Bibliographic Citation: Yolen, Jane. (1997).Twelve impossible things before breakfast.San Diego: Harcourt Brace,
Summary: A book of 12 short stories all written by Jane Yolen with many of them being brand news. The tales are all fantasy or science fiction based ranging from scary and gross to fanciful. Notes about each of the stories and their origin are included at the back of the book.
Reviews: “Gr 5-7--This solid collection of short stories is a good introduction to various types of fantasy. Three of the 12 pieces are new and the rest have been published in other compilations. There is something here for everyone tales that are scary, gross, or fanciful. Some of the selections are reworkings of parts of children's classics, such as Alice in Wonderland (Alice learns how to be tough with the Jabberwock) and Peter Pan (Captain Hook is singing a new tune now that he is married to a modern-day feminist). "The Bridge's Complaint" puts a different spin on "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" by relating events from the bridge's point of view. The tales are set in different times--some in the past, some in the present, and some in the near or distant future. "Wilding" is a chilling futuristic look at New York City's Central Park, based on the gang violence that occurred there in the late 1980s. There's a story of a frightening sea monster, one about a fairy, and another about aliens; all will chill and delight the imagination.” Golodetz, V. (1997). Grades 5 & up: Fiction [Review of the book Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast]. School Library Journal, 43(12), 132. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
“Gr 6-9. Although 9 of the 12 fantasy stories in this collection have been published before, it is truly nice, as Yolen herself says, to have them together "under one roof." Yolen consistently writes fresh, off-the-wall stories that even children who don't normally read fantasy will enjoy. Some of the tales have elements of horror: "Mama Gone" concerns a boy whose deceased mother is a vampire; "The Baby-Sitter" is about a girl who must follow a ritualistic pattern of movements to placate the mysterious "them" who lurk behind closed doors. Some are sweetly tragic, such as "Bolundeers," in which a father saves his son from monsters. Others are twists on old stories: in "Lost Girls," a Peter Pan takeoff, a new Wendy raises the consciousness of other lost girls and foments rebellion in Neverland. Yolen's introduction and her final comments on the origins of each story add to the fun and provide wonderful insights into the writing process.” Chris Sherman. (1997, November). Twelve Impossible Things before Breakfast: Stories by Jane Yolen [review of the book Twelve Impossible Things before Breakfast]. The Booklist, 94(5), 463. Retrieved August 12, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 23217635).
Personal Impressions: I was interested in the book simply from its title. I love Alice in Wonderland and the title reminded me of a saying from the book. The stories are all different with such a diverse group of characters. I loved how the author referenced some well known fantasy stories (Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland) but made them her own. I also loved reading about her inspirations for each story. It’s such a fun collection of short stories and I quite enjoyed read it.
Suggestions for Use: This is a great story collection to include in a book discussion. With the variety of stories included, a variety of topics could be discussed. It should also be included in a list of versions of fairytales since a few of the stories are variations.
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