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Oct 11, 2011

Caitlin rated it:

This book doesnt necessarily have a greater meaning or moral to it but it would be a fun book to read to young students. The book gives off such a humurous vibe and left me laughing by the end. The book begins just like any other original fairytale with a princess locked in a tower awaiting her prince charming to come and rescue her. But as the cover suggests, the faiytale doesnt go exactly as planned. The book is being narrated by a man who is sitting in the corner and is narrating for the pain More...

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Oct 10, 2011

Brittany rated it:

An Undone fairy tale was a really good picture book. It is interesting to see a picture book that so obviously expresses the importance of both the words and the illustrations. I loved how the cover illustrated a painter finishing the picture on the book cover. It gives the reader real insight into the story behind the title. Inside the illustrations cover both a full page, and are enclosed in fun boarders, such as vines. The boarders add to the feeling of a fairytale. The illustrations are so d More...

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Sep 20, 2011

Meghan rated it:

This book is absolutely hilarious! I don't think that there is anything about this book i didn't like. The illustrations are very interesting and the story is very funny. It begins as any other fairy tale, a princess is being held in a tower by her evil stepfather waiting for someone to come and save her. On the third opening of the book is when this "ordinary fairy tale" takes a unexpected turn. We see a man on a scaffold painting the illustartion. His name is Ned and he is the More...

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Sep 18, 2011

Katie rated it:

This post modern picture book is a tale of a princess who needs rescuing. A story that has been written many times takes an unexpected turn when the editor and illustrator become participants in the story. They interact with the viewer by demanding the reader slow down and stop reading so the illustrator has time to finish the pictures. In a hurried and frantic state, the illustrator starts improvising and throwing in whatever he can to finish the images: monkeys for knights, bananas for swords More...

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May 10, 2011

Kathryn rated it:

Hilarious! The story begins rather like a typical fairytale, with a princess locked in a tower (because she makes the best pies in the land and her father will not part with her pie-making abilities) and lots of knights attempting to rescue her with no success. But, as you read, the author interjects--urging you to to slow down a little, because the illustrator hasn't quite finished the artwork for the next page yet. Of course, enthusiastic readers just can't quite bring themselves to stop, s More...

5 comments like (12 people liked it)

Dec 28, 2011

Stephanie rated it:

After reading multiple syrupy worded fairy tales to my youngest, this was a real treat. The whole family stopped to listen to this a couple of times in a row. I enjoyed the poking fun of the usual fairy tale story line. (you have no idea how much) The narrator implored you not to turn the page because Ned the painter cannot keep up with you fast reading. You, of course, will fail to heed his warning and turn the page to find that certain standard fairy tale elements had to be quickly improvised, More...

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Aug 28, 2011

Elizabeth S rated it:

3 1/2 stars. In initially glancing through the book, I was concerned that it would be confusing for my preschooler with too much text per page. It wasn't. There is reader involvement similar to The Monster at the End of this Book where the reader is begged not to turn the pages. Only this time it is because something isn't ready. So something else has to be substituted. Warning: There is a lot of very silly stuff resulting, such as knights riding fish and a pretzel standing in for the drag More...

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May 16, 2011

Lisa rated it:

This is a brilliantly funny and very cleverly illustrated story.

It’s perfect for all independent readers, readers of all ages, particularly those who know the difference between the words knight and night, and also for insecure or struggling readers.

I laughed so many times, and it cheered me up from what was otherwise a significantly dark mood.

This book has an unusually unique melding of story and picture. And, the story ended up really working; it’s not just More...

2 comments like (8 people liked it)

Jul 26, 2011

Ina rated it:

This was one of my favorite books that we read this week, but it was a little too long and complicated for some of the younger children. As we read this book - too fast - the poor illustrator can't keep up...and the harried publisher begs us to slow down. When we don't, well Ned the illustrator has to improvise, so the handsome prince attempts fight a dragon (who is still in the shower when he arrives) in a tu tu. A creative book filled with mayhem and silliness, probably best read by a schoo More...

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Mar 25, 2011

Dolly rated it:

This is a hilarious take on the typical fairy tale. The back and forth conversation with the reader is highly entertaining and our girls laughed out loud the whole time I read this book. I find it to be a fun coincidence that we're also reading another book with a lot of conversation with the reader: A Tale Dark and Grimm. That's a very different story but the fun conversation has much the same effect of making the reader laugh. We really enjoyed this story. More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 21, 2011

Ashley rated it:

From cover to cover the book seems unfinished but it is completely finished in its own way. The illustrations were great, the image of the person actually illustrating the pages was creative and interesting. I enjoyed the narrator at the bottom of the page telling the reader to wait and also telling the reader that they are a great reader. This book would appeal to young readers because of the humor and also the appraisal that is recieved by the narrator. This story is a complete twist of what n More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 08, 2010

Jean rated it:

I love this story. It's a twist on the typical princess and prince story. In this case, the princess needs saving, yes. However, this girl kicks some butt and, yes, saves the prince. However, there is another twist in that this book has a bit of 2nd person narration--which means the author speaks directly to the reader. The author begs the reader not to turn the pages because Ted, the illustrator, is tired, or not done, or has run out of supplies. So, the book begins with lovely, detailed illust More...

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Jul 02, 2010

Heidi rated it:

This was fantastic! If I weren't at the desk reading it, I would have had some great, long, loud laughs. The illustrations are great. The story is wonderful. And the idea of it all--absolutely hilarious! Not really one to read for a story time, but a great lap-sitting book or on one's own.

7/1/10 So, I was doing an "Out of the Ordinary" theme in school-age, because I love books that "speak" to the audience, etc. That go against the norm. And this one is one of my f More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 05, 2008

babyhippoface rated it:

This title is reminiscent of "The Monster at the End of This Book" in that a character keeps begging you to stop turning pages. In this case, the anxious narrator explains that Ned, the illustrator, is working as fast as he can, but he hasn't finished the illustrations yet.

Case in point: Sir Wilbur calls for his horse and armor, but Ned hasn't finished drawing them yet. All Ned has is some fish, and the only completed costumes are tutus, so, since you just will not stop rea More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 08, 2010

Kara rated it:

Kids find this book to be uproariously funny. I like it, but Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude is a little bit better executed. They're essentially the same story; the third-person narrator breaks the fourth wall to talk about what's going on in the book. In Undone, the illustrator can't paint fast enough, but the solutions he comes to don't make a lot of sense to the adult reader. Never mind that, though, the target audience thinks it's a hoot. Better read in a lap than for a storytime, IMO.

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Nov 20, 2011

Alicia rated it:

When the reader reads too quickly, the illustrations aren't able to be finished in time, and the story moves from a traditional fairy tale to a beautifully fractured tale. The jokes were funny, and the idea of someone being too accomplished at reading and thus "ruining" the story will make children quite happy, but it felt like the joke went on too long. Children will enjoy it because they will want to see what crazy things pop up in the illustrations, but it may be trying for parents More...

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Dec 01, 2011

Marissa rated it:

I liked reading this book, I thought it was funny as well as cute. My favorite character was the painter. While I was reading along it was as if I was there in person as the events happened and I could "hear" the painter panting out of breathe and wanting the reader to slow down. I think kids would really like this book because they'll be able to let their imagination run wild and would probably find it to be funny as well.

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Mar 21, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

This is written in fairy tale form as the title would imply, with one big problem: it is not finished! Poor Ned is hard at work trying to finish the story, but you the reader just will not slow down. Do not get made when the book gets mad at you for finishing too quickly. The illustrations start out as beautiful amazing pictures, but end up as things drawn by someone who is not an artist. A very entertaining book.

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Nov 15, 2009

Marcia rated it:

Genre: Radical Change Picture Book based on Traditional Fiction

The artist of the story is having trouble finishing the illustrations because the reader reads to fast for him to finish. As a result, the prince, who is trying to rescue the princess from a tower, has to battle a dragon wearing a pink tutu instead of armour and riding a fish instead of a horse. The story is very funny and delightful.

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Apr 30, 2009

J-Lynn rated it:

In this fun twist on the typical fairy tale, the princess saves the muscle-bound prince. The writer and the painter are characters in the book who are writing the story as we read the book. They plead with the reader not to turn pages and get more and more frantic as the book continues. A fun story.

This would be a great companion book for Do Not Open This Book! by Muntean.

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Sep 19, 2010

Christina rated it:

This book was fun to read because I started reading the story and was thinking what fairy tale this was going to remind me of when I had to stop because the painter wasn't finished yet. It's a good one to read to any group of kids. It will keep them all interested because the boys won't get upset that it's going to be a girly book. It's funny and I enjoyed reading it

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Jun 03, 2010

Petrea rated it:

Maybe it's not so fun for very small children, but older ones and adults will be delighted by this story in which the author, illustrator and reader share the problems of having to make substitutions for the traditional parts of a typical fairy tale. What a lot of laughs! This book belongs to Brigham and he, and April shared it with me.

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Mar 26, 2011

Scottsdale Public Library added it

Be sure to read this one slowly, because Ned just can’t keep up… In this book, the best fairy tale ever, things go hysterically wrong as the reader races to find out what happens next. This is definitely a funny twist on the typical fairy tale that will keep you laughing and turning the pages faster than they are ready.

-Jen K.-

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Feb 05, 2010

Caryn rated it:

Very similar to "The Monster at the end of This Book" starring lovable, furry old Grover - but still funny...I can see reading this to a group of kids and them laughing at the pretzel dragon and the princess riding the snail (leading the monkey-knights) slooowly into battle...

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Oct 15, 2011

Kaylee rated it:

SOOOOO Cute!!!!!!!!11

This book is a very interactive book, I really look forward to reading this to my kids in the classroom one day. I HIGHLY recommend this book! It made me laugh and the pictures were very detailed and looked a lot like water color paintings.

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Apr 17, 2009

Jenna rated it:

This book is creative, unique, funny, and perfect for reading to a class full of kids. It puts a wonderful twist on typical fairy tales. This story is just simply funny. It can be used to get a good laugh out of the children, or to introduce a (mixed-up) fairy tale unit.

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Jan 11, 2012

Melissa rated it:

This is one of my favorite picture books of all time--I find it great for five and up. Like, way up. It's fantastic for teaching story structure, I think, and for talking about impulsivity and creativity.

I am so happy Molly loves it too!

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Jan 18, 2012

Katharine rated it:

goofy fairytale spoof, reminiscent of the stinky cheese man.

seth chose this one at the library and he thought it was hilarious. i am sure that hearing him laugh out loud was what made it so enjoyable for me to read.

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Feb 03, 2011

Debrarian rated it:

Super silly, fun book where the reader's page-turning outpaces the illustrator's ability to paint, with the result that he must substitute whatever he has (fish, say) for characters in the princess/knight story.

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Jun 20, 2008

george rated it:

The book starts out as a nice fairy tale, but keeps getting interrupted. See, Ned, the illustrator, can't keep up with the reader's pace and continually begs the reader to slow down and not turn the page yet. As a result, Ned is forced to alter his work to keep up: the knights have to wear tutus and ride fish into battle because that's all Ned has ready; the dragon is in the shower and is replaced with a pretzel. The mix of fairy tale and speaking to the reader is well-done and humorous.

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0 comments like (1 person liked it)

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