Don't Cook Cinderella

This offbeat school story with a twist (by the author of  the ‘Horrid Henry’ books) was first published nearly a decade ago as Big Class, Little Class. The little class in question are the Infants who comprise Hansel, Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks and Snow White among their illustrious number. The big class are the Juniors, and on their school register we are introduced to the Ugly Sisters, Jealous Queen, Troll, Big Bad Wolf and Wicked Witch. While the Infants learn to read, write, add and work together, the Juniors learn, predictably, how to be wicked, mean and thoroughly beastly. Primary teachers will be issuing the book with health warnings.

Plans for the juniors to gobble up the infants proceed apace throughout the narrative, but the infants have cooked up other ideas, and Mother Goose arrives to save the day. For young readers who like to read about familiar storybook characters venturing outside their familiar surroundings, the quick-fire dialogue, whacky happenings and slapstick humour will appeal greatly. Ross’s animated, eye-balling line drawings wittily capture the various lesson activities, and his page by page casting of character is done with characteristic energy and flourish.