It's Not Hansel and Gretel

It's Not a Fairy Tale #2

by Josh Funk, Edwardian Taylor (Illustrations)

Hansel and Gretel will not listen to their storyteller. For one thing, who leaves a trail of bread crumbs lying around, when there are people starving? Not Hansel, that’s for sure! And that sweet old lady who lives in a house made of cookies and candy? There’s no way she’s an evil witch! As for Gretel, well, she’s about to set the record straight—after all, who says the story can’t be called Gretel and Hansel? It’s time for these wacky siblings to take their fairy tale into their own hands. So sit back and enjoy the gingerbread!

With laugh-out-loud dialogue and bold, playful art (including hidden search-and-find fairy-tale creatures), this Hansel and Gretel retelling will have kids giggling right up to the delicious ending!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Humor, Fiction, Fantasy, Fractured Fairy Tales

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2019

About the author

Josh Funk is the author of the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, the How to Code with Pearl and Pascal series, Dear Unicorn, Dear Dragon, My Pet Feet, the It's Not a Fairy Tale series, Lost in the Library and more. His books have sold more than half a million copies worldwide and been translated into a dozen languages.

Josh grew up in New England and studied Computer Science in school. Today, he still lives in New England and when not writing Java code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes manuscripts. Since the fall of 2015, Josh has presented (or virtually presented) at over 850 schools, classrooms, and libraries.

Josh is terrible at writing bios, so please help fill in the blanks. Josh enjoys _______ during ________ and has always loved __________. He has played ____________ since age __ and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a __________.

For more about Josh Funk, visit joshfunkbooks.com and at @joshfunkbooks on socials.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

My family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books every year. This is book #14 (of more than 20) of 2019, and we thought it was good. This an alternative or “fractured” fairy tale, much more upbeat and funny than the original! With retro style Golden Age/Candyland style goofy art by Edwardian Taylor. Meta-fiction in places with commentary by characters on the ongoing tale.

Lyra (12) 3.5. I like how the book contradicts itself and how the kids talk back to the narrator. Twisted version of the original story. Very creative imagination and kinda funny. Not my favorite kind of story but okay, sweet and fun.

Hank (13): 3. I like how the story was completely changed and how Hansel and Gretel were interrupting their own original story but didn’t lie how they took off the original ending to make it something weird.

Harry (14): 4. What is the relationship between the narrator and Hansel and Gretel. But why do they listen to the narrator in the end and not the beginning?

Tara: 4.5. This one was pretty funny and I ended up smiling about it.

Dave: 2. Not Jon Scieszka’s level of clever, but pretty amusing in places. Somewhat humorous, which I appreciated in a year of Goodreads award nominees largely lacking humor and (especially) a little snark.

From Rod Brown: “Pirates Don't Go to Kindergarten! was the third lackluster book from the publisher Two Lions that I had read in three days during my Goodreads Awards project. I'd never heard of this publisher before, so I started wondering how they came out of nowhere to have not even three but SEVEN nominees in the opening round. A close look at the verso page revealed Two Lions is an Amazon company. And with a 7th book from Amazon Crossing Kids in the Picture Book nominees, that means somehow, magically, Amazon -- the owner of Goodreads -- managed to capture nearly half the slots in the opening round. What a coincidence!”

Ugh.

I will say that I think that OF these Amazon books this one was liked more by my family, at least, but they usually agreed with me that these books are pretty lame and generic, not at the very top level of picture books produced during the year.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not pre-disposed to like this book. Alternative fairytales worked well in the Fractured Fairytales cartoons, in Jon Scieszka’s The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, and in Michael Buckley’s the Sisters Grimm series, but, for the most part, they’re obvious and dumb.

But author Josh Funk totally won me over. No one in this fairytale does what they’re supposed to do. The narrator even becomes frustrated at Gretel in particular for defying the traditional plotline. And you’ll be annoyed with her and Hansel, too — until you gradually become giddy with delight. While children will cackle with delight at the contrariness of Funk’s characters, adults will be just as taken with It’s Not Hansel and Gretel, which definitely lives up to its title.

Illustrator Edwardian Taylor puts the icing on this cake with his Nickelodeon Cartoons-like drawings, which add to the winking self-referential nature of the book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from Amazon First Reads in return for an honest review.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a fun fractured fairy tale! I particularly enjoyed this plucky Gretel who dares to ask, "Why isn't it ever Gretel and Hansel? And, when Hansel is plunked into a cage and force-fed to fatten him up, she quips, "The boy gets to sit around and eat candy while the girl has to cook and clean? Get with the times - this is the fifteenth century!"

Edwardian Taylor's trippy illustrations are also a delight!

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goodreads Choice Awards Project: Read as many of the Best Picture Book nominees as possible. Mission complete! Though this one didn't make it to the final round...

A sassy and meta take on the traditional fairy tale. It didn't really work for me, but kids might like it and will probably have fun picking out all the cameos by the many characters from other fairy tales and nursery rhymes hanging out in the background.

Previously posted on 11/10/2019:
AMAZON CONSPIRACY THEORY!!!!! THE FIX IS IN FOR THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS!!!!

Pirates Don't Go to Kindergarten! was the the third lackluster book from the publisher Two Lions that I had read in three days during my Goodreads Awards project. I'd never heard of this publisher before, so I started wondering how they came out of nowhere to have not even three but SIX nominees in the opening round. A close look at the verso page revealed Two Lions is an Amazon company. And with a 7th book from Amazon Crossing Kids in the Picture Book nominees, that means somehow, magically, Amazon -- the owner of Goodreads -- managed to capture nearly half the slots in the opening round. What a coincidence!

A quick look at the other categories seems to show that Amazon is not dominating those in the same way, but this still seems pretty darn sketchy. Another good thing tainted...

I recommend everyone do write-ins for this category and try to push out the Two Lions books. I recommend Princess Puffybottom . . . and Darryl or Dandy.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just in case you don’t know the story of Hansel and Gretel, this isn’t it either. The actual story is about a brother and sister who almost get eaten by a mean old witch. This story has Hansel and Gretel doing something a bit different and all the while they maintain a very positive attitude. The narrator of this, not so Hansel and Gretel, tale gets a bit frustrated with the changes being made to the story by the characters.

This delightful remake has a lot of humor. Young readers will enjoy the banter between the characters and the narrator. Vividly colorful illustrations not only bring this story to life, but readers will see lots of recognizable objects and fairy-tale characters too. Parents and teachers can discuss being positive and ask listeners to make predictions on what they think will happen before turning the page.

[Georgina Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious twisted version of Hansel and Gretel

Young readers will have fun, exploring these bold and colorful pictures while they take a few twists and turns in this humorous retelling of Hansel and Gretel, or is it Gretel and Hansel? This book offers some alternate ways to revisit the plot and it allows the reader to play as the narrator.

Here is my favorite quote from the book:

“This is ridiculous!
The boy gets to sit around and eat candy while the girl has to cook and clean? Get with the times-this is the fifteenth century!”

A minor note in this book, the adventure begins when the children lose their mother and father and they get a happy reunion with them at the end. No wicked stepmother in this version.

[Fateme H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

اول بین دو ستاره و یک ستاره مونده بوده بودم، اما خب گفتم یه ذره انصاف داشته باش، این کتاب خردسال و کودکه، برای تو که ننوشته ن. این شد که سه ستاره دادم. ولی فکر کنم همون دو و نیم بسش باشه.
خیلی داستان خاصی نبود، حس کردم همون داستان هانسل و گرتل رو برداشته و به زووور سعی کرده یه کم بامزه ش کنه، که به نظر من بامزه هم نبود.
اما نقاشیاش قشنگ بودن.

[Scott Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly fun!

You know that this fairy tale (without any actual fairies) is going off the rails when the narrator and the characters disagree on what is happening. And that’s just the beginning…

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hansel and Gretel (or) Gretel and Hansel won't listen to their narrator. This proves both hilarious and fun as the kids navigate their story. All of the famous elements of the well-known tale are here, just told with much more humor.
The cartoonish illustrations and sarcasm of Gretel and the storyteller prove to be outstanding elements. A perfect read for kids who may not be ready for the Grimm-version of this sweet-filled tale.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you have kids, or just an adult kid like me ... please check these reads out ... on Kindle Unlimited: Mr. Funk ... just amazing ... i am rating book 2 a bit better ... 'cause i love the pink ... so girlie fun!!
Edwardian Taylor (illustrator)
genius!! i am totally a big kid at heart ... these drawings - doodles (all respect there) are just amazing ... so short but so kid friendly ...they will love it ... amazing to the eyes. well done. first read his it's not hansel and gretel - saw that it was book 2 and had to see the book 1 ... so glad i did ... both are just beyond genius and so need to be seen!! u will be blow away about this talent and creativity. well done!! loved it! ( ; these books are amazing ... if u want something 2 eye drool over!

[Kelly Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rollicking and hilarious -- spit the milk out of your nose -- read!!

The illustrations are bright and funny and wonderfully corny!

And Gretel has attitude! This is the sister everyone should have -- she is confident and in charge and doesn't tolerate any gingerbread antics from anyone!

Your kids will laugh at Hansel & Gretel, groan at their silliness, and ultimately cheer for them. But be sure to have cookies, cakes, or candy on hand - this book will make them hungry for more than just another Josh Funk book!

[Sarah Krajewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟 My kids say this one deserves a “bonus star.” Another laugh-out-loud tale from Josh Funk. We loved Gretel and Hansel, their hilarious banter, and also searching for all the different fairy tale characters. A new favorite!

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute twist on the original story, and the art is fun and bright. I would say it isn’t particularly memorable, and that is it’s biggest problem.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story. But like the title says, it's NOT Hansel and Gretel.

But I enjoyed it. It followed along LIKE the Hansel and Gretel story, but in the end, Gretel helpfully pushes the witch into the oven because she thinks she's chilly. lol. And then their parents return! And they live happily ever after running a bakery from the gingerbread house.

I felt for the poor narrator. She tried to keep the story on track. It's just that the kids, especially Gretel, had other ideas. lol.

So this was a cute book. I really enjoyed it.

[Library Lady Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read a review copy of this picture book that was sent to my #BookRelays group to share. This is such a fun twist on the traditional Hansel and Gretel story. Hansel and Gretel want to tell their own story, and just because different elements are traditional doesn't mean that's the way it always has to be. Gretel is bold and sassy and determined to have things her own way. The brightly colored illustrations really add to the fun of this book. This book could be a great mentor text for young writers looking to make their own fun twists on traditional fairy tales or even create their own. And the hilarious way the characters take over the book will have young readers wanting to go for this one again and again.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following in the footsteps of their previous collaboration (It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk), It's Not Hansel and Gretel attempts to tell the tale of Hansel and Gretel and fails miserably. Gretel just won't go along with the way the narrator wants to tell the story. She believes firmly that her parents love her and Hansel, despite the narrator telling her otherwise and she refuses to believe the witch is a witch. And she's annoyed when Hansel's name always comes first and she's left to do the chores while Hansel gets fat. The narrator is forced to adjust the story a bit, until finally the children take over the story completely, writing their own ending. The banter between the narrator and the children is amusing and perfect for reading out loud. And the illustrations are fun and full of details. The illustrator cleverly slips in numerous fairy tale characters for readers to spot. All in all a delightfully fractured fairy tale for readers and listeners who like to tell stories in their own way.

[Aeicha · Rating 5 out of 5]

You think you know the story of Hansel and Gretel, right? Wrong! You have NO idea...but don’t worry, Josh Funk is here to tell you the real story in It’s Not Hansel and Gretel. 


It’s Not Hansel and Gretel is a deliciously, laugh-out-loud funny tale that puts an imaginative and exciting spin on the classic story. Wickedly clever and bursting with oodles of charm, Funk’s pitch-perfect storytelling will keep young readers absolutely enthralled. Edwardian Taylor’s silly, whimsical illustrations bring the story to life perfectly with engaging cartoonish flair.  


With fun interactions between the storyteller and Hansel and Gretel, thrilling twists, awesome illustrations, and fun humor, It’s Not Hansel and Gretel is sure to delight and entertain readers of all ages. 

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, what's not to love about a feminist re-writing of a classic fairy tale, especially if it's funny!?! I love reading anything about fairy tales, mystical lore, myths, folk tales - whether one calls them re-writes, revisions, altered, or "twisted" tales - even enjoy reading the history behind them (Zipes is a great authority on its history - I own a few of his books!). And it warms my heart when I find versions created for the very young. I collect a lot of the Fairy Tale stuff...

So this title IT'S NOT HANSEL AND GRETEL by Josh Funk immediately caught my attention as I was trying to decide how to spend my Amazon gift cards from the holidays. Checked it out, bought it, read it. There's an omniscient voice that is trying to tell the classic Hansel and Gretel tale, and there's a feisty young female who keeps "correcting" that voice! Gretel wants to set the record straight, and she also doesn't see why the tale can't be titled GRETEL AND HANSEL instead. She's also ticked off that the witch, "who was NOT a sweet old lady," has her doing housework while Hansel gets to stuff himself on all kinds of sweet goodies. Of course, that gets her on the menu too, with the witch wondering, "... who's going to clean my toilet?" There's even a short mention of a Unicorn, about which Gretel has to chime in with further info. And throughout the humorous story, Edwardian Taylors's brilliant illustrations highlight the humor (and would be much appreciated by the younger set of story lovers!)

I loved this book because it's funny and it presents a strong (although quite opinionated) female - an important image for both girls and boys to experience early-on. Sometimes "opinionated" is positive, when there's wisdom behind it, especially when one meets someone with evil intentions!

Get this for a child you love, or because you love fairy tales revised to fit modern needs. Or just read it because it's fun, funny, and creative!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

It really irritates me when someone thinks they are being "progressive" or "feminist" by putting down the jobs of cooking and cleaning. Those are the jobs I do for my family, and those jobs are important! If I didn't do them, my family wouldn't have healthy food to eat and our house would be filthy. My husband is so grateful and appreciated of the work I do for our family, and I am very insulted that this author put down my jobs that I do for my family.

The only thing I liked about this book was that the parents actually cared about the children.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun fractured fairy tale. This retelling of Hansel and Gretel is completely different from what you are used to. I think 2nd grade and up would love to have this story read aloud to them. If you read aloud Jon Scieszka's fractured fairy tales, this one fits in perfectly with those. They are funny, and will definitely inspire your students to write their own fractured fairy tales.

Elementary teachers and school librarians should definitely have this to read aloud. So much fun!

[Denise Lauron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The illustrations are great and it attempts to bend gender roles a bit. Who says that the girl always has to do the household chores?

I love that the characters take over the story, leaving the narrator confused and frustrated. It all works out in the end, but not in the way that we think it will.

[Tommie Hargus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated Hansel and Gretel

Per my grandson it's really cool. I like it because of the pictures, his words. He knew the story of Hansel and Gretel, so he enjoyed the changes.

[Fatima Calderon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and funny

It was fun to read with the kids and I doing the voices as we read out loud. It was fun to act it out.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun to read aloud! My 5th graders loved reading this one with a helper parent for #classroombookaday. So much voice to be heard!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a weird, funny book with an enjoyably interactive narrator. Kids will looove it.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hansel and Gretel help (or is it hinder?) the author to tell their story. Very busy, cartoonish artwork and sort of cheesy, but funny all the same.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of this author and also the illustrator who adds so much humor and depth to these books. I loved this one so much that I bought a keeper copy.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Josh Funk's retelling is fabulously funny, incredibly creative, and much less frightening story than its Grimm Brother's classic. -Megan G

[Avid · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not so good of Hansel & Gretel

I was very disappointed. I have not read this author previously a nd perhaps it is simply his style but it took a long time classic and turned it into a modern day dumbed down Saturday morning cartoon reminding me of The Fairly Odd Parents my children watched when young. Not for me. Not impressed at all. Won't be reading to my grandkids or students.