And they lived happily ever after... THE END.

Oy! I have never liked that ending. Many children today are only familiar with the neat and tidy endings to ooey-gooey, sunshine stories.  While these types of stories most certainly have their place in childhood, isn't it much more interesting when something unexpected, dark, or silly happens instead? What if the Big Bad Wolf was not quite so big and bad? Have you ever wondered what kind of person would enter a strange family's home, break their furniture, eat their food, and then sleep in their beds?  

Not only are these stories fun to read and share; they are also beneficial to young children's development. Novel and unexpected situations encourage critical thinking and problem solving. As the stories unfold, they will encounter scenarios which will challenge their views and expectations. This in turn allows them to experience new outcomes as well as stimulate future creativity in both real life and imaginative play. As you read these stories (or any story for that matter) with your child, take a moment (before, during, and after) to discuss what they think might happen versus what is written in the narrative. Suspend your disbelief and have a vivid, imagination-filled conversation.  

Each week during story time and read alouds, I mix in a few irreverent tales or two. Here are some of my favorites:

Ten Big Toes and a Prince's Nose by Nancy Gow
Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. This charming tale-in-verse tells the story of true love discovered  through inner beauty.

Dimity Dumpty: The Story of Humpty's Little Sister by Bob Graham
Why did Humpty Dumpty really fall off of that wall? Why was he up there in the first place? Finally, Humpty's little sister, Dimity, can tell the whole story about what  really happened that fateful day.

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugenios Trivisas
A BIG BAD PIG! This piggie has a bad attitude, and the wolves better watch out! The tables are turned in this mixed up tale.

Three Cool Kids by Rebecca Emberley
These goats live in the big city (maybe NYC) and  are ready to move on to a greener lot. There is only one problem: a huge rat is guarding the street. Visually striking collage illustration throughout the book adds to the story.

Rubia and the Three Osos by Susan Middleton Elya
¡Qué tontería! A bilingual interpretation of the beloved Goldilocks tale. A small twist offers a moral. 

Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your chair. Chair?! Uh, oh.  Will the prince ever make his way up to the tower, or will silly Rapunzel squish him before he can save the day?

The End by David LaRochelle
Are you the type of person that flips to the last page to read the end of the story  first? Well you are in luck, read this backwards tale from end to beginning (starting on the first page). 

That Is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems
Would you follow a fox into the deep, dark woods? Would you go into his kitchen? Would you smell his pot of bubbling soup? That is not a good idea, but  the choice is yours.  Don't say that you weren't warned. A surprise ending  to a classic tale.

Wolf's Coming by Joe Kulka
The wolf is stalking through the forest and creeping in the shadows. His teeth are sharp, and his tummy is rumbling. All of the forest creatures are on the run, but they may not be able to hide from the wolf in time. (This is one of my favorites for pre-school classes! The suspense builds until the very last page.)

What are some of your favorite mixed-up or not so happily ever after tales?

Check out some classic fairy tales.

Books about fostering creativity in children.