The Enchanted Flounder <small>by Susan Meredith </small>

The author of this work, Susan Meredith, has taken a number of the old tales told by The Brothers Grimm and "cleaned" them up just a bit; adding a few new twists here and there, and overall making them a bit less grim than the originals.

Now before we go further let me perfectly clear. I was raised on these fairytales; the original ones. I had them read to me many times before I was able to read myself. It must also be noted that I am a dyed in the wool traditionalist when it comes to the subject of folk and fairytales. I look with a rather jaundice eye on any work that tinkers with the originals; if indeed the originals can even be identified. I must admit that I began this work, and the other works by this author, with some trepidations...hey, I admit that I was quite prepared not to like them!

Well, I was wrong.

I do remember this particular story quite well, along with all the others, and I must confess to you that many of the old stories told by The Brothers Grimm absolutely terrified me as a child and haunted my dreams for years afterward. Now this did not do me any particular harm, as far as I can tell, and depending upon who you talk to, but trauma it was at the time.

This tale, entitled `The Enchanted Flounder' is the old tale of `The Fisherman and his Wife,' retold in a kinder and gentler mode. It was also just quirky enough to draw quite a few smiles form me as I read it. I can tell you that the original moral of the tale; a story of greed, love, non-love, and such, has not been in the least bit compromised in this new version. No, if anything I feel that the children of today will be able to identify with it even more than the old telling.

The story is simple. A fisherman catches a small white flounder who is actually an enchanted princess who can grant wishes. The fisherman is quite happy with his life and releases the fish without asking the flounder to grant him anything. He returns home and tells his wife. Wrong move! The wife is a rather superficial thing; a greedy woman and is obviously more in love with "things" than she is with the young fisherman. She insists that he return and start making wishes...over and over again!

No spoilers here, but I will tell you that all works out quite well in the end, even is a sort of weird way for the greedy wife. Lessons here are taught and it will not take your child very long to catch their meaning. The author is a very skillful writer.

Possibly new words to the young reader's vocabulary are added here and there in the story. These words are in bold letters and the author has included a delightful glossary in the back of the book explaining the meaning of these words.

THE SKINNY:::
All in all this is a delightful tale; a very old tale which has been enhanced to make it very child friendly. The author has also been blessed with a good sense of humor (Lucky for the adult reader), which makes the book a joy to read to the little ones.

The art work is simple but extremely bold and colorful...it is ideal for this sort of story and each illustration goes perfectly with the text.

Bottom line is that if this book can sway and change the mind of a crabby old traditionalist like myself, then anyone with a more open mind will be completely delighted with this work.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

The Enchanted Flounder: A new kinder, gentler telling of a fairy tale classic