Fractured Fairy Tales, by A. J. Jacobs

Jacobs, A. J. Fractured Fairy Tales. New York: Bantam Books, 1997.
Lexile Level: Approx. 820

Selling Tool:

The selling tool for this book is "Book in a Box." Ideally, the box would be decorated with aspects of the book that is inside. In this case, I have a purple ribbon for royalty, and a dainty crocheted star to symbolize the magic of the fairy tales. The scroll clipped to the front says, "It's not like you've been told," which is a warning to the reader that these are not your typical fairy tales. The arms protruding from the sides of the box give the offbeat feel of the tales. A display of 10 of these with different books could be REALLY exciting!

Learning Activity
Target Age: Grade 5
Write your own fractured fairy tale. Choose a classic tale from the book Fractured Fairy Tales and update the story to give it your own twist. In your planning, make note of any changes to the following:
1. Characters
2. Setting
3. Plot
4. Moral
Read your fractured fairy tale aloud to the class!

Learning Standard: 
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.A
Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.Learning Goal: 
Students will write a fractured fairy tale.
Learning Outcome: 
Students will write a fractured fairy tale and in doing so will address characters, setting, plot and moral.
Learning Objective:
Students will write and read aloud their own fractured fairy tale based on a tale found in A. J. Jacobs' Fractured Fairy Tales and will address characters, setting, plot and morals using conventional English writing practices.

Extra: See more book in a bag, envelope, box, etc... ideas from this website: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/book_report_ideas.shtml