This is a fabulous collection of poems based on well-known fairy tales and nursery rhymes - but with a wry, often grim twist. Imagine an advice columnist responding to the wife in "Bluebeard", or Hansel and Gretel's appearance in juvenile court... Some of the takes are very funny, but nearly always disquieting. From the poem drawn from the story of the princess and the frog, the final couplets:

"...
As for that fairy tale she likes to tell
About the frog who scrambled from the well
And gave her back her ball (all dripping wet),
Then turned into a Prince (that's how they met),
We know he's not a Prince; the point is this:
Our poor romantic daughter thinks he is."

Or, from one of the offspring of the old woman in the shoe:

"...
I used to lie awake for hours, and plan
The things I'd do, when I became a man...
And this is why I lurk in darkened hallways,
And prowl dim streets and lonely parks, and always
Carry a knife, in case I meet another
Old woman who reminds me of my mother."

I first found this book in the Carnegie Public Library in Rock Springs, Wyoming; many years later I found a hardcopy version for my own, and later still found a paperback that included even more poems. And now I have a releasable copy as well, so I can inflict - er, share - "Story Hour"!

I've mailed this book to BC'er ateehee, with hopes that she'll enjoy it and pass it on.

[Some notes re this particular copy of the book: there are three editions of "Story Hour" that I know of, a hardcover that contains a subset of the poems but that also has wonderful illustrations by Jim McMullan; a fairly handsome paperback that contains all the poems and a few woodcut-style illustrations; and the edition I'm releasing, which is a very plain paperback with no illustrations, not even a very pretty font - but it contains all the poems, and I didn't have to pay a "collectible" price for it, even though (ta-daaaa!) it is SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR!!! Yes, this released copy of "Story Hour" was once in the hands of Ms. Hay herself. (Since the book's seen better days and is rather tattered, not to mention heavily BCID'ed, I hope it won't be pulled out of circulation by any wannabe collectors!) ]

Received the book today - thanks!

Enjoyed this book. Dark and funny. Reminded me of the musical "Into the Woods" because it shows there is more to the characters than the nursery rhymes tell us. I particularly liked the poem I Remember Mama told by the son of the old woman who lives in a shoe. Creepy enough to make me smile.

Finally sending to Cestmoi in Toronto.

What a cute little book! I'm going to read it on the subway ride to the meet up tonight!
I'll journal again !

What a great bunch of "retakes" on fairy tales...I can't decide which one was the best..although the old woman in the shoe with the pscyho killer son just about did me in for laughing...
Thanks so much ateehee for sharing this with me..I love it.
I've read it about 4 times and each time I see nuances I didn't see before.

This is off to watchcat in a trade.

Happy Bedtime Reading!!

Rec'd from cestmoi. Many thanks--and for the lovely postcard too. =^.^=