More first books for fledgling readers that offer the enjoyment of a good story with the thrill of accomplishment that comes from independent reading. Written in short, easy phrases with carefully selected vocabulary and plentiful illustrations, each book helps youngsters achieve success as they have fun.

The series follows three friends who love to share stories. In each book, one is reminded of a well-known story:
It's Not About the Ball! is based on The Frog Prince;
It' Not About the Tiny Girl!
is based on Thumbelina;
It's Not About the Diamonds!
is based on the story of Diamonds and Toads;
It's Not About the Straw!
is based on Rumpelstiltskin and
It's Not About the Beanstalk! is based on Jack and the Beanstalk.

As one friend starts his story, the others are reminded of versions they know so each volume has three stories within one framework. The stories come from around the world, and Veronika Martenova Charles provides a note at the end of each book to describe the origins.

Easy-to-Read Wonder Tales are a great first step in developing a lifelong love of reading, and it makes a fine companion to Veronika Martenova Charles's series, Easy-to-Read Spooky Tales.

© Monica McKenna
Tundra’s Veronika Martenova Charles is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books include: Maiden of the Mist: A Legend of Niagara Falls; Stretch, Swallow, & Stare; The Crane Girl, and her five-book series for emergent readers, Easy-To-Read Spooky Tales. Veronika has studied at Ryerson University, the Ontario College of Art and Design, and recently completed her graduate studies in Folklore at York University. Veronika Martenova Charles lives in Toronto. View titles by Veronika Martenova Charles
Tundra’s David Parkins is the award-winning illustrator of over fifty children’s books. He began his career at Dyfed College of Art in Wales, studying wildlife illustration. He then went to Lincoln College of Art for three years, and has been a freelance illustrator since his graduation in 1979. He spent several years at the beginning of his career producing illustrations for educational publishers, and has earned most of his keep drawing for the British cartoon, The Beano. David Parkins lives in England with his wife and nine-year-old daughter. View titles by David Parkins

“The simple cafeteria movement and typical lunch table conversations work well to transition each of the storytellers into telling their version of Diamonds and Toads. It's a wonderful structure for readers to build their background knowledge of tales from around the world. Students can see that Disney and Pixar aren't the only storytellers on the globe!”
CM Magazine

About

More first books for fledgling readers that offer the enjoyment of a good story with the thrill of accomplishment that comes from independent reading. Written in short, easy phrases with carefully selected vocabulary and plentiful illustrations, each book helps youngsters achieve success as they have fun.

The series follows three friends who love to share stories. In each book, one is reminded of a well-known story:
It's Not About the Ball! is based on The Frog Prince;
It' Not About the Tiny Girl!
is based on Thumbelina;
It's Not About the Diamonds!
is based on the story of Diamonds and Toads;
It's Not About the Straw!
is based on Rumpelstiltskin and
It's Not About the Beanstalk! is based on Jack and the Beanstalk.

As one friend starts his story, the others are reminded of versions they know so each volume has three stories within one framework. The stories come from around the world, and Veronika Martenova Charles provides a note at the end of each book to describe the origins.

Easy-to-Read Wonder Tales are a great first step in developing a lifelong love of reading, and it makes a fine companion to Veronika Martenova Charles's series, Easy-to-Read Spooky Tales.

Author

© Monica McKenna
Tundra’s Veronika Martenova Charles is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books include: Maiden of the Mist: A Legend of Niagara Falls; Stretch, Swallow, & Stare; The Crane Girl, and her five-book series for emergent readers, Easy-To-Read Spooky Tales. Veronika has studied at Ryerson University, the Ontario College of Art and Design, and recently completed her graduate studies in Folklore at York University. Veronika Martenova Charles lives in Toronto. View titles by Veronika Martenova Charles
Tundra’s David Parkins is the award-winning illustrator of over fifty children’s books. He began his career at Dyfed College of Art in Wales, studying wildlife illustration. He then went to Lincoln College of Art for three years, and has been a freelance illustrator since his graduation in 1979. He spent several years at the beginning of his career producing illustrations for educational publishers, and has earned most of his keep drawing for the British cartoon, The Beano. David Parkins lives in England with his wife and nine-year-old daughter. View titles by David Parkins

Praise

“The simple cafeteria movement and typical lunch table conversations work well to transition each of the storytellers into telling their version of Diamonds and Toads. It's a wonderful structure for readers to build their background knowledge of tales from around the world. Students can see that Disney and Pixar aren't the only storytellers on the globe!”
CM Magazine

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