The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Book Summary
In this story narrated by Jack (as in Jack and the Bean Stalk), popular
fairy tales turn into "fairly stupid tales" that will make any reader, young or old or somewhere in between, giggle to themselves (and maybe even out loud). Each tale is a favorite retold in a shorter , cut to the chase way with a sarcastic tone and abstract illustrations. Stories like "The Princess and the Bowling Ball", where the prince takes the selection of his bride into his own hands, offer a refreshing new take on happily ever after.

My Thoughts
The Stinky Cheese Man is a must read for everyone. After finishing it at the library, I knew this was a book that must be added to my home collection. Simply put, it is a fun.

Library Usage
I would recommend this book be used in a storytime setting with elementary school children. It's also a book I would recommend to parents who are trying to get their children more interested in reading.

Journal Reviews
Booklist Review, Sept. 1, 1992
"It will take older children (that's teens along with 10s) to follow the disordered story lines and appreciate the narrative's dry wit, wordplay, and wacky, sophomoric jokes. There's more than a touch of black humor, too. Smith's New Wave art is an intricate part of the whole, extending as well as reinforcing the narrative; the pictures are every bit as comically insolent and deliberately clever as the words, with Smith's dark palette giving them a moody feeling. Every part of the book bears the loving, goofy stamp of its creators, and while their humor won't appeal to everyone, their endeavors will still attract a hefty following of readers--from 9 to 99." -- Stephanie Zvirin

Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 1992
"From the front jacket copy to the Little Red Hen's hack-cover diatribe, the parodic humor here runs riot. AH of this is fairly amusing, but what's most unusual is the innovative play with typography and Smith's wondrously bizarre and expressive art. Irrepressibly zany fun."