This is a fractured fairy tale of adventure as told by the Blue Fairy. Four travelers make their way to Bremen Town and encounter Captain Hook, the Dark Fairy, a troll, a wizard and more. See how they defeat each and become the concert band for the town of Bremen.
This is a fractured fairy tale of adventure as told by the Blue Fairy. Four travelers make their way to Bremen Town and encounter Captain Hook, the Dark Fairy, a troll, a wizard and more. See how they defeat each and become the concert band for the town of Bremen.
In Going to Bremen Town, T. Ferries integrates elements from many iconic fairy-tales and nursery rhymes, and even classic children's novels such as Peter Pan in a new and unique way.
Going to Bremen Town is certain to bear some childhood nostalgia for almost any reader. It begins with a retelling of Mary Mapes Dodge's The Little Red Hen, but then it is followed by many of the animals, as well as companions who join them on the way, to the Bremen Town fair to play with the band there. On the way, they meet many fearsome figures out of legend, including Captain Hook of Peter Pan fame, the troll from The Billy Goats Gruff, and more.
What Ferries does best is in integrating elements from all these stories into a single narrative. In some cases, it is close to an outright retelling of the original story, such as with The Little Red Hen and The Billy Goats Gruff, but in other cases, there are simply references placed in completely new contexts, such as in the integration of Captain Hook or Old King Cole. These two methods work together quite well.
The narration is conversational with many rhetorical questions and a fair deal of repetition, which makes it very fitting for a read-aloud. Although there are a few places that seemed rather weak, notably once or twice where the book switches tenses for unclear reasons, it is good enough for the target audience.
Toward the beginning of the story, it is purported that the Blue Fairy is narrating the story, but then she never comes up again. There are also two characters who the narrative seems to suggest will return, but they never do.
Some children might also be disappointed by the relatively few illustrations, but there is a video to accompany it, the link to which is at the end of the book, so perhaps they can watch that if parents allow.
This book is likely to appeal to any children, around the ages three to six, who love fairy-tales. Older than that, a reader might wish for something with more substance since the prose are very simple and the story does not really have any points or moral themes that parents will see but children will miss. However, if the parents would wish for a short read-aloud to instill in their children a love of classic fairy-tales, Going to Bremen Town is an excellent pick.