far and wide to find the matching foot. Unlike the Disney adaptation Cinderella is not locked away or prevented from trying on the slipper. Simply asking to attempt it she is met with sarcastic laughs from her stepsisters but no imprisonment. After the fitting forgives her stepsisters, marries the prince and they live happily ever after. Reader Response Activity: Cinderella is put through many trials and chores that test her patience and determination. Waiting on three people, and being treated differently she had to overcoming many adversities. Write a paragraph describing a time you overcame an adversity.

Level 1. Did you know? Summary of the story. Summary of the film: Cinderella PENGUIN KIDS FACTSHEET. Suitable for:

Level 1. Did you know? Summary of the story. Summary of the film: Cinderella PENGUIN KIDS FACTSHEET. Suitable for: PENGUIN KIDS FACTSHEET Suitable for: Level 1 young learners who have completed up to 50 hours of study in English Type of English: American Headwords: 200 Key words: 5 (see pages 2 and 6 of this Factsheet)