The Fairy Tale Fan Club: Legendary Letters Collected by C.C. Cecily - by Richard Ayoade (Hardcover)

About the Book

"It's once upon a time . . . as only the irreverently witty Richard Ayoade can tell it. In this series of letters organized by C. C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, the fairest of them all (and a few bitter foes) correspond with curious--and opinionated--fans. So if you've ever wondered how a less-than-genius (and less-than-clothed) emperor fell for a certain con, how the Big Bad Wolf is handling meatless Mondays, or whether Rapunzel recommends going for the big chop, no need to look far, far away for multihyphenate Richard Ayoade, author of The Book That No One Wanted to Read, hilariously imagines what questions modern children would have for characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming, and Little Red Riding Hood--and what they might have to say in return. Complete with clever, spoof-gothic illustrations from David Roberts, this wry storybook may have even the Brothers Grimm cackling in their graves."--

Book Synopsis

What if you could send fan mail to your fairy tale idols? And what if they wrote back? "Happily ever after" takes on a new meaning in this book from actor-comedian-author Richard Ayoade and best-selling illustrator David Roberts.

It's once upon a time . . . as only the irreverently witty Richard Ayoade can tell it. In this series of letters organized by C. C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, the fairest of them all (and a few bitter foes) correspond with curious--and opinionated--fans. So if you've ever wondered how a less-than-genius (and less-than-clothed) emperor fell for a certain con, how the Big Bad Wolf is handling meatless Mondays, or whether Rapunzel recommends going for the big chop, no need to look far, far away. Multihyphenate Richard Ayoade, author of The Book That No One Wanted to Read, hilariously imagines what questions modern children would have for characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming, and Little Red Riding Hood--and what they might have to say in return. Complete with clever, spoof-gothic illustrations from David Roberts, this wry storybook may have even the Brothers Grimm cackling in their graves.

Review Quotes

Bibliophiles will love this story from the beginning. . . . Droll sketches, rendered in pencil with bits of digital color, perfectly complement the text. Happily ever after, mortal reader!
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Definitely providing a public service, C. C. Cecily, senior secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, has assembled a set of querulous letters from children to renowned fairy-tale characters. . . indispensable.
--Booklist (starred review)

Ayoade's clever phrasing and epistolary structure prove both sturdy and irresistible, and pen illustrations by Roberts, rendered in precise, fine lines and intricate cross-hatching, provide wry visual asides throughout.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A wonderful, funny book of fairy tales with a twist, with equally fabulous illustrations by the brilliant David Roberts.
--Liz Pichon, author of the Tom Gates series

Ayoade and Roberts's combined talents are the best thing since that one guy with chocolate ran into that other guy with peanut butter and made the world a much better place in the process. A delight!
--Andrea Beaty, author of the New York Times best-selling Questioneers books

British comedian Richard Ayoade puts a wonderfully silly spin on familiar stories. . . . Loads of witty illustrations by David Roberts add to the fun. My middle grade reader devoured this one faster than a wolf gobbling up a granny.
--Literary Hub

About the Author

Richard Ayoade is a much-loved comedian, BAFTA-winning actor (The IT Crowd), writer, director, and TV presenter (the 2021 BAFTAs, Have I Got News for You?, Travel Man) as well as a bibliophile. He regularly appears on comedy shows, was the voice of Zero in The Mandalorian, and directed the films Submarine and The Double. He has written three books on film for adults and a children's book titled The Book That No One Wanted to Read, illustrated by Tor Freeman. Richard Ayoade lives in London.

David Roberts is the award-winning author-illustrator of Suffragette: The Battle for Equality and the illustrator of various other titles, including The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman, The Dumpster Diver by Janet S. Wong, and His Royal Highness, King Baby by Sally Lloyd-Jones. He also illustrated the New York Times best-selling Rosie Revere, Engineer and the other books in the Questioneers series by Andrea Beaty. David Roberts lives in Liverpool, England.