Once Upon A Fairytale: The Stories You Were Never Told

By Bloomsbury Publishing

WARNING: THESE FAIRYTALES ARE NOTHING LIKE THE ONES YOU WERE TOLD AT BEDTIME!

What if the Big Bad Wolf didn't eat Grandma, but he decided to date her instead?

And Rapunzel didn't have long hair, but a massive straggly beard?

These hilarious, imaginative retellings of classic fairytales from eight talented new writers give a brand-new perspective on the stories you think you already know. Surprising and delightful, this collection will have you on the edge of your seat as you find out what really happened when Jack climbed the beanstalk (and let me tell you, it's not pretty) …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Jul 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781526603241

Book preview

Contents

Rapunzel’s Reunion

Vanished

The Problem with Mr Woolf

Sarah Snow and the Seven Spacecraft Engineers

The Giant’s Child

The Mysterious Transformation of the Prince of Amphibia

Beardunzel

The Perfect Child

A Note on the Authors

Children’s writers have one of the most exciting jobs in the world – not to mention one of the most important. Their stories have the power to spark children’s imaginations and shape young minds.

Stories that entertain, enlighten and educate help children discover a love of reading that can transform their lives. Our research shows that when children enjoy reading, they are more likely to reach their potential at school and go on to lead happier, healthier and more successful lives.

To help children get started on their reading journey, we wanted to unearth some of the UK’s brightest new talent in children’s writing through our Short Story Prize with Bloomsbury.

We threw down the gauntlet to budding children’s writers to recreate a beloved classic fairytale with a modern twist. Fairytales have survived the test of time; for generations, they have been used to help children and adults better understand themselves and the world around them.

We want today’s children to read fairytales with the same excitement and wonder that we did as children, so we are delighted with the abundance of original, creative and wildly entertaining stories we received.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Rapunzel was a boy or if the big bad wolf was dating Little Red Riding Hood’s grandma instead of trying to devour her? Or how about if the fairytale characters you know and love were suddenly transformed – a vegetarian wolf, a sleep-deprived giant and a misunderstood stepmother – and had to go on new quests to find their happy endings? Thanks to this wonderful collection of short stories, there’s now no need to wonder.

Everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone can launch it to the world. We are thrilled to be able to publish the fantastic work of these eight aspiring children’s writers thanks to Bloomsbury. Bloomsbury are the renowned publishers of titles by J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman and Louis Sachar – so our budding writers are in esteemed company.

Congratulations to the wonderful authors featured in this collection whose magical stories will help a whole new generation of children fall in love with reading.

Jonathan Douglas,

Director of the National Literacy Trust

Rapunzel’s Reunion

Emma Young

‘Once upon a time, there lived a man and a woman who desperately wanted a child. One day, their wish was granted, but the woman developed intense cravings for a plant that grew in their neighbour’s garden. Unfortunately, their neighbour was a witch of the wickedest kind and when she found the man picking the plant’s leaves, she was incensed! The man, in fear for his life, made a heartbreaking agreement to give the witch their longed-for baby in exchange for his freedom …’

Pandora Steadfast flashed her dazzling white teeth as she allowed a dramatic pause to fill the room. ‘And today, just for you Fairytale Families fans, we’re going to bring you the exclusive reunion of that desperate couple and the precious daughter they gave away – the girl with the world-famous hair, Rapunzel!’

With a trademark wink, she continued,‘ Trust me, you won’t want to miss this. See you in three!’

‘And cut!’ yelled a harassed-looking man in round glasses.

Pandora’s smile vanished on cue and she wheeled around to a young girl weighed down by an oversized make-up belt. ‘Rosie! I’m too shiny, babes. Can you fix me up before the cameras roll again?’

Various people dressed in black invaded the stage like a colony of ants, inching chairs into position, then inching them back again.

The man in the round glasses dabbed his forehead, gazed unseeing at his notes and wondered for the hundredth time today how he could get a job on Planet Earth. His reverie was interrupted by an imposing figure in a shiny blue suit who was walking with purpose towards Pandora.

It was her co-host, Jack Deepheart. ‘Great intro, Panda,’ he purred. ‘This episode is going to kill it!’

She winced inwardly: her name was Pandora!

The harassed-looking man bobbed between them. ‘Sorry to interrupt but we’re back on, folks!’ he said, with a rising note of panic. ‘And five, four, three, two, one – we’re live!’

Pandora gazed earnestly at the camera. ‘And welcome back to Fairytale Families! I’m Pandora Steadfast, this is Jack Deepheart, and we know you’re all just dying to find out more about the tragic tale of Rapunzel, her prince and the parents who have never forgotten the child they gave away all those years ago. So, please put your hands together for … Rapunzel!’

The audience erupted into raucous cheers as a young girl made her way shyly onto the stage. She had thick golden hair that lapped at her shoulders and a long fringe that she pulled at nervously as she settled into her seat. She was wearing faded blue jeans, trainers and a Little Mix tour T-shirt.

‘Welcome to Fairytales Families!’ Jack oozed warmly. ‘And thank you for joining us today. This is your chance to have your say, directly to the people who matter.’ Jack turned back to the camera and added, ‘And while we’re on the subject of having your say, we want to know your thoughts. Get involved on social media and we’ll share the best tweets live during the programme!’

The producer of the show, an exceptionally tall and cantankerous man named Kieran who spent his spare time trying to invent a winning new flavour for Cheerios, barked at his team to start the tweets scrolling across the screen.

@Eddie21

Could have made an effort, Rapunzel! #NationalTV #FairytaleFamilies

@Selena_45

Yay – another Mixer! You got your #wings, girl! #Rapunzel! #LittleMix

@Forest_Porcupine

#Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair … too short for me.

Jack turned to Rapunzel, making sure he held his head at just the right angle to convey deep compassion – a look he practised often in his bathroom mirror. ‘Perhaps we could start with when you first became aware that you were living an unconventional life, one that perhaps hid some darker secrets?’

Rapunzel slipped down into her chair a little. She really wasn’t used to the spotlight; she tried to avoid attention wherever she could, although it wasn’t always easy. She’d only agreed to appear on this programme because it was a chance to finally meet her parents after all these years.

‘Um, I suppose it was in the tower,’ she started. ‘I mean, it was a pretty normal childhood before then. I lived in a house in the forest with my mother … I mean, the woman I thought was my mother …’

Pandora seized on her words. ‘You mean the witch?’

The audience booed on cue at the word ‘witch’.

‘Yes.’ Rapunzel nodded. ‘The witch. She was … kind … loving. I didn’t know then that she wasn’t my real mum. It could get lonely at times, but she was protective of me, made sure I had everything I needed.’

@TheGingerbreadMan

She should have run, run as fast as she could! #gingerbread4ever #cookingwithginger

@Girl_Power

Why must we always demonise witches? We’re not hearing her side of the story – stop with the booing please. #FairytaleFamilies #EveryWomanCounts

@Alwaysontherightside

Sounds like #Rapunzel is actually defending her captor?! Unbelievable! Lock up the witch and throw away the key!

‘But all that stopped the day she locked you up in the tower?’ Pandora prodded. This was too tame! She wanted emotion – fury, distress, blame … They were already four minutes into the programme and not a single tear so far. Kieran must be furious!

Rapunzel gulped back a wave of emotion – it wasn’t an easy time to remember. ‘Yes. I thought it was an adventure, a new home for us. But then she left me on my own.’

‘Get a close-up of Rapunzel!’ Kieran yelled in the production suite at no one in particular. ‘I think we have tears. Do we have tears? No? Not good enough, team! Not. Good. Enough!’

Jack strolled to the front of the stage, a hand in his pocket. He liked