The Stinky Cheese Man

Before we discuss this book in class, I want to say some things about what I noticed in this book...

First, I noticed how the narrator, a small elf looking man, involves the reader through the entire book. For example, with the hen, or forgetting the table of contents, or criticizing the giant's tale for being stupid. I think this helps the reader to really feel a part of the stories as a whole, even if they are all different. And at the end, it also feels like the narrator and the reader are kind of a team, making sure the giant is asleep so he won't know the book is about to finish.

Second, I noticed how the authors used the text. Sometimes the text is normal, then its HUGE, then it is teeny tiny. I think they use the big text to show sarcasm or to be funny. For example, the ugly duckling's text is big. But all it says it that he was just an ugly duckling and The End. Because he is mocking the original tale, I find it amusing. (Or the Title Page) The text on Jack's Bean Problem is getting squished because the giant's foot is coming down. It gives the allusion that the bean stalk is squished. Or the text on Jack's story, where is starts big and gets really small. The repetition is where the text starts getting small. I think the variations with the text also helps the reader stay interested and alert.

Third, and most obvious is how the authors make fun of the original fairy tales, calling them "Faily Stupid Tales." The most obvious is the Stinky Cheese Man as the Gingerbread Man. But instead of wanting the little gingerbread cookie, everyone thinks the cheese man is revolting and wants nothing to do with him. Another is "Little Red Running Shorts" or "Cinderumpelstiltskin." I think these give a funny, new perspective on the fairy tales and what some people think of them. It broadens children's imagination on what could've happend in the original stories. Also the pictures are all dimented versions of animals. LIke the cow, the fox, or the hen.

There are more little things, but these are the biggens that I noticed in this book. I am interested in what Mrs. Robinson says about this book, because I found it rather amusing and stupid, which might be the whole point. =)