Lon Po Po

This is a Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood. In this version, the wolf hears that the mother is going to visit the grandma. He knows the three children will be alone, so he pretends to be their grandma visiting them, having just missed their mother. They let him inside after he explains his lower voice is caused by a cold. As he comes in, he blows out the candle. They get in bed together and the children start to feel the tail and claws of the wolf. The oldest girl lights the candle and sees the wolfs face, yet the wold doesn't know. She tells the wolf of the chestnuts that will give him everlasting life and says the children will get him one. She gets the children to climb up the tree with her so they wolf can't get them. Eventually, she kills him with a basket of nuts.
Lesson plans for the story.
Young, E. (1989) Lon Po Po. Philomel Books: New York.

The Three Little Javelinas

This is an adaptation of "The Three Little Pigs." It is done in a southwestern manner. A javelina is a relative of a pig that is also related to the hippopotamus. The first javelina built his house out of tumble weed. A coyote came along and blew his house down; however, the little javelina escaped. The second little javelina built his house from sticks out of a dried-up cactus. The first javelina joined him to rest in his house when the coyote found them and blew the house down. They escaped again. The third javelina bought adobe bricks and built her house. She welcomed her brothers to stay with her and the coyote couldn't blow her house down. He tried to fit through the stove pipe, but she lit a fire in the stove. He was burned and let out a "bark, cackle, howl, and scream at the same time. He still makes that noise when he remembers the pain. So, when you hear a coyote, you know where the sound comes from.

Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox

This is a story about sibling relationships. It is also a fractured fairy tale about Goldie Locks. When Goldie Locks first spies a spot, her mother knows it must be chicken pox. She immediately calls the Three Bears, apologizing for the chair, to see if Baby Bear has chicken pox, too. Soon, a steady stream of storybook favorites -- from Little Bo Peep to Henny Penny -- stop by to visit the bedridden child. All the while, Goldie Locks tries to ignore her brother's relentless teasing about her spotted exterior. But as more visitors arrive, her pox-free brother, in a fit of jealousy at the attention his sister is getting, intensifies his teasing. Everyone begins to give him attention, and as it turns out he has chicken pox. This story will appeal to students because of the familiar characters.
Dealey, E. and Wakiyama, H. (2002) Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox. Antheneum Books: New York.

Falling for Rapunzel

This Rapunzel was having a bad hair day. She was whining about her hair and the prince thought she wanted him to set her free. She couldn't hear what he was saying so she threw down her underwear, her socks and many more things. Eventually Rapunzel threw down her maid who fell in love with the prince.
This book is a great new take on the story of Rapunzel. It would be interesting to discuss the fact that the door was open the entire time.
Wilcox, L. and Monks, L. (2003) Falling for Rapunzel. Penguin Putnam Books: New York