The Fairy Tale Fan Club Volume 11
Richard Ayoade, illustrated by David Roberts
Walker Books
This second collection of letters to and from fairytale characters is straight from the files of C.C. Cecily senior secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club. It contains correspondences between in turn Robin Hood, Puss in Boots, Beauty and the Beast, Goldilocks, The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, Tom Thumb, The Pied Piper, The Hedgehog and the Hare, Bluebeard, Aladdin, Three Little Pigs and various inquisitive children who ask the characters questions, each being introduced by as you might expect by C.C.C.
The first letter is penned by Satyajit (10 3/4) who is contemplating stealing his brother’s savings from the tin beneath his bed. Is this ethical or not? What does Robin Hood recommend he should do?
Miki’s letter is full of why questions to Goldilocks and she’s pretty savvy for a slightly over twelve year old and what she writes impresses the recipient considerably. Her return letter praises Miki’s language but tells the girl that despite her powers of deduction her theory about differences in temperature of the porridge is wrong. It even results in a life lesson for Goldilocks who changes her ways concerning where her porridge comes from. Goldilocks’ PS to her missive brought a smile to my face.
The tale dubbed as being ‘of contrasting running styles’ is somewhat similar to that of the Tortoise and the Hare but the latter is replaced by a challenging Hedgehog – a bit of a cheat that enlists his wife’s help in the race. Nine year old Speedy Steve’s letter though, is to the Hare and it’s anything but complimentary. What comes back starts by putting the boy firmly in his place; after which she talks of her present circumstances regarding staying fit.
I had to laugh at the correspondence between Ingmar (just over 8) and the little pig builder who built her house of straw. Ingmar considers this pig an innovator even though her house didn’t stand the test of the wolf’s huffing and puffing. Not overly downhearted about losing her house, Pig Number 1 talks of the adaptability of straw and tells the child that her next plan is to make either a sailboat or a submarine of straw. Let’s hope Miss Pig is a good swimmer if she carries out this project.
The penultimate question is from six year old Griff wanting to know Mr Cecily’s favourite character and why that is so. The final letters all come from Anon. but to discover their contents you’ll need your own copy of this delightfully droll book with David Roberts’ suitably amusing illustrations. I’m not sure whether its creators enjoyed making this more or those like myself who are fractured fairy tale fans. Assuredly there should be a copy in every KS2 class collection and on the home bookshelves of anyone who enjoys witty writing.
