Brave Red, Smart Frog: A New Book of Old Tales

Brave Red, Smart Frog: A New Book of Old Tales
Author(s)
Co-Authors / Illustrators
Age Range
8+
Release Date
September 05, 2017
ISBN
978-0763665586
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Step into a wintry forest where seven iconic fairy tales unfold, retold with keen insight and touches of humor. There once was a frozen forest so cold, you could feel it through the soles of your boots. It was a strange place where some kisses broke enchantments and others began them. Many said witches lived there — some with cold hearts, others with hot ovens and ugly appetites — and also dwarves in tiny houses made of stones. In this icy wood, a stepmother might eat a girl’s heart to restore her own beauty, while a woodcutter might become stupid with grief at the death of his donkey. Here a princess with too many dresses grows spiteful out of loneliness, while a mistreated girl who is kind to a crone finds pearls dropping from her mouth whenever she speaks. With empathy and an ear for emotion, Emily Jenkins retells seven fairy tales in contemporary language that reveals both the pathos and humor of some of our most beloved stories. Charming illustrations by Rohan Daniel Eason add whimsical details that enhance every new reading.

Step into a wintry forest where seven iconic fairy tales unfold, retold with keen insight and touches of humor.

There once was a frozen forest so cold, you could feel it through the soles of your boots. It was a strange place where some kisses broke enchantments and others began them. Many said witches lived there — some with cold hearts, others with hot ovens and ugly appetites — and also dwarves in tiny houses made of stones. In this icy wood, a stepmother might eat a girl’s heart to restore her own beauty, while a woodcutter might become stupid with grief at the death of his donkey. Here a princess with too many dresses grows spiteful out of loneliness, while a mistreated girl who is kind to a crone finds pearls dropping from her mouth whenever she speaks. With empathy and an ear for emotion, Emily Jenkins retells seven fairy tales in contemporary language that reveals both the pathos and humor of some of our most beloved stories. Charming illustrations by Rohan Daniel Eason add whimsical details that enhance every new reading.

Editor reviews

2 reviews
Classics Retold
(Updated: July 01, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
BRAVE RED, SMART FROG has all of the old classics and are written in the way that the author would tell them if she were speaking out loud.

BRAVE RED, SMART FROG has Snow White, The Frog Prince, Three Wishes, Toads and Pearls, Red Riding Hood, The Three Great Noodles, and Hansel and Gretel. Each story has its own title page with an image that correlates with whatever story it is.

I loved that the stories sort of all tied together in some type of way. The author uses rich words, comedic relief, and brings in some answers to questions from the old classic tales. I loved that the author isn't trying to do a retelling, but is just trying to tell these tales in her way like they used to do when they were spoken orally. Each story also had an important moral to teach that anyone could benefit from hearing.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to anybody that loves the classic tales, but are looking for a different way to hear or tell them. It's a newer way that still sticks to the old traditions. It's classified as middle grade fiction, but even adults and teens might enjoy it too just as I did.
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