Previously

The idea was to start with a fairy tale, work backwards very briefly through the plot and segue into another fairy tale that happened 'previously'. If 'previously' happened to be a harmonious, onomatopoeic word it might have worked, but the constant repetition of such a long, going-on unlyrical kind of word just didn't read well. The wonderful illustrations almost redeem it and I suppose if I had been a pre-reader and could have told myself stories from the pictures alone I might have loved this book, but I was just too damn old for that.

Definitely an odd sort of story in the fairy tale genre. I loved it for taking such a unique stance on a collection of traditional tales. It was a good piece of writing. The illustrations were simple and inviting and overall the story was a good one to read. A good edition to any collection.

We start out with Goldilocks and her previous adventures in the woods. There, he had bumped into Jack, who was scurrying down a beanstalk and who has a sister named Jill. They had met a frog who had once been a Prince who fell in love with a girl named Cinderella, who in the woods ran in to the Gingerbread Boy. The Gingerbread boy helps remind us we are all connected and come from the same beginnings.

I love stories that try to tie other stories together. Fairy tales are always so happy and magical, but this book makes all of the characters a lot more believable and human. The illustrations are in a mixed medium, but it’s mostly paint and is very well done.

In a class, I would also students to trace something back from what it show more previously was. Say a tree (It was previously a seed, which was previously attached to a squirrel, who was previously in Central Park…etc.) We also could get some paints out and try to recreate some of the scenes in this book. There is pen, watercolor and regular paint used. show less

What were familiar fairy tale characters doing BEFORE the adventures that made them famous? Turns out they were all connected somehow. For example, previous to her experience with the three bears, Goldilocks met a boy named Jack (of beanstalk fame)...and so it goes. It's fun to hear the stories told backwards and the see how each character is linked to another. Grades 2+

A very clever book that tie's all the fairy tale characters together in an adventure that goes backwards in time. I also love the endless curriculum connections. Other than that it is just a fun read.

An interesting idea, but I don't think it worked. It might work for a fractured fairy tale display, but I wouldn't share it with really little kids.

Cute, cute, cute re-telling of nursery rhymes that describes what each of the characters had been doing previously (before their story started).