Happily Ever Laughter: Schmoe White and the Seven Dorfs

Title: Happily Ever Laughter: Schmoe White and the Seven Dorfs
Author: Mike Thaler
Illustrated: Jared Lee
Published: Scholastic Inc, United States of America
Date: 1997
Summary:In this funny version of Snow White, The Seven Dorfs are a rock band in search of a lead singer. Will Schmoe White lead them to the top of the charts-or will they have to keep their day jobs?
Age Level: Elementary (3-4)
Strengths: This story gives a hilarious twist on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It uses a lot of sarcasm and modern day langauge that the readers can understand and enjoy. I really likied the pictures in the story because it worked well with the text. The author and illustrator used specific and funny pictures that went well with what the text said. For example, the text described the wicked queen, getting ready, putting on her false eyelashes, false eyebrows, false lips, fake nails and a real wig. Below the text shows the wicked queen trying to pose and look "beauiful" while there is a wig holder to her left. I also like the color in the story, because some characters has different colors. The wicked queen is dressed in a purple dress and her room and surroundings are as well. I love how the author transformed the Seven dwarves into a rockband who have a purpose in the story (trying to find a lead singer), while Schmoe White is very silly and naive (which has not changed).
Concerns: There may be some innapropiate things within the pictures that younger students might not like. The students may have to read the original Snow White in order to understand this version, because if they don't, they might get confused. Also, Schmoe White has blond hair when the original Snow White was supposed to have black hair.
Comments: I think this story is appropiate for elementary children because by the time they enter third and fourth grade, they will have heard the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It gives the story a funny twist that will definitely make the students laugh. It could also a great way to get the student's creativity going. If Mike Thaler and Jared Lee can create a funny version of Snow White, maybe students will express their own version of a classsic fairytale, or any different types of tradiitonal literature.