The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Written by Jon Scieszka

Illustrated by Lane Smith

Published in 1992

Grade Level: 3rd-4th grade

Synopsis: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales is a collection of classic children's fairytales, but with a humorous twist.  The dedication page is printed upside down because supposedly no one ever reads them and the introduction page is "a self-proclaimed waste of space" (Book Review, 2005).  Jon Scieszka parodies the tales of Little Red Riding Hood who becomes Little Red Running Shorts, The Gingerbread Man who becomes The Stinky Cheese Man, The Princess and the Pea becomes The Princess and the Bowling Ball, and The Ugly Duckling becomes The Really Ugly Duckling.  The stories are full of misunderstandings.  The author was extremely creative when he had the giant come down the beanstalk before Jack could climb up.  When Cinderella is told she is not allowed to attend the ball with her stepsisters Rumpestiltskin comes instead of the fairy godmother.  When the tortoise and the hare prepare to race, the referee yells "Ready, Set, Grow," which causes confusion.  The tortoise runs and the hare begins to grow a lot of hair.  Chicken Little claims that the sky is falling when in reality it is the number twelve from the table of contents that has hit her.  Not only is the book full of humor and parody, but illustrations as well.  The book was named the Caldecott Honor Book in 1993. 

Theme/Skill: Students will read classic fairytales as well as fractured fairytales in order to learn the distinguishing characteristics of each.  Fairytales often have an explicit moral, which students should be able to identify.  Fractured fairytales, on the other hand, is a story that uses existing fairytales, but changes the characters, settings, points of view, or plots.  "Shrek" is a perfect example of a fractured tale that students would be familiar with. 

Pre-reading activity: The teacher should be aware that all students may not be familiar with the original fairytales that Scieszka is basing his work on.  Students could work in the cooperative learning strategy known as the jigsaw.  For instance, the students could be grouped into five groups of four.  This would be their "home" group that they would return to after breaking off into other groups.  When they break off into other groups, each student will be at a group with a different fairytale (one that is mentioned in The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales).  Once they have read the book with that group they will discuss the meaning, the characters, and the moral.  Students will then return to their "home" group and be the "expert" on that book.  Students will fill out a graphic organizer for each book with the information they hear about it from each "expert" member.  

Post-reading activity: Students will eventually write their own fairytale or fractured fairytale.  However, to get them started and in the mind set of writing in this genre, students will use the interactive website at ReadWriteThink.org to create their own fractured fairytale.  The website provides guidance for students as they practice writing in this genre. 

Create a fractured fairytale step-by-step

Assessment: Each student will be graded on their fractured fairytale.  The teacher will grade the final product and students will also peer edit with a partner and self-edit.  Students will use the following set of criteria;

• Neatness/Handwriting 
• Capitals 
• Periods
• Descriptive Details
• Elements of a fairytale are included

Reflection: I remember my parents reading me The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales when I was a child.  It used to make me laugh out loud and giggle at the silliness of the characters.  I think that unique and humorous nature of the stories can spark a creative flare in any young reader.  Children like to see worlds from their imaginations put on the page.  That is why this book would be a great edition to any bookshelf.