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Rating: 
Summary: think again
Review: Defently one of the best books I've ever read. It contains 12 different stories that are happy, sad, and some were downright scary.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing!
Review: Defently one of the best books I've ever read. It contains 12 different stories that are happy, sad, and some were downright scary.
Rating: 
Summary: Great memorable fairy tales with a twist!
Review: I read this book and found it impossible not to love. The stories may be odd, but none are boring. And the ones that have a twist to them are very impressive. This book keeps you reading. And I recommend this to any age.
Rating:
Summary: think again
Review: Many of these stories are disturbingly morbid and unpleasant. If you are a parent, please look it over before letting your child read it.
Rating:
Summary: Something for everyone
Review: Rather like a "Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears" for a younger audience, this book is for anyone who enjoys a good fractured faerytale or stories from the fantasy realm. It has everything, from Yolen's continuation of Alice in Wonderland to the sad story of an Appalachian girl whose mother has returned to life as a vampire. While stories like "The Bridge's Complaint", a twist on the old Billy Goats Gruff story (told by an intellectual bridge) and "Lost Girls," a feminist version of Peter Pan, gave me a good laugh, stories like "Mama Gone," the vampire story, and "Bolundeers" were both sad and heartwarming. "Sea Dragon of Fife" was a tale of legendary proportions and "Wilding" added a bit of sci-fi to the bunch. You won't put the book down until you've read ALL of the stories--many times. And it's by Jane Yolen, it can't be BAD! Get it and be sure to read "Harlyn's Fairy" and "Winter's King," my personal favourites.
Rating:
Summary: SCREWY!
Review: THESE STORY ARE FUNNY THE WAY THE AUTHOR HAS TWISTED THEM. THE ARE GOOD FOR A ACTIVE IMAGINATION!
Rating: 
Summary: A collection of fantasy short stories for young readers
Review: These twelve stories range from a vampire story set in Appalachia (where my husband was born) to a Neverland in which a modern young girl gets all the Wendies to go out on strike.Some of these stories are old ones and some are brand new, but they have never been collected in a single book before. Evidently I must be doing something right as the collection is already in its second printing!
Rating:
Summary: Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Review: This radiant book of a dozen stories by master storyteller Jane Yolen is the perfect read for any one of any age who enjoys fantasy. I think this collection is like a "Years Best Fantasy and Horror" because the stories features fantasy, science fiction and mild horror only these stories are aimed for a younger audience. Here are my reviews for the stories in this collection: Tough Alice- This story takes place in Wonderland which is a perfect setting for any story. Anyway, most of the characters featured in "Alices Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There" are found there and in this scenario little Alice must come face to face and fight the dreaded Jabberwock - a truly frightening experiance! This story is also about finding your courage, in my opinion. Anyone who loves Wonderland Like I do will enjoy this quirky story. Mama Gone - This is a tender, rather sad tale about a mother and daughters relationship. Although the title sounds wishy washy don't be fooled. This story contains a vampire and some scary scenes. The setting for the story is very dreary and depressing too which helps you get in the mood. Cool story to read around Halloween time. Harlyn's Fairy - This is a delightful tale about a lonely and bored child, quite like Wonderland's Alice, who discovers a faerie in her Aunt's garden. THe story then takes off on an adventure with Harlyn saving the faerie's baby from greedy evil ants which makes it an exiting read. I also like how, when Harlyn manages to free the baby from the ants, the faerie does not show her gratitude by granting her three wishes are anything like that. She merely grabs her child and flies away. Thats how most faeries are really like. Ungrateful, and I like that Jane Yolen made the faerie like that. Phoenix Farm - This is a tale about a sad girl whio finds a phoenix egg at her new house. A short but wonderful story, Yolens description of the phoenix egg created a beautiful picture in my mind. Sea Dragon of Fife - This story seems like and old ballad or story like Tam Lin or Saint George and The Dragon. It has that kinda rustic feel when you read it. This would be a cool picture book if Jane Yolen got some one to do the illustrations. Wilding - This is very strange but still good story about teens roaming around in Central Park. This seems like a Bordertown story even though it isn't and it was really clever of Jane to tie in the "Where the Wild Things Are" story and the Max character. One of my favorites. The Baby-sitter - This is the creepiest story in the collection. It got me spooke when I read it and to get the full experiance of the story, read it at night like I did. Bolundeers - Creative, creepy story about a slightly troubled family who comes together when they have problem with monsters in their garden. Love the compost monsters, how silly and scary at the same time. THe Bridges Complaint- Another favorite, this story tells the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff through the bridges point of view. Funny too. My favorite part is when the bridge talks about when Madame du Beaumont and Madame d'Aulnoy sit on him and swap stories. Jane Yolen should write a story clearly on that event! Brandon and The Aliens- This story is full of aliens and sibling riva;ry. Only story I did not like but I just don't like science fiction that much. Winters King- This is a beautiful tale that seems like a story from Tolkien. A mixture of fantasy and drama in my opinion and its like an old faerie tale one might read. Beautifully wrote and very enjoying to read. Lost Girls - The longest but still interesting story in the book. Most of the story takes place in Neverland and it sets the Peter Pan story straight. Anyone who thought that Peter Pan was sometimes unfair to Wendy in the book will enjoy this story. Bottom Line for this book is its a must read for any fantasy lover. Jane Yolen at her best.
Rating:
Summary: Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Review: This radiant book of a dozen stories by master storyteller Jane Yolen is the perfect read for any one of any age who enjoys fantasy. I think this collection is like a "Years Best Fantasy and Horror" because the stories features fantasy, science fiction and mild horror only these stories are aimed for a younger audience. Here are my reviews for the stories in this collection: Tough Alice- This story takes place in Wonderland which is a perfect setting for any story. Anyway, most of the characters featured in "Alices Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There" are found there and in this scenario little Alice must come face to face and fight the dreaded Jabberwock - a truly frightening experiance! This story is also about finding your courage, in my opinion. Anyone who loves Wonderland Like I do will enjoy this quirky story. Mama Gone - This is a tender, rather sad tale about a mother and daughters relationship. Although the title sounds wishy washy don't be fooled. This story contains a vampire and some scary scenes. The setting for the story is very dreary and depressing too which helps you get in the mood. Cool story to read around Halloween time. Harlyn's Fairy - This is a delightful tale about a lonely and bored child, quite like Wonderland's Alice, who discovers a faerie in her Aunt's garden. THe story then takes off on an adventure with Harlyn saving the faerie's baby from greedy evil ants which makes it an exiting read. I also like how, when Harlyn manages to free the baby from the ants, the faerie does not show her gratitude by granting her three wishes are anything like that. She merely grabs her child and flies away. Thats how most faeries are really like. Ungrateful, and I like that Jane Yolen made the faerie like that. Phoenix Farm - This is a tale about a sad girl whio finds a phoenix egg at her new house. A short but wonderful story, Yolens description of the phoenix egg created a beautiful picture in my mind. Sea Dragon of Fife - This story seems like and old ballad or story like Tam Lin or Saint George and The Dragon. It has that kinda rustic feel when you read it. This would be a cool picture book if Jane Yolen got some one to do the illustrations. Wilding - This is very strange but still good story about teens roaming around in Central Park. This seems like a Bordertown story even though it isn't and it was really clever of Jane to tie in the "Where the Wild Things Are" story and the Max character. One of my favorites. The Baby-sitter - This is the creepiest story in the collection. It got me spooke when I read it and to get the full experiance of the story, read it at night like I did. Bolundeers - Creative, creepy story about a slightly troubled family who comes together when they have problem with monsters in their garden. Love the compost monsters, how silly and scary at the same time. THe Bridges Complaint- Another favorite, this story tells the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff through the bridges point of view. Funny too. My favorite part is when the bridge talks about when Madame du Beaumont and Madame d'Aulnoy sit on him and swap stories. Jane Yolen should write a story clearly on that event! Brandon and The Aliens- This story is full of aliens and sibling riva;ry. Only story I did not like but I just don't like science fiction that much. Winters King- This is a beautiful tale that seems like a story from Tolkien. A mixture of fantasy and drama in my opinion and its like an old faerie tale one might read. Beautifully wrote and very enjoying to read. Lost Girls - The longest but still interesting story in the book. Most of the story takes place in Neverland and it sets the Peter Pan story straight. Anyone who thought that Peter Pan was sometimes unfair to Wendy in the book will enjoy this story. Bottom Line for this book is its a must read for any fantasy lover. Jane Yolen at her best.
Rating:
Summary: Impossible Not To Enjoy
Review: Yolen is a literary genius, with a beautiful ability and talent to weave stories, either new or traditional in nature. Most of these short stories were gems. "Lost Girls" is a fractured version of Peter Pan, in which Darla, a lover of the Barrie story, finds the real Never-Never Land isn't all fun and games. "The Winter King" and "The Babysitter" also stand out, the former a fairy tale of a boy born to be a cold king; the latter an almost urban legend of a babysitter and things that go bump in the night.
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