Endlessly Ever After - by Laurel Snyder Hardcover

About the Book

In this rhyming mash-up of many fairy tales, the reader is invited to follow Rosie down the many possible paths which may lead to a sleeping maiden, a hungry wolf, a girl locked in a tower, or a goose that lays golden eggs--but with some luck, and some smart choices, Rosie may save herself and her fellow fairy tale characters.

Book Synopsis

This funny, original, choose-your-path picture book of fractured fairy tales will charm any young fan of the genre, putting the power of storytelling right in the reader's hands!

Grab your basket and your coat. Put on some walking shoes.
Turn the page and begin: Which story will you choose?

Award-winning creators Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat transform a crowd of classic tales into an ever-changing, fascinating, laugh-out-loud choose-your-own-adventure picture book, in which you may find a sleeping maiden, waste away in a sticky licorice cage, discover the gold at the end of a wild goose chase, or maybe (just maybe) save yourself--and the day!

GIVES YOUNG READERS THE POWER OF CHOICE: Where do you want to take the story next? Choice and autonomy are essential concepts for children to learn at a young age, and this pick-your-own-adventure picture book puts the decision-making power right in their hands, inviting them to pick and choose--and choose again!

FUNNY TWISTS ON CLASSIC FAIRY TALES: "The Three Little Pigs," "Hansel and Gretel," "Snow White," "Sleeping Beauty," "Little Red Riding Hood," and more--characters and settings from these classic fairy tales take on hilarious new life in a brand-new story, just right for the youngest fairy tale fans.

TEACHES STORYTELLING BY EXAMPLE: This fun picture book offers young readers the chance to create their own narratives out of the decisions they make each step of the way, powerfully illustrating how a story is created and how it proceeds from beginning to middle to end. Both a teaching tool and an exciting adventure in its own right, this book is a great resource for learning storytelling.

FABULOUS AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR TEAM: Laurel Snyder is the author of the Geisel Award-winning Charlie & Mouse early chapter book series. Her books have earned numerous starred reviews and Best Book designations, and her middle grade novel Orphan Island was longlisted for the National Book Award. Acclaimed artist Dan Santat has illustrated over 50 books for children, earning a Caldecott Medal for his picture book The Adventures of Beekle and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Drawn Together.

Perfect for:

• Teachers and librarians
• Lovers of fairy tales and folklore
• Anyone who enjoys reading interactive adventure books, choose-your-own-path stories, or a good fairy tale retelling
• Parents and caregivers seeking fairy tale stories for children that will continue to surprise and delight, even after the 100th time through
• Gift-givers looking for a beautiful present that can be read again and again
• Anyone who appreciates clever takes on classic fairy tales

Review Quotes

"[G]et comfortable; kids will insist on multiple readings . . . The humorously grim text is well matched with amusing illustrations that keep even the darker story elements lighthearted . . . Both text and art are endlessly clever." --The Horn Book Magazine

"Grab your favorite outerwear (cozy coat or riding hood?) and your sense of adventure because Snyder and Santat have created a fun-filled fairy-tale mashup that puts kids in the driver's seat. . . . [Endlessly Ever After's] interactive nature, large trim size, and bold, full-bleed illustrations make it an excellent candidate for group sharing. There is also a fractured-fairy tale aspect to the stories featured, which ensures there are surprises around every corner. A highly entertaining read, full of possibilities."--Booklist Reviews

"Illustrated by Dan Santat with his customary luminous dynamism, Endlessly Ever After [is] a picture book that will have children flapping the pages back and forth depending on where their curiosity leads them. . . . Mixing and matching elements of well-known fairy tales, Ms. Snyder and Mr. Santat have created a raucous read and a sly tribute to the joys of improvisational storytelling."--The Wall Street Journal

"Invoking myriad fairy tale scenarios throughout a cascading choose-one's-path format, Snyder (the Charlie and Mouse series) builds a fairy story with logic gates. . . . Santat (The Aquanaut) romps lushly through this fairy tale universe, giving the folklore mainstays . . . an exaggerated, kinetic quality. . . . Readers accustomed to video game-style endings won't be bothered by Rosie's many demises; turning the page resumes the action and leads to more choices, and employing frenetic action right through to the end--er, ends."--Publishers Weekly

"Multiple reader options give the woodsy road to Grandma's house any number of surprise twists and diversions. . . . Some choices are hard but not this one: Pick it up!"--Kirkus Reviews

"The choose-your-own-adventure format applied to fairytales is pure magic." -- Good Housekeeping

"Whether they are timid or bold, readers will delight in directing a rhyming story that magically changes every time, with choices to suit all adventurers. . . . Snyder reminds readers that 'every day...you choose, ' and the choices you make matter. . . . [Endlessly Ever After] could lead to raucous story hours or interactive group reads, but what everyone needs to ask is: Do you wish you had a Choose-Your-Own-Fairy-Tale book in your hands right now? Open the book. Highly recommended."--School Library Journal

About the Author

Dan Santat is a Caldecott-Medal-winning author-illustrator of many children's books. An honors graduate of ArtCenter College of Design, in Pasadena, he is also the creator of the Disney animated hit The Replacements. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and various pets.

Laurel Snyder is the author of many children's books, including Swan, Hungry Jim, and Charlie & Mouse, which won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Laurel teaches creative writing at Hamline University and lives with her family in Atlanta, GA.