Every common fairy tale has tons of different versions. Many of these are just the traditional tale told in a slightly different way or with a unique take on the illustrations. These are wonderful and often some of our favorite books – don’t miss Jerry Pinkney’s take on many beloved fairy tales for example – but that’s not what this list is.
Alternative Fairy Tales, at least in my book, are a different version of the story.
A what if this had happened…?
Or what if I changed this character to be a dinosaur…?
Or this makes no sense, here’s what would have actually happened…?
These are a great addition to the conversation because they offer different perspectives. They often introduce some humor to the story. And they always make us think about what we think we know in a different way.
There are a lot of these alternative versions to fairy tales floating about out there, but not all of the are awesome. Below are the best of the best. The ones that twist a classic and make it fun or new or unique or just intriguing. The ones that make us laugh out loud or think about something differently.
These are the ones you don’t want to miss the next time you’re studying a fairy tale or just want an interesting, unique story.
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Alternative Fairy Tales for Kids
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I have divided this list up by fairy tale because there are SO many alternative fairy tales and we tend to read a bunch of versions of one fairy tale at once. Feel free to use this list in whatever order you would like.
Cinderella
Interstellar Cinderella
by Deborah Underwood
illustrated by Meg Hunt
Interstellar Cinderella doesn’t need anyone to save her, in fact she does some saving of her own. When the prince’s spaceship stalls it is Cinderella to the rescue. Full of girl power and all kinds of outerspace fun, this is a rollicking good time.
Twinderella, a Fractioned Fairy Tale
by Corey Rosen Schwartz
pictures by Deborah Marcero
Cute story about what might happen if Cinderella had a twin sister, Tinderella and then they meet one prince. It is funny and full of fractions (which makes it a little better for elementary school kids) and just a creative twist on a classic.
Emperor’s New Clothes
The Chinese Emperor’s New Clothes
by Ying Chang Compestine
illustrated by David Roberts
What a fun adaptation of The Emperor’s New Clothes. This one tells the cheeky story of a young emperor and his dishonest ministers. Kids will love the way the little nine year old emperor outsmarts his elder ministers. Everyone will love the delightful illustrations, humorous retelling, and Chinese twist on the story.
Goldilocks & the 3 Bears
Goldilocks and Just One Bear
by Leigh Hodgkinson
Hodgkinson mirrors the tale of Goldilocks with an adult bear who visits the home of a family. There is a mom person, a dad person and a child person. Hodgkinson adds relate-able, modernized elements and little listeners will laugh at bear’s confusion. He tastes their goldfish, attempts to sleep in their bath tub, and falls asleep in the little boy’s bed. After all this silliness, the bear wakes up to find he has stumbled upon the long ago disappeared Goldilocks and her family. The reunion, of course, ends with porridge.
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
Written by Mo Willems
Funny, original – a delightful retake on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In this case they’re dinosaurs and lots of tongue-in-cheek humor.
The New LiBEARian
by Alison Donald
pictures by Alex Willmore
The kids are all ready for story time but their librarian is missing. When they search for her they find a bear in her place. This silly story only deals with the characters of Goldilocks and the Three Bears but it’s a fun way to integrate a familiar tale into a story about the library.
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas
by Natasha Yim
illustrated by Grace Zong
This is a cute adaptation about a little girl named Goldy Luck in contemporary Chinatown who is anything but lucky. It follows the same general plot structure but offers some fun differences that would make for an interesting similarities and differences conversation.
Hansel & Gretel
Hansel & Gretel
by Bethan Woollvin
A feisty and delicious take on this classic fairy tale. In this version, Willow – the good witch and owner of the tasty house – is minding her own business when two naughty, rude children start to try her patience. There is a darker element to the conclusion, but the wry humor and alternative perspective are enjoyable. If you enjoyed Bethan Woollvin’s take on Rapunzel and Little Red this you will find this equally satisfying.
You May Also Like: Picture Books that Travel Through Fairy Tales
Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack and the Beanstalk
by Richard Walker and Niamh Sharkey
In general, this version follows the classic story of Jack but the illustrations set it apart. From cover to cover this one draws you in with the whimsical, quirky illustrations. Follow Jack on his adventures and enjoy a little extra dash of comedy along the way with this take on Jack and his famous beans.
The Princess & the Pea
The Princess and the Pea
Written & Illustrated by Rachel Isadora
Rachel Isadora is amazing. Her range is incredible. Her books range from darling board books for tots to stories of ballet to vibrant takes on fairy tales. My personal favorite book by Isadora is the first I ever read, Max. It is the story of a boy who loves baseball and accidentally falls in love with ballet on his way to practice. However in celebration of this theme, I needed to share this gem with you. Isadora has a growing collection of fairy tales that she has re-envisioned with an African setting. They are full of rich vibrant color and interesting tweaks to the story. This princess and her incredible pile of quilts are no exception.
La Princesa and the Pea
Written by Susan Middleton Elya
Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
A thoroughly entertaining Latino, bilingual version of the classic The Princess and the Pea. Rhyming language that has Spanish words seamlessly integrated into the text. I also love the little extra sass and realism that is added to this still playful tale.
The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas
Written by Tony Wilson
Illustrated by Sue deGennaro
In this, the brother of the prince from the original story wants to get married but he isn’t so sure he wants a wife that’s quite as sensitive as his brother’s pea spotting bride. He thinks he’d prefer a wife that plays hockey, likes camping and has a nice smile. Instead of a pea, he decides to set up his own test with a camping mat and a packet of frozen peas. The reactions to this made us all laugh. A fun book with a good message about what might actually be a good way to choose a bride – with some silly fairy tale-esque twists of course.
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10 Best Children’s Books about Princesses
Rapunzel
Falling for Rapunzel
by Leah Wilcox
illustrated by Lydia Monks
You’re probably sensing a theme because this is an unusual take on yet another fairy tale. Rapunzel is full of spunk in this silly version. This one makes my kids laugh out loud.
Rapunzel
by Bethan Woollvin
I really like this twist on Rapunzel, but be warned it has Bethan Woollvin’s typical dark humor. This Rapunzel isn’t going to be trapped in a tower all day every day and she doesn’t need a prince to save her. In fact, a prince is never mentioned. I like the gumption. The ending gave me a moment’s pause and it certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you enjoyed Bethan Woollvin’s other fairy tale twists then you’ll love this one as well.
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Picture Books that Travel Through Fairy Tales
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red and the Big Bad Editor
by Rebecca Kraft Rector
illustrated by Shanda McCloskey
I love a good fractured fairy tale and this one is a delight. Little Red writes her grandma a thank you note and skips off into the forest only to run into the wolf who has editing suggestions. It’s a fun read aloud, but also has so much classroom potential for younger grades that are learning how to write and/or compose a letter. Clever, cute, and playfully instructive.
Very Little Red Riding Hood
by Teresa Heapy
Love this cheerful book. Do you know the story of little red? Not like this you don’t. Very little red riding hood is a feisty little one who isn’t afraid of anything – including that big bad wolf. She cheerfully heads to grandmamas, invites wolf in for some fun, but then…she misses her momma. Can that not so bad wolf help? Adorable illustrations, charming characters, and fresh take on this classic story. If you love it as much as we do there is a whole series of these very little books to enjoy.
Little Red Writing
by Joan Holub
pictures by Melissa Sweet
This wins the award for most original version of little red riding hood. A classroom of pencils are assigned the job of writing stories to share with the class and Little Red Writing decides to write an adventure. She imagines quite the tale where she ultimately encounters the Wolf 3000, a pencil sharpener, that has eaten the principal. Filled with lessons about the parts of a good story and types of words, creatively adapting the traditional tale, and illustrated by the delightful Melissa Sweet this is the perfect addition to an early elementary school classroom.
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion
by Alex T. Smith
This version of Little Red is laugh-out-loud funny. Instead of a wolf, it’s a bear. Instead of a sick grandma, it’s a spot covered aunt. Instead of a forest, it’s a safari. Otherwise, you know the story – you have just never heard it told quite like this.
READ ALSO: Little Red Riding Hood Story Study Ideas
Snow White & the Seven Dwarves
The Poisoned Apple: A Fractured Fairy Tale
by Anne Lambelet
What if Snow White hadn’t eaten the poisoned apple? What is she gave it away? What would the witch do? Oh how I love a good fractured fairy tale and this one is a delight. With excellent suspense and genius page turns and uniquely beautiful illustrations, this tells a what if version of Snow White that is just tremendous fun.
Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies
by Christian Trimmer
illustrated by Jessie Sima
“Once upon a time there was a pony who had a coat as white as snow and a mane as black as ebony…” So begins this take on Snow White where the main characters are all ponies. Queenie, another jealous pony, lays a trail of apples deep into the forest so she can take over the stable show for visiting children. The plot, for me, lacks a little and the story is a little lengthy, but I enjoyed the humor inserted both by the author and the illustrator and my kids thoroughly enjoyed this alternative take on the classic tale.
The Three Little Pigs
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!
by Jon Scieszka
illustrated by Lane Smith
At this point, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, is a classic but I still remember the first time a teacher read it aloud to me like it was yesterday. I thought it was pure genius. Told from the perspective of the big bad wolf, Scieszka offers a creative take on the traditional tale of the 3 Little Pigs. Brilliant in my opinion.
Bonus: A Brand New Fairy Tale
Bo The Brave
by Bethan Woollvin
An original fairy tale, this is delightful. It is the story of little Bo who wants to hunt monsters with her brothers. When they tell her she’s too little she sets off on her own to prove them wrong. What she finds are creatures of all kinds and learns that things are often not as they seem. I love the bright color palette of the illustrations. I love Bo’s fiery but gentle spirit. And I love how this encourages us all to look closely and not just make assumptions. A fun new tale from a fairy tale master.
Activity Ideas
I don’t think that doing extension activities is at all a required part of raising readers. I also know that they can be really fun. If you are the kind of parent / teacher that WANTS to extend what you read further, then here are some activity ideas for Alternative Fairy Tales.
- Little Red Riding Hood Story Study
- Goldilocks and the 3 Dinosaurs Math Activity from Rainy Day Mum
- Backwards Fairy Tale Story Writing from The Wise Owl Factory
- Explore fairy tales in different cultures. Here is an incredible list from Crafty Moms Share of versions of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rumpelstiltskin, Mulan and Arabian Nights from around the world.
- Look closely at Korean Cinderella with this collection of activities and a free printable from The Wise Owl Factory.
- Try some Fairy Tale Stem Activities from Steamsational
