The End

In recent years defiant versions of the fairytale have become somewhat of an inversed norm. Nonetheless, THE END stands with ingenious superiority amongst its innumerable peers. Stories are not just about characters and plots and themes. They're about writers. While witty and entertaining, LaRochelle and Egielski understand this, and their insight proves incomparable. Proceeding with a Monty Python logic of sequence, THE END does not come short of its grail suggestions. Love stories of knight and princess may seem banal on the surface. But then again, perhaps that's just the start. Reach the end, and you've only just begun. Sure, other princesses are clever. Other hungry giants prefer lemon cheesecake for dessert. And, other bunny rabbits really do terrify fire-breathing dragons. (Why can't a dragon be sensitive?) However, telling his entire story in reverse order, LaRochelle takes subversion to a deeper level. If one truly wants to change the hierarchical ideas of the past, perhaps s/he needs to redefine the meaning of understanding. Shrewdly, LaRochelle rewrites. If you really want to uproot assumption, you can't just change a story. You must go backwards and locate where it began. To find a real "happily ever after" one must know its "because." Cause and effect are what you make of it. Audiences must know. They're writing too.

Actually, had to buy this to replace the library's copy that we-- temporarily-- lost. Of course, as soon as I bought the new one and took it to the library, the other copy showed up (mysteriously placed under the refrigerator) (no doubt, by my three-year-old!) But, I was secretly glad to have our own copy!! It's a fantastic book! Great concept! So original!! You can even start at "the end" and make up your own story going backwords... which is a great exercise for the little ones!! I'd recommend this to anyone!!!! ENJOY!!!!

I used this with kids K thru 5 during a "Read Across America" visit to a local elementary school, and the response was amazing. In their individual and class thank you notes, at least 75% of the students mentioned it by title. I haven't seen such whole-hearted acceptance and enjoyment of a book since "No, David!"

A backwards fairy tale--begins with "the end" and begins with "once upon a time." We checked out this book from our local library, and we read it so often my grandson memorized the story. I bought him his own copy for his 4th birthday.

What a fun book this was to read! A "backwards" fairy tale! Award-winning Minnesota author, David LaRochelle, started at the end of his fairy tale and it became the beginning of the book. Quite frankly, I was skeptical if this idea would actually work. But it does work, and it even flows extremely well. It's also quite an interesting story to read if you are looking for a really good fairy tale that's packed with an excellent storyline and really fun illustrations. We have a princess, a knight, lemonade, a dragon, a hungry giant, a flying teacup, a huge tomato, and the cutest bunnies you ever saw (the bunnies are on almost every page) and even a blue-colored, flying pig! This is a must-read fun fairy tale for you - from the beginning, which is really the end, to the end, which is really the beginning! Confused? Don't worry - you won't be. This book is really slick! Caldecott Medal winner Richard Egielski did an outstanding job of illustrating this delightful fairytale with his humorous touch. (Note the funny faces on all the trees!) David La Rochelle's magic mind and way with words created this terrific story. On the back flap of the book, David reassures his young readers that he has never been afraid of bunny rabbits, but... he is concerned about any tomatoes that are taller than he is, and...David is very tall. Richard says that he enjoys a cold lemonade on a hot day (much like the princess in the story perhaps).