Stewart Ross

I love a fun, modern twist on fairy tales, so this addition to the Snow White lore was a lovely surprise!

Snow White doesn't have dwarves in this sci-fin inspired tale, she has robots! Score 1 for STEM lovers everywhere! Instead of an Evil Queen, there's a wicked Star Queen (who looks wickedly cool in all of the best yet evil ways!). Star Queen wants Snow White out of the way so she can be the best overall! Also, Prince Cosmo!

This is a cute little story of friendship and robots. It's show more definitely a fun twist on the typical tale and would be a great addition to a little friend's bookshelf. The fact that Snow White can take care of herself quite well is nice - there's no crazy true love kisses, but there is lots of engineering. The story is overall quite positive and very smart.

I did really enjoy the pictures and art. I think that's the strong point of this story. It felt very magical and full of whimsy.

I found this Twisted Fairy Tale wasn't as easy to follow as the other tales. Perhaps I just didn't enjoy this version as much. Each story is going to hit well with different audiences. In all honesty, I can't point out a bad thing about it. Maybe I've just read too many Snow White stories.

Three out of five stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Arcturus Publishing for this wonderful opportunity to pick up this book! show less

"It was probably the most unfortunate decision Patrick ever made in his life. A year's schooling for four at Cowan Bridge Clergy Daughters' School cost him 80 pounds and the lives of two daughters. The experience left Charlotte bitter and angry for the rest of her life."

This is my favorite nonfiction book, hands down. My English AP IV Seniors at HHS are currently reading "Jane Eyre" and this book is absolutely perfect to design a lesson around and connect Charlotte Bronte to her writing and show more the historical context of that time period. Stewart Ross does an absolutely magnificent job at showing how Bronte's work can most certainly be seen as being autobiographical, although it is a work of fiction. Many of the obstacles and tragedies Charlotte Bronte's heroine Jane faces in the novel are almost identical to those Charlotte experienced in real life. I found all of the history surrounding Bronte just enthralling and I cannot wait to use this book to teach a lesson to my seniors! :) show less

I checked this out because I admire Stephen Biesty's work and I have recently been reading Amelia Peobody mysteries. These mysteries, at least the earlier ones in the series, which are all I have read, revolve around archaeological expeditions in the late 1800s. I hoped that this book would give me a view of the present of the past which is being dug up and speculated on in the Amelia Peabody books. It is somewhat good for that.

It follows a narrative in which a ship proceeds from far south show more on the River Nile north to the delta, stopping off at various locations and trading various items. This is a good device, matching the geographic features of the Nile with the temporal events of the story. The illustrations always occupy both pages. They have considerable detail: little easter eggs, and many cutaways and enlargements. As always with Biesty they show his considerable skill. I do not consider that his book "Man-of-War" should be shelved in the children's section, as it has explicit images of human torture. This book is more on the line, as some of the easter eggs are horrific accidents: bad falls, very large stones falling and crushing people, etc. That's not the same as torture, though, and it is realistic. Biesty's honesty in drawing cow, human, bird shit is rather appreciated by this reviewer. There is a dramatic drawing of a hippopotamus hunt. Would even the most intrepid ancient Egyptian dare risk lassoing a hippo?

Biesty's later book with Stephen Ross, "Explorers", is much more focused and I enjoyed it more. But this book is still a fine example of Biesty's work.

I find the Egyptian burial practices extremely tedious, but they sure were a boon to archaeologists.

There was a word that I considered worth looking up: hypostyle. show less

Twisted Fairy Tales: The Ninjabread Man is a hilarious book that is a must read!

A lovely couple wants a ninja child to carry on their legacy, but they don't get exactly what they were asking for. After approaching a Crafty Fox, they prepare a Ninjabread Man instead of a child! And chaos ensues. Wherever he goes, Ninjabread Man creates havoc and chaos for everyone... and no one can catch him.

My fun notes:
1. Never trust a fox! It never goes well in children's books. These characters never show more learn!

2. If you do decide to trust the fox - please - for love of all that's good, write down the instructions. THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT!

3. Or don't follow the recipe... And see what happens!

My positive notes:
1. This story was super creative and seriously funny. I was grinning along at the hilarious twists on the Gingerbread Man tale. The ending had me chuckling the most because I didn't fully expect that to happen!

2. I think this book would be a great way to introduce young readers to fairy tales or try to put a different spin on one they've already heard. This book is by no means an educational tool, but it is fun! We definitely need more fun books out there to get kids to love reading. Without books like Grandma and the Pirates (a book from my youth), I wouldn't have loved books as much! I was given far too many educational only books in my youth. This sort of book (packed full of fun and goofy story lines) will create some lifelong readers.

I don't have many criticisms for this book. My only note would be for parents and educators to be aware that this book was designed for fun. You could totally spin some sort of educational tool out of it, but that's not the purpose of this book. And thank goodness for that!

Four out of five stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Arcturus Publishing for a free copy of this sweet little fairy tale! show less