Please welcome my guest author today, Josh Funk! We are giving away his newest picture book, It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, and … surprise! This is his FIRST non-rhyming picture book. I mention that because Josh is gifted in the art of rhyming. I learned that when I attended his seminar at The Writer’s Loft: To Rhyme or Not Rhyme.
It was hugely helpful as my first book coming out through Lee and Low Books is a rhyming picture book. As I struggled over the edits, I remembered Josh Funk’s advice: the meter or stressed syllables are more important than keeping the exact count of syllables consistent. It’s about how easy the book is to read aloud!
Josh didn’t apply his rhyming wizardry here in It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, however, he did write a hilarious take on an alternate universe with Jack, a giant, and a beanstalk. I like it much more than the original version. So do Jack and the Giant.
To enter to win Josh’s book, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom. Now, take it away, Josh!
p.s. Is it true that B. J. Novak was Josh Funk’s best friend growing up? I love that! They are both from Newton where I live!
p.p.s. Here’s another fractured fairy tale!
Prak Fills the House by Donna L. Washington, illustrated by Lauren Emmons
This is a riff off of The Three Little Pigs. Prak is the youngest little piggy; not strong like the oldest Mo, or beautiful like the middle sibling Bo. She is the practical one. When her father tells them that he will leave the family house to whichever child can fill it to the brim, they have different strategies. Mo decides to fill the house with hay. Bo decides to fill the house with feathers. Prak decided to fill the house with a celebration and memories. She wins! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
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To celebrate the release of my new picture book, It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, I thought I’d share some of my favorite fractured fairy tales and fairy tale retellings – in picture book form.
Josh Funk’s Top 10 Fractured Fairy Tales
10.Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood & Meg Hunt – a retelling of Cinderella
In this sci-fi retelling, Cinderella doesn’t need a prince to save the day – all she needs is a little STEM (and maybe some help from her fairy godrobot). And do I spy another fractured collaboration between Underwood and Hunt? Reading Beauty coming soon… [picture book, ages 4 and up]
From Mia: Did you know that the original Cinderella story comes from China? My list: 9 Asian Cinderella Picture Books including the Original.
9. Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar & Troy Cummings – a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood
Lazar is one of my favorite picture book authors. She’s funny, clever, and the best punster around. And this may be my favorite of her books – it’s more of a mashed-up fairy tale mix than a direct retelling, but I love all the stories and characters thrown into this ice skating competition. [picture book, ages 2 and up]
8. Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks by Corey Rosen Schwartz, Rebecca J. Gomez, & Dan Santat – a retelling of Hansel and Gretel
Corey Rosen Schwartz has written so many great fractured fairy tales (The Three Ninja Pigs, Ninja Red Riding Hood, Goldirocks and the Three Bears, and most recently Twinderella: A Fractioned Fairy Tale). All stand out, but who can resist a house made of cornbread? [picture book, ages 4 and up]
7. The Three Cabritosby Eric A. Kimmel & Stephen Gilpin – a retelling of The Three Billy Goats Gruff
These three goats aren’t crossing a bridge just because the grass is greener. They’re headed to a fiesta for some Mexican food. But the real reason I enjoy this retelling is that there’s no troll under the bridge. It’s a CHUPACABRA! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
6. Señorita Gordita by Helen Ketteman & Will Terry – a retelling of The Little Gingerbread Man
Sticking with the theme of Mexican food, Señorita Gordita is a fast-paced and delicious retelling with vivid illustrations. And if you know me at all, you’ll know I’m a sucker for picture books about anthropomorphic foods. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
5. The Three Pigs by David Wiesner – a retelling of The Three Little Pigs
These three pigs break out of their own story and into other books as Wiesner changes the art style in each one. Funny. Mind-blowing. Absolutely genius. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
4. Goatilocks and the Three Bears by Erica S. Perl & Arthur Howard – a retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Goats eat everything. Everyone knows that. Porridge, yes. But bowls, spoons, chairs, beds – it’s a laugh-out-loud hilarious (unless you’re one of the three bears). [picture book, ages 4 and up]
3. Snoring Beauty by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen & Jane Manning – a retelling of Sleeping Beauty
What I love most about this story is that it makes a great read-aloud with all of the snoring sounds. It’s also in rhyme, which helps take a rather benign tale and spice it up! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
2. Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer & Josée Masse
This isn’t so much a retelling, as it is a collection of poems about loads of different fairy tales. And they’re not only poems, they’re brilliant reverso poems. Singer’s text is so creative and Masse’s illustrations are gorgeous. And if you like it, they have others in the series (that aren’t about fairy tales but are collections of reverso poems with a given theme). [poetry picture book, ages 6 and up]
1. An Undone Fairy Tale by Ian Lendler & Whitney Martin
This isn’t a retelling at all. It’s a wholly original fairy tale where the artist hasn’t finished illustrating the book. And while the narrator begs the readers to wait to turn the page so that the artist can finish, we (the readers) obviously don’t. Chaos ensues. Knights riding fish battling pickles? Yes. All of that. And more. Meta at its best. This book is truly ahead of its time. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
About It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk:
Jack is not fond of the bossy narrator of his fairy tale! When Jack is told to trade his beloved cow Bessie for some magic beans, throw the beans out the window, climb the ENORMOUS beanstalk that sprouts overnight, and steal from a GIANT, he decides this fairy tale is getting out of control. In fact, he doesn’t want to follow the storyline at all. Who says Jack needs to enter a life of daring, thievery, and giant trickery? He takes his story into his own hands—and you’ll never guess what happens next!
With laugh-out-loud dialogue and bold, playful art (including hidden fairy tale creatures for kids to find), this Jack and the Beanstalk retelling will have children rolling with laughter till Bessie the cow comes home. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk GIVEAWAY!
We’re giving away a copy of It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. We can only mail to U.S. addresses due to the high cost of shipping.
About Josh:
Josh Funk writes silly stories and somehow tricks people into publishing them as books – such as Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast and its sequel The Case of the Stinky Stench along with Pirasaurs!, Dear Dragon, It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk, and the upcoming Albie Newton, How to Code a Sandcastle (in partnership with Girls Who Code), Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude (in partnership with the New York Public Library), and more coming soon!
Josh is a board member of The Writers’ Loft in Sherborn, MA, and was the co-coordinator of the 2016 and 2017 New England Regional SCBWI Conferences. Josh grew up in New England and studied Computer Science in school. Today, he still lives in New England and when not writing Java code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes manuscripts.
Josh is terrible at writing bios, so please help fill in the blanks. Josh enjoys _______ during ________ and has always loved __________. He has played ____________ since age __ and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a __________.
For more information about Josh, visit www.joshfunkbooks.com or @joshfunkbooks on Twitter.
p.s. Related posts:
Funny Asian Fractured Fairy Tales
9 Asian Cinderella Picture Books including the Original
4th Grade Book Club: Retold Modern Fairy Tales
24 Wonderful Chinese Folk Tales for Kids
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We read so many of these last year; my boys’ favorite was ninja chicks! We also enjoy the fractured fairy tale chapter book series storming the castle. We were laughing out loud at all the antics.
Hi Mother of 3,
I love fractured fairy tales too! They are so clever!
“What is your or your children’s favorite fractured fairy tale?” I’ll never forget the Fractured Fairy Tales that appeared on the “Bullwinkle & Friends” show.
Hi John,
That sounds fun!
I especially love Interstellar Cinderella, The Three Pigs (Wiesner) and Mirror Mirror.
It’s Not Jack & the Beanstalk sounds really fun, too!
Great list, thanks!
Hi Olivia,
Josh Funk’s book is so funny!! I love your picks too! The Three Pigs is an amazing book! Wiesner’s ability to illustrate in so many different styles is inspiring!
Great list! My third-grade students would love these!
Hi Sandy,
I hope they get a chance to read a few of them. Josh Funk’s book is particularly clever and funny!
My students love The True Story of the Three Little Pigs which is told from the wolf’s point of view.
That is a fun one!
I know and love a few of these. There are others I have to add to my list to read. It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk is on the top of my list!
Yay! Josh Funk will be so happy! Thanks Lisa!!
A favorite fractured fairy tale that I recently read is Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries by Mark Teague.
I didn’t realize there was another Jack and the Beanstalk fractured fairy tale! Thanks for your great recommendation!
Oh I am in love with this selection! I was just talking with a friend of mine about fairy tale books and books with rhyming that would be fun and memorable for her youngest and I think I’ve found my short list ^_^
Hi Gia,
I love fractured fairy tales too! I have an Asian version if you want a second list: https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2017/10/funny-asian-fractured-fairy-tales/
I’m a Tara Lazar fan as well! I own several of these but I just read Interstellar Cinderella this weekend and LOVED it, as did my 16 year old daughter! Josh Funk is always super fun to read, so rhyming or not, I’m looking forward to this one.
I love his books too! Thanks Ingrid!
I am in love with Jan Bretts new book the Mermaid.
I have to read that one! Thanks Jen!
Truly enjoy both Tara Lazar and Josh Funk ‘s incredible work! I had the pleasure of hearing Josh read “Jack” at the Charlestown library while visiting my son in Boston.
That sounds so fun Susan!