Tairy Fails

From the author of the Eudora Space Kid early-reader chapter book series comes a lighthearted modern take on the old story of Goldilocks and the three bears, featuring a mishmash of other legendary characters who swoop in for occasional surprise guest appearances. This first entry of the Tairy Fails series is initially narrated by the leader of the secret spy organization Fairytale Land Official Security Zone (aka the Wizard of FLOSZ), but the storytelling is quickly taken over by Sylvia Locke, a fifth grader who lives with her grandparents after her parents’ mysterious disappearance; they’re rumored to have been on a quest for the Earrings of Power, “one of the most magical but cursed objects in all of Fairytale Land.” When Sylvia’s grandmother is too busy to get her favorite Cookie Crunchies cereal, the girl swings by her new neighbors’ house to see if they have any: “Some new family just moved in—a bunch of annoying bears.” Chaos quickly ensues when Sylvia discovers the Bear family is absent and she helps herself to all the familiar stuff from the famous tale. She also develops a love/hate relationship with the house’s Magic Mirror, which promises to tell her anything she wants in exchange for Cookie Crunchies. The information the mirror provides ultimately leads to a shocking discovery about Sylvia’s parents and expertly sets up the next book in the series.  

From the moment Sylvia “interrupts” the narrator’s “Once upon a time” beginning, readers will realize that this isn’t an ordinary fairy tale—from its inclusion of the Big Bad Wolf of the forest, whom Sylvia derisively calls “doggy,” to the main character’s penchant for complete and utter destruction: “Fun! I’ve never even seen a magic mirror before today, and I just tossed one down a flight of stairs. You never know what the day will bring.” The character perfectly balances the stereotypical sarcasm and attitude of a girl on the cusp of teenagehood with the vulnerability of a child feeling lost without her mom and dad. Adults will most appreciate the nuance of Sylvia’s characterization, as well as some dated pop-culture references, but younger readers will likely be drawn to the abundance of absurd physical humor: “Let the Bears deal with the mess. Serves them right for leaving buckets of marshmallow sauce everywhere.” Although Sylvia can certainly act like an entitled brat at times, her kind heart eventually reveals itself, especially in her tentative new friendships with Magic Mirror and Baby Bear. Allusions to the fates of other fairy-tale characters, including Hansel and Gretel (now performing as an “amazing singing duo”), as well as the introduction of new characters, such as Earl the ninja bear, make for an entertaining romp through a land that feels familiar but is delightfully unique. Tondora’s playful cartoon illustrations add to the laughs.