Goldilocks and the Three Bears; The Three Billy-Goats Gruff; Jack and the Beanstalk; The Donkey that Sneezed; The Magic Doctor; The Pied Piper of Hamelin

OUP have taken six of Biro's previously published retellings of traditional tales and repackaged them as 'Stories for Sharing' complete with helpful general advice for parents reading with children. Unfortunately, while leaving the illustrations, they have adapted the text and that all important ear for language is sadly absent in these gutted versions which seem to have been written with a reductionist view of reading that will do little 'to help children discover the delights of reading'. For instance, 'Once upon a time there was a poor widow who had a son called Jack and a cow called Milky-white. All they had to live on was the milk from the cow. But one day Milky-white gave no more milk and the mother was in despair. "Cheer up, Mother," said Jack. "We can sell the cow and then we'll see what we can do." So he took the halter and led Milky-white off to market.' becomes 'Jack and his mother had a cow. / But the cow gave no milk. / "We can sell the cow," said Jack. / "I will take her to market."

'The Magic Doctor is the only one I would even consider sharing with a child.