Fairy Tales for Mr. Barker: A Peek-Through Story

by Jessica Ahlberg

Who will Lucy and her dog, Mr. Barker, see on their fairy-tale adventure? Peek through from scene to scene to guess who they might meet next.

Lucy is reading a fairy tale to Mr. Barker, but her dog has other ideas. When he jumps out the window — landing in a cottage with a broken chair, three bowls of porridge, and a little golden-haired girl — Lucy is right behind him. Goldilocks would rather not be there when the bears return, so she joins Lucy and Mr. Barker as they continue on their way, adding a trio of pigs, a boy with a goose, and a just-awakened princess during their journey. What happens next? Cutout windows throughout add visual surprises to this lighthearted fractured fairy tale.

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Adventure, Juvenile, Fractured Fairy Tales, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2016

Reviews

[Karrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica Ahlberg is picking up where her parents left off with Each Peach Pear Plum, streaming nursery rhyme characters through a story and letting the reader see the details.

The peek through is a little unnessary and the orange/red colour palette is a bit overused. I particularly like that the giant is sporting a harp tattoo. A nice addition to books that foster kids looking at details not said in the text.

[Alexandra Beckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite picture books for kids ages 2-5. Like “Peepo” and other books illustrated by the Ahlbergs, the illustrations tell a wonderful story in and of itself. The peek-through pages are an added bonus.

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would make more sense to someone who knew about fairy tales. Which I just learned is on the March curriculum plan at preschool.

[Jane Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story, great for fairytale recognition. Fun pictures, too!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lucy tries to share a story with her dog, Mr. Barker, he follows a butterfly right out the window. As Lucy follows him through the window, they end up in the house of the Three Bears with Goldilocks eating porridge at the table. Then the three bears come home and it’s time for the two girls to follow the dog into the next story. They head right into the Three Little Pigs where a wolf is on his way to the house. One-by-one Lucy has different protagonists join her from several fairy tales and they get chased by all sorts of characters as well. Just as they are almost caught though, they return to Lucy’s room where she tucks them all in bed with a story.

Ahlberg has a great touch for the dramatic in this picture book. She cleverly offers just enough information for the reader to recognize the story that Lucy and Mr. Barker have entered. Then she gives the reveal on the next page, so parents and adult readers will know that children should be given a chance to guess the story. In that way, it is also an invitation to read stories that small children may not know yet, like Jack and the Beanstalk.

Ahlberg uses cutouts in this picture book, having each switch to a new story as a cut out through which the characters climb. There are windows, doorways and then even holes in cheese that make great escape routes to another tale. The illustrations have Ahlberg’s signature softness and fine lines where watercolors have an appealing mix of bright colors and gentleness.

A winning mix of cut outs to jump through, fairy tales to explore and a guessing game too, this picture book is a great choice for children who love fairy tales. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Liz]

Lucy loves sharing stories with her dog, Mr. Barker. One day their story time together takes an unexpected turn and the girl and her dog wind up on an unexpected literary adventure. Mr. Barker takes off onto the next page as Lucy cries, "Wait for me!". She follows her dog through a cleverly die cut page into another room. This strange new room contains three bowls of porridge and a golden-haired girl. Astute readers will recognize the three bears' cottage. Lucy recognizes the cottage, too. "I know where we are!", she exclaims. And so the epic chase begins, with Lucy and Mr. Barker meeting all sorts of fairy tale friends along the way.

Die cut pages transition readers from page to page and room to room. Each room introduces a well-known fairy tale, from the three bears' cottage to Sleeping Beauty's bedroom. With each new page, a new character is introduced to Lucy and Mr. Barker. These new friends join the chase that eventually concludes back in Lucy's cozy bedroom. Friendly illustrations from Jessica Ahlberg give these well known stories a whole new life. Rounded shapes and bright saturated colors give the book a charming, youthful atmosphere. There are wonderful details on each page, from a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers belonging to a giant to Sleeping Beauty's castle-shaped night light. Young readers will want to come back to this book over and over again, especially once they're familiar with the original fairy tales themselves.

Share this book with: children who have read and loved these fairy tales; they'll love experiencing them with Lucy in a new way

My favorite part of the book: Lucy's fairy tale sleepover at the end of the book

Age recommendation: appropriate for ages 4 and up

[Sophie Snowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book links so many well known fairytales together with a simple but lovely story. This book follows the story of Lucy and Mr Barker who explore the settings of well known fairy tales, taking the other characters with them. This story is a lovely harmony between the fairytales, pointing out the links between them. I really enjoy how the 'holes' in the pictures make you try and predict what might happen next but often what happens is not expected. A lovely story which you could use as the beginning of a fairytales topic where you then go on to explore the rest of the fairytales within this story.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Lucy and her dog, Mr. Barker, travel through the cut outs on each page to a new fairy tale. Tales include: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty, and Hansel and Gretel. Knowing what happens, Lucy warn's each fairy tale character and has them follow her through the cut outs. The end up in her room for a sleep over. Would be good for a one-on-one read aloud for children who already know these fairy tales.

[DB in Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork with lots of detail for little eyes to look at again and again. The books pages are a heavier weight than most children's books and this makes it easier for little hands to turn pages sans rips/tears. The sweet rhyming story brings in all the fairy tale characters and you get to follow the adventure with little windows to next page, with a n added delight of the window emphasizing a separate piece of artwork once the page has been turned. Highly recommended!

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy follows her dog Mr. Barker through fairy tales. On the way they collect Goldilocks, running from the three bears, the three little pigs escaping from the wolf, and other fairy tale characters until they all arrive safely at Lucy's house where she reads them a story. There is wonderful detail in the illustrations (a cookbook telling how to make bone bread in the Jack and the Beanstalk story). Really charming and adorable.

[Chloe Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the references to fairytales and how the stories became blended into one. I love how the book is interactive was with the framing of the windows and doors. The illustrations are detailed and related to the fairy tales. Additionally, if you look at the map in Lucy’s room it contains all of stories she went to throughout the book and there is a fairy with butterfly wings (a nod to how the book began).

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

From reading a fairy tale to her dog to entering one portal after another to different fairy tales and then back to her bedroom for a sleepover with the people she's collected.

Definitely best if you know the fairy tales mentioned (Sleeping Beauty, Three Pigs, Goldilocks, Jack in the Beanstalk). Fun to guess on first read what fairy tale you've arrived in.

The cutouts on the pages are cute, but not overly necessary.

[Mrs. Mazzola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great as an extension for fairy tale unit. Illustrations are full of references to other stories and beg for close inspection. Kids will love figuring out all of the other stories included. However, pictures are a bit small with a muted palette that would make it best for small group or individual sharing.

[Beth Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the little girl and her dog were reading a book which they ended up going through all the different fairytales. The illustrations of these books are so detailed and interactive. so many hidden images and fairytales within fairytales. To get to each story, they have to clim through windows and doors and trees etc.

[Presley Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This playful peek-through book reimagines classic fairy tales, letting young readers travel across familiar stories in a fresh way. It demonstrates how modern fantasy updates old folklore with creativity and humor. In an elementary classroom, it encourages intertextual thinking and supports conversations about how stories can connect to one another.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably would have liked this one better if I'd liked the illustrations better. The muted tone on tone in each spread did not inspire me to look closely at each page, which I think was the intent. It just made me want to hurry and get it over with.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever cutouts led a little girl chasing her dog into and through familiar fairy tale settings, collecting fairy tale characters along the way. Warm toned illustrations make for a cozy read. Kids who know fairy tales will have fun figuring out each new setting.

[Maexo♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nicely illustrated book about fairytales, and a little girl and her pup who travel through each fairytale land and make friends along the way. I liked the illustrations the most, you can see so much detail and care on each page. I love the ending too, it's a bit funny with the troll.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute! Love the lively illustrations and the peek-through concept.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely fairy tale fun with clever illustrations.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun concept that kids will love, plus a chance to work on inferences.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A background in fairy tales would be best before reading this. But I loved the peek through pages that would lead the reader to the next page.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was cute but what made the book was all the little details in the different rooms. I particularly liked the giant’s ‘eat organic’ patch on his ‘Born to be Big’ jacket.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute illustrations with huge amounts of tiny humorous details. I really enjoyed this.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many children's stories are pulled into this one peek-through book.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be excellent for reception children . They would enjoy guessing the fairy tales each time.

[RG]

Creative peek-through story, great for kids who love classic fairy tales reimagined. Beautifully detailed illustrations too.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved how the book flowed together! Not only did the peek-a-boo pictures seamlessly flow together, but so did all the different fairytale creatures.

[Elizabeth Plav · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUCH a cute story. I highly recommend!