Once Upon a Time

by John Prater

A bored boy's world is suddenly populated by three house-building pigs, a girl wearing a red hood, and other familiar nursery characters

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 1993

About the author

John Prater studied graphics at Brighton College of Art and went on to Reading University. He worked in advertising for several years before taking up teaching. He is married with two children and his wife.

His first book, On Friday Something Funny Happened , was runner-up for the 1983 Mother Goose Award, which is presented annually to the most exciting newcomer to children's book illustration. Since then he has illustrated picture books with great success for both Walker Books and The Bodley Head, illustrating such memorable titles as The Kite and Caitlin, Timid Tim and the Cuggy Thief and the sequel Really Brave Tim as well as a number of irresistible bear books for the very young, The Bear went over the Mountain, Number One Tickle your Tum, Again!, Oh Where, Oh Where Board Book, Walking Round the Garden Board Book and a Baby Bear Lift-the-Flap Book.

John continues to work full time as an illustrator and lives with his family near Southampton.

Reviews

[Charlotte Dutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Prater's Once Upon a Time is a great book to use when extending the imagination of children and introducing them to characters from traditional Fairy Tales. The story follows a little boy as he watches his Dad go off to work and then eagerly waits for his return. It is very dull for the little boy, in the middle of the countryside, with just his Mum and the cat for company. Nothing much happens and no one comes by, or so it seems to the little boy.

This rhythmic book is a good resource for early readers! It is simple, short and accompanied by eye catching and exciting pictures. As well as obvious literacy value, the cross-curricular links include Drama, Art and Design, Geography and Social and Emotional aspects of learning (SEAL).

By focusing on the illustrations of this book children are able to broaden their knowledge of traditional fairy tale stories and through activities, such as hot seating, they can extend and explore how much they know of such tales and the characters in them. This activity can be done as a group reading session or a whole class lesson. Children can also discuss the environment in which the little boy lives and can make comparison with their own. This is a wonderful activity for a Geography class.

Finally this is a useful book to use for discussing daily routines. The little boy reflects on his Dad going off to work, his Mum doing the cleaning, having lunch and finally the return of his father. Through discussing this as a class children can highlight specific events which happen in their day. This could then potentially lead to them writing their own stories around this subject and illustrating their own books.

Although this book initially appears to be quite simple it has a lot of educational value and would be a valuable resource for an Early Years classroom.

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up to consider for my 1st grade folktale unit. It’s about the day in the life of a boy from his window/yard and his casual observations of folktale and nursery rhyme characters come-to-life and roaming his neighborhood. The words and rhymes are a bit bland but the meat/attraction is really in the illustrations. I could see it being good for narration practices with illustrations for discussion.

[Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time is not so much a read out loud story book as it is an interactive book that can be used to engage the kids in other famous fairy tales and rhymes. The text itself is duh and not remarkable, it does not flow like a poem nor is it a catchy rhyme, but the main USP of this book is the illustrations which feature characters from popular fairy tales and rhymes. The book features full page soft illustrations that look like something out of a painting, with a few words (5-7 words at max) describing the scene on each page.

In the book, a small boy describes his day from dawn till dusk, observing his dad leaving for work, mom doing the laundry, cleaning the windows etc. and along with this, also observes other characters in and around his home, like a bear chasing Goldilocks, a witch flying on a broom, an egg walking around with a ladder, a fox chasing 3 pigs, a wolf interacting with little red riding hood and giant feet.

There is no description or explanation provided for the scene being played out on each page, however, this becomes a good stepping point to delve into and discuss the other stories based on these background scenes. In summation, this is not a read out story book, but definitely a good addition to the library for reading and discussing provided the kids are familiar with the referenced fairy tales and stories.

[Jasmine Longworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book had lovely illustrations. The actually story wasn’t too interested but you easily get distracted by the pictures that include references to fairy tales and show the child isn’t really paying attention to what is going on around him.

[Cathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story in this book is made up of bland little rhymes, but oh, the illustrations are wonderful. I think young kids could really get caught up in studying the pictures and noticing all the fairy tale characters and happenings, and that's what makes it fun.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not just words, My son loved all that was happening in the back ground, this was fun to read to him. I think it would only work if the child has read many of the other stories first. I would say for 5 to 7 this is a good read, and for any parent it is an excellent read.

[Christina Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for younger children who are familiar with classic fairytales and nursery Rhymes. Intertextuality can be introduced in literacy and exploratory talk can be developed!

[Joe Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it as a child, and I enjoy it now too- funny and warm :) with some interesting fairy tale themes

[Enid · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think nothing ever happens where you live, guess again, look around, and prepare to be surprised.

[Sarah Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the drawings in the book. The book is easy for kids to read. It's also a fun book to read for kids who are just learning to read.

[Paul Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once Upon a Time is based around a little boy who describes what is happening in his world throughout the day. The text is includes basic rhyme which would be suitable to be read as a group with nursery/reception children. My favourite parts of this book are the illustrations as they portray the events involving the boy in the middle and other well known fairy tale characters around the outside. However if teaching using this book, caution must be had as the pictures of the other fairy tales do not relate to what is being described in the text and this may lead to somne confusion for younger children.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a Time is one of my favorite classroom read-alouds! :) It's an excellent way to finish off a unit on Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes, and the kids just love how many different things are going on at the same time. Now, I know there is text to the story (duh...) but in all honesty, I very rarely actually read it aloud. Frankly, it's dull...on purpose...and the kids are so into the illustrations, that I just don't bother. :) A great book to have the kids "read" to you.

[Missmath144 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boy sits at his window and looks out, always saying that not much is happening. Meanwhile, right outside his window,the three bears are chasing Goldilocks, a giant tromps by, Humpty Dumpty falls down, Little Red Riding Hood stomps on the wolf's foot and more. It's a great opportunity to ask your child, "What's going on in this picture?" and "What else to you see happening?"

[Cws]

JE-Pra

[Merita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids enjoyed this one

[WroxallPoppy]

We liked spotting all the different famous characters