We received a copy of this book Once Upon and Ever After in order to review it. We have one copy to giveaway, too, so read to the bottom of the post to find out how to enter! Once Upon and Ever After is a fairytale with a twist. The prince has been preparing to rescue princesses for his whole life, but then he discovers that princesses don’t need saving… what should he do instead?
Caroline L Thornton lives in Scotland. She loves animals, movies and all things vintage. She writes rhyming picture books and her first, Scared of the Dark was inspired by her own fear of the dark as a child. She wanted to write a book that she feels could have helped her and which may help others who feel scared in the night.
Scottish poet author Caroline L Thornton has written an exciting story in Once Upon and Ever After. The rhyming is excellent – I think a mark of a good rhyming story is one that you don’t have to squint and work out how to pronounce a word so that it fits in the pattern above.
This is a fabulously illustrated book, with a nod to lots of popular fairy tales The story starts with a very popular phrase, ‘Once Upon A Time’ and then continues, ‘begin the tales we’re told. Where life was just sublime and straw could spin to gold. They warned of poisoned fruits and trading cows for beans, of giant stalks and shoots and jealous wicked queens.’
The story relates how a young prince who, instead of playing with other children, chose to train as a ‘classic fairy tale prince’. He spends his time entering dragon nests, climbing tower walls and searching for a captive princess. He explores a castle dungeon and finds an orb, a mirror with a voice stating that the princess once there had fled.
I really liked the glossary of some of the trickier words used – I had explained most as we read the book together, but I think that’s a brilliant touch.
Beautiful rhyming poetry highlighted by beautiful drawings; this is a great children’s story for children aged around 5+.
Yes please