The storybook “Ouch” is a retelling of a Grimm story. Natalie Babbitt, author of “Tuck Everlasting”, “The Devil’s Storybook”, and “The Eyes of the Amaryllis” tells this story in a very conversational tone, as if she’s talking to children during a kindergarten circle time.
A baby boy is born with a crown birthmark, which means he will marry a princess. The boy’s parents are thrilled, but the King is not so excited. The King goes through a series of acts to try to keep this “nobody special” from marrying his precious daughter.
He ultimately sends the boy to get three golden hairs from the devil so he can marry the princess. For a “nobody special” the boy turns out to be confident, kind and wise and outsmarts the king and the devil.
This HarperCollins hardcover is beautifully illustrated by Fred Marcellino and children will love following along with the illustrations when the story is read to them. Older children will enjoy reading this for themselves as they learn more difficult words.
HarperCollins 2008 32 Pages
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