35. The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka

35. The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka

 


Scieszka, J. (1992). Stinky Cheese Man and other fairly stupid tales. NY: Viking.

   This book is a satirical take on a collection of traditional tales.  The layout of the book resembles a theater play.  It has a narrator (Jack) and a sidekick (hen) guiding readers through the different acts of the story. Each new tale seems to be an act. The new versions of the fairytales are dripping with satire.  Reminds me of those movies that make fun of other movies.  The first one I think of is Space Balls; which makes fun of Star Wars.   The fairytales included are The Little Red Hen, Jack and the Beanstalk, Chicken Little, The Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Frog, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, The Tortoise and the Hair and the Gingerbread Man.

I have reviewed many different fairytale books. I would love to have students do a comparison on different versions of the same tale.  Maybe find 4 versions of Cinderella.  I would have 4 groups and each group would analyze one version and present their findings to the class. You could also assign this individually and have students choose two versions of the same tale and do a poster comparing/contrasting them.  Upon searching the internet, I found a lesson plan where students will write a letter of complaint as a response to the book and other fractured fairytales. There are links to other activities on this page by Scholastic, including one lesson on fractured fairytales where Jan Scieszka is featured. 

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/i-hate-complain-your-cheese-stinks/

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/activities/teaching-content/fractured-fairy-tales-and-fables-writing-writers-activity/

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