This gleefully illustrated book offers four interrelated stories. There is one about Cinderella, another about "Sleepy Beauty," one about Jack and the Beanstalk, and finally a story featuring Snow White. Each tale is centered on a virtue; included are kindness, responsibility, honesty and teamwork. At the end of each story is a section with questions and activities.

The stories here are not really twisted. They are more updates and lessons in citizenship for preschoolers that are told without preaching. I can easily imagine them being ready during "circle time."

Both children and adults who are familiar with the original fairy tales may enjoy this update. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e galley in exchange for my honest review.

One of the highlights of my childhood reading was discovering fairy tales and so I want to give the youngsters in my family the same wonderful experience. I acquired this without even reading the synopsis so imagine my surprise when the stories weren't dark and twisted as the title suggested. However, my disappointment didn't last long as these are wonderful contemporary takes on age-old fairytales each with uplifting moral messages at their heart. I only hope that the misleading use of the word 'twisted' doesn't put parents off seeing what it's really about.

There are four stories in all — Cinderella's Ballet Shoes, a story about the importance of kindness, Wake Up, Sleepy Beauty, a story about responsibility, Jack Breaks the Beanstalk, a story about honesty, and finally, Snow White, Star Striker, a story about teamwork. I should think you'd agree regarding the importance of installing such values and implanting such messages within children.

Each story is simplified and the short, engaging amount of text is incorporated into the double-page spread illustrations. The images are all bright and colourful and there is a section after each story that directs parents and/or teachers as to how to discuss the moral of the tale and what the word kindness etc actually means. On the same page, there is a task that kids can get involved in. This is a fun, interactive book with a tonne of heart. Highly recommended. Many thanks to QEB Publishing for an ARC.

There is something about revamped fairy tales that I just adore. This simple to follow group of stories teaches kids about the values of kindness, responsibility, honesty and teamwork. Each story took a fairy tale character we love and gave them a new. challenge to work through. The images were really delightful and bright! I really thought having Griselda present throughout each story as a conscience figure was fantastic.

Personally I think 'twisted' is a misnomer for a quartet of stories about honesty, kindness, responsibility, and teamwork, but it wasn't my choice! Rest assured that the stories are only twisted in the sense that they're changed and updated in relation to the originals.

Cinderella, whose original story revolved around a shoe fetish, loves dancing of course, but what's she to do when everyone except for her seems to be getting new shoes for the newly-opening dance school? Cindy puts her best foot forward however. This story is aimed at teaching about generosity and kindness. Unlike Cinderella, Beauty has her wish granted, and is given a pony which she names Flick, but (and here actually is a twist!), the beast isn't the animal, it's Beauty! She neglects her charge and the horse charges away! Will her parents have to pony-up for a new ride, or will beauty become more stable? This story aims to teach responsibility.

One of the fun things about these stories is how the characters each appear in the stories of the others. They not only exist in the same world, they live in the same town! One of those other characters is Jack who, like two beans in a pod, is just as irresponsible as Beauty, and who ends up destroying the family's crop. This story is about honesty, though. Will Jack fess up and will mommie bean him for his behavior? Last, but not least, is Snow White, who unaccountably isn't white in this story, so "yeay!" for diversity, but "huh?" for logic. Snow's problem doesn't exactly dwarf the others, but it is serious. She's one of the best soccer players, yet she's paradoxically not a team player! Will she also learn her lesson or will there be a penalty for her behavior?!

I liked these stories and commend them as a worthy read for young children, offering useful lessons.

The Big Book of Twisted Fairy Tales brings some of the popular fairy tales into the modern day setting and features scenarios that young children can relate to and learn from.

Aimed at the younger readers, there are 4 stories in this book and each story in this focuses on a different fairy tale character, a different strength or core virtue, and a challenge to overcome, often with the help of their friends. The stories of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jack & the Beanstalk and Snow White are totally different from the original stories for e.g.: The story of Cinderella is about Cinderella wanting ballet shoes and teaches about the value of kindness.

The story of Snow White is about her playing soccer and learning about teamwork and so on.
Each story is accompanied by discussion points to prompt further discussion about what the character has learned and Activities encouraging interesting activities like letter writing and team tasks.

The characters though from the fairy tale universe belong to the modern world. There are no fairies or princesses, which makes me wonder if the completely new characters could have been created for these stories. The Artwork and illustrations were really well done and I can see a lot of children really relating to the stories and the underlying message in each of them.
Overall, The Big Book of Twisted Fairy Tales is a short yet wonderful collection of tales highlighting kindness, responsibility, honesty, and teamwork, which will make an excellent gift to the younger readers.

Many thanks to the publishers Quarto Publishing Group – QEB Publishing, the author Sue Nicholson and NetGalley for the ARC.

I can honestly see The Big Book of Twisted Fairy Tales as a Disney Jr cartoon. It gives a modern younger 'twist' to some well-known fairytales.

***Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing me with a review copy.***

This book is about teaching kids lessons such as honesty, responsibility and kindness. It’s a spin on the classic fairy tales but I would not say they were twisted. This would be a great book to teach theme in the classroom.

This was a super cute book. I requested it to read to my daughter. I liked the idea of twisted fairy tales that were being used to teach lessons (kindness, responsibility, etc). My daughter LOVED this book. We read through it once, appreciated the cuteness of the illustrations and the stories, and then my daughter asked me to read it to her again. That makes this a hit in my book, and I will recommend it to all our friends!

This book was such a fun read! I just loved the different take on the fairy tales!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I received an electronic ARC from Quarter Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Nicholson has changed the traditional fairy tales to offer life lessons. Each of the familiar characters - Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jack (and the Beanstalk) and Snow White learn to be better versions of themselves.
Discussion questions and and an activity follow each tale. Families can interact and apply the lesson behind the tale.

This book uses basic fairy tale promises to teach moral lessons to children. It doesn't really stick to the tales taking a lot of magic out of the stories themselves. While I enjoyed the characters interacting across stories, it didn't add much to these tales. It's ironic that these stories are used to help better the next generation when every story is solved by the old lady in town. It didn't really teach anything other than to trust the old lady to do everything.

The advanced digital copy of the text was hard to read. I hope this gets resolved prior to printing otherwise the digital version is unreadable. That being said, the stories seemed good

This is an excellent book that changes the focus within traditional fairy stories in order to make them more relevant for readers today.
The crossover between the stories is such a nice touch and the illustrations would make an excellent animated show, should they be adapted.
There’s some activities after each story that will help check the readers understanding. All in all, its a book of fairytales for the modern age.

These stories are heavy handed slightly retellings of fairy tales. The tale of Jack and the Beanstock is a story to teach you about being honest. The retelling of Sleeping Beauty has nothing to do whatsoever with the original story, but instead is about Sleeping Beautfy taking good care of her horse. And the story of Snow White is about her playing soccer and learning about teamwork.

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Yes, fairy tales are there to teach things, such as not to talk to strangers, or always obey your parents, or always be kind to old people. To take these tales and put new morals on them, and have them have only a passing similarity to the classics makes no sense. Why bother to say they are fairy tales at all? Why use them in name only?

So, sorry, would not recommend this book for anyone.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

There's nothing I love more than fairytale retellings! Some of my favourite children's books to date are based on fairytales and the market is becoming noticeably larger. There's Roald Dahl's unforgettable classic Revolting Rhymes and Hilary Robinson/Nick Sharratt's brilliant Mixed Up Fairy Tales. And not to mention the recent Once Upon a Wild by Chris Riddell, Power to the Princess and Fairytales for Feisty Girls!

The delightful Big Book of Twisted Fairy Tales makes for a beautiful addition to the above even if it might get a little lost next to its competitors.

Sue Nicholson has written some wonderful tales highlighting kindness, responsibility, honest and teamwork, and I'm loving the diversity captured within its pages, but what really made this picture book stand out to me was the next step discussion points and activities at the end of each tale. This will make for a wonderful conversation starter between parent and child, whilst offering encouragement and support to apply the lessons learnt into your own life.

"The Big Book of Twisted Fairy Tales" is an updated version of old favorites: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk and Snow White, to be specific. As the title states, these are not the same old fairy tales. Each fairy tale has a unique character focus, and moral/lesson to go along with it. Stories are predictable with interesting illustrations. Cute use in a Prek-2 classroom as a mentor text for SEL lessons.

I love fairy tales and believe we can learn a lot from them. I always enjoy reading twists on the classic fairy tales I grew up with.
These would be a brilliant addition to a classroom or bedroom....perfect for teaching those valuable lessons about sharing, kindness, honesty and being part of a team.. These are sometimes the hardest lessons to learn but by incorporating them into well known tales, it could work brilliantly.
I loved the idea of discussion points and an activity idea at the end of each story.

I will definitely be buying this title for home and school.
The illustrations are excellent and colourful....bright and engaging.

5 stars from me!

A great twist on 4 classic Fairy Tales. This book was so cute and the illustrations were so beautiful so much detail on every page. I thought each story was well written and had a great lesson to be learnt kindness, responsibility, honesty and team work. My 4 year old enjoyed all the stories and as soon as I was done asked me to read them all again! I think we have a new favourite bedtime book!

I had high hopes for this collection of stories. I'd love to see some variations on the traditional fairy tales that involve strong female role models. This is not that book. The illustrations are cute and I can see what the writer is going for. BUT, the 'lessons' are superficial and involve magic to make their poor decisions right again, which is unrealistic. They stories are neither clever nor funny, and they don't really give parents and children much to discuss at the end.

Unfortunately my copy of this has format issues. Most of the pages were blank. I'm using a Samsung tablet.