ONE DARK AND DREADFUL NIGHT

Fairy tales run amok in this great poke at the stories of “unfortunate events.” Maestro Von Haughty is the curly-mustachioed director of the Wayward Orphans Theatre. He plans to present three “tales of terror and misfortune.” But it seems as though his young charges have had enough trouble in their lives, as they attempt to liven up the tales and cause disaster for the director. Lilly Riley-Hood chooses to act out the part of a fairy princess in the Wild West. The cast begins again, but Jack’s Giant turns out to be a huge bunny—definitely not dark and dreadful. And when the giant bunny rescues Hansel and Gretel, the curtain closes on Von Haughty and his cheer-seeking orphans. Villainous-looking Von Haughty narrates, while the illustrations are interspersed with the hilarious and often astute comments of the child actors. Cecil’s illustrations are definitely a high point; readers will see orphans holding up the props and standing on each other’s shoulders to act out the grown-up parts, and small details will keep them searching the pictures even after countless retellings. A hysterical addition to any fractured-fairytale collection. (Picture book. 4-10)