Rapunzel Week: Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox

Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox and illustrated by Lydia Monks is the Rapunzel I am most often asked about in casual conversation by various people with varying levels of interests in fairy tales.  "Have you read Falling for Rapunzel?" I am asked. 

Yes, I have and I am always a little surprised at how big of a fan base it has. It's a fun Rapunzel spoof, using the classic story to make children and adults laugh. And it's a great book, but I am surprised at its widespread exposure. People I would never expect to have heard of it let alone read it ask me about it. First published in 2003, it's still in print in hardcover and paperback which also attests to its endurance in the fickle publishing world.

Product description from the publisher:

The prince is hoping to fall for Rapunzel, but since she can't quite hear what he asks for, everything but her hair gets tossed out her window. Instead of her curly locks, she throws her dirty socks. Instead of silky tresses, out go lacey dresses. And you can predict the guaranteed-to-crack-kids-up clothing she sends down when the prince simply says hair. . . .

Finally Rapunzel heaves out something that makes all the prince's dreams come true, showing how misunderstandings can lead to happily-ever-after.

Hilarious text, clever page-turns, and vibrant, eclectic art make this a non-traditional Rapunzel kids will want to read about again and again.

And all of the reviews were great when it came out. I agreed. And it is a fun book, an excellent holiday gift choice for new fans of Rapunzel after seeing Tangled, too. The ending is surprising and fun but don't read the reviews if you don't want it spoiled. Some of them do and that's too bad.

And the same author and illustrator team has also produced a Sleeping Beauty spoof if you like this one: Waking Beauty.