Get Some Rest Sleeping Beauty!
ISBN13
9781784931278
Review published
01/12/2015
By Reviewer
Ellie
Star Rating
By Author / Illustrator
Steve Smallman
Age range(s)
3+
Review
Steve Smallman takes on the classic Sleeping Beauty and Jack and the Beanstalk stories and gives them a twist that children will love. In Get Some Rest, Sleeping Beauty, the princess does not sleep for 100 years as the bad fairy predicts, instead she doesn't sleep at all. She stays up late playing with her toys and is tired and grumpy in the morning. Over time, she becomes more and more tired and bad tempered - shouting at everyone, breaking things and bumping into things. Her parents despair. In true fairy tale style, the story has a happy ending. On the day of her 16th birthday she falls into a deep sleep so that when the prince wakes her up she is rested and feels wonderful. Another in the series, Stinky Jack and the Beanstalk, starts the same as the well-known fable, but with the giant repeating 'I smell the pong of an Englishman'. After a number of incidents where Jack is not allowed to do certain things until he is clean (even go into Daisy's cowshed), Jack sneaks into the giant's castle. He wakes up the magic harp with his smell, which wakes up the giant. The giant states that he likes having visitors 'but only ones who don't stink' and orders Jack to have a bath. To his surprise, Jack finds he enjoys his bath and stays for supper with the giant and his wife. Both stories highlight to children the importance of getting enough sleep and being clean without being too preachy or didactic. The illustrations are vibrant and funny, and children will enjoy the reworking of tales that they already know well. A number of 'Next Steps' at the back of each book suggest further talking points. Both books would be perfect for a PSHE session with children. Picture book / Ages 3+ / Reviewed by Ellie Williams.
