Terry Jones' Fairy Tales

The Fantastic World of Terry Jones

by Terry Jones

Three raindrops have an argument on their way out of a cloud ...A silly King goes for a walk with a dog tied to each leg ...An enterprising herring, bored of the North Sea, decides to swim right round the world ...Thirty short stories of magic and adventure penned by Monty Python team member, Terry Jones. Embracing the tradition of the fairy tale, but adding Jones' inimitable comic imagination and originality, each story makes a perfect bedtime read for children - and grown ups! 'Could become a 'modern classic' ...the book is a joy' - Brian Patten, "Spectator".

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Short Stories, Humor, Collections

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Terence Graham Parry Jones was a Welsh actor, comedian, director, historian, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe.
After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in English, Jones and writing partner Michael Palin wrote and performed for several high-profile British comedy programmes, including Do Not Adjust Your Set and The Frost Report, before creating Monty Python's Flying Circus with Cambridge graduates Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Eric Idle and American animator-filmmaker Terry Gilliam. Jones was largely responsible for the programme's innovative, surreal structure, in which sketches flowed from one to the next without the use of punch lines. He made his directorial debut with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which he co-directed with Gilliam, and also directed the subsequent Python films Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.
Jones co-created and co-wrote with Palin the anthology series Ripping Yarns. He also wrote an early draft of Jim Henson's film Labyrinth and is credited with the screenplay, though little of his work actually remained in the final cut. Jones was a well-respected medieval historian, having written several books and presented television documentaries about the period, as well as a prolific children's author. In 2016, Jones received a Lifetime Achievement award at the BAFTA Cymru Awards for his outstanding contribution to television and film. After living for several years with a degenerative aphasia, he gradually lost the ability to speak and died in 2020 from frontotemporal dementia.

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long time Python fan, I was surprised to find this collection of excellent stories. But then again, it should come as no surprise that Jones has made another career for himself as a brilliant, witty fabulist. The satirical edge is here, as is the gentle humanity, the silliness, and the cosmic joke. Michael Foreman's illustrations match Jones' humorous tone in water colors and pen & inks with a fine balance of cartoonishness and realism. We read this to my son at bed time, and he still laughs about them the following morning.

[Brett Dewey · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you've read all the classic fairy tales to your kids? Pick up Terry Jones Fairy Tales... they're in the classic tradition of Goldilocks, Rumpelstiltskin and Jack and the Beanstalk - only you've never heard them before! My son and I enjoyed this book full of fanciful fairy tales with Kings and Princesses and talking raindrops with some lessons learned and a touch of Jones' oddness made them special.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review at Booklikes




This collection of stories written by one of the members of Monty Python is very clever, very funny, and very surprising. They were written for his daughter and as the introduction points out, make good aloud reading

Some of the stories end abruptly and the happy ending isn’t happy. This is true of the first story, “The Corn Dolly”. This isn’t to say that they lack warmth and understanding. The story of a man who quests to save his friends is very powerful. The story of the crazy king and his daughter who wishes to get married, moving and funny.

[Bruce Nordstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, the stories are great. And there are so many great illustrations here, all full page, color, I am tempted to call it a graphic-novel.

Terry Jones takes an old genre- fairy tales- and brings a slightly modern twist to them. All stories are original here, not a retelling of "Sleeping Beauty," or others.

Very fun, and suitable for children. And adults.

[Kevin Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this for my ninth birthday, and I love love loved it as a kid. Terry Jones (of Monty Python) is a wonderful genius. The stories and drawings are kind of terrifying, in a good way though. I've always loved "The Island of Purple Fruit," "The Fly-By-Night," and "The Rainbow Cat."

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories in this collection are fairly unique, something good and different to read to a child for their nightly stories. Or as I did, for a child to sneak a read under the covers after lights out.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A childhood book. The stories here are inventive and fun, and the illustrations are well done. When I was younger, however, I did find that a few of the tales were a little confusing or not interesting. Others, though, stood out to me as be grand and are highly memorable to this day.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in love with this book as a kid

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. In year 3/4 our teacher would read to us from it after lunch. The whole class would sit quietly and listen, the sign of a great children's book.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely. A great addition to the family stock of children's stories.

[Totoro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the stories were a bit dark .

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The inventive mind of Terry Jones comes to life again in this collection of unusual fairy tales, many dealing with the foibles and foolishness of humans. Lessons about the dangers of avarice, prevarication and misplaced foolhardiness abound in these pages. Sometimes, people escape unscathed; sometimes doom descends out of nowhere. But actions do have consequences as the tales make amply clear.

The illustrations are goofy. The monsters aren’t particularly terrifying, making this a book that can be read even to very young children. Think of the animations of the 1970s and you’ll have a good idea of what these pictures are like.

If you’re craving whimsical fairy tales with just a dash of sweetness, this book is right up your alley. If you’re a Terry Jones fan, then that also makes it a good find.

[Hel Ellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these fairy tales and the beautiful colourful drawings. The stories are just the right size for bedtime stories and I have started to share them with my children.

The far away castle and the butterfly who could sing are great stories with hidden words of wisdom.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terry Jones writes AWESOME fairy tales and fantasy children's books in general.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this when I was little. The watercolor illustrations are incredible and so are the stories. Our copy is battered, so we may have to rebuy when J is old enough to read it himself.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this!! I only wish there were more :-)

[Thomas Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terry Jones has an inventive imagination. These are wonderful fairy tales of a kind you've never heard before.

[Nicky Neko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nostalgic reading these again. Children's books should all be like this.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame, beautifully illustrated.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

good stories and lovely illustrations.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book - I grabbed it off of a display shelf in the children's library, and even renewed it once. It's exactly the kind of book I should have loved.

I have to admit that I didn't love it, though. I liked it, I enjoyed the stories that I read (I didn't quite finish before having to return it). They were good. But they weren't great, and I was expecting greatness.

[Sepideh Tafazzoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it's safe to say that Terry Jones is a genius with an old soul. Most of the stories were reminders of Grimm Brothers Tales but the fact that they remained quite original despite their familiarity is quite noteworthy. My favorite stories were: Three Raindrops, The Ship of Bones, and The Wind Ghosts - for different reasons! :D

[Rachel Nouvellon Maltas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last time I read this, I must have been about 10. I made my cousins put on a play with me of 'The Witch and the Rainbow Cat' in their garden, because I really wanted to play the cat for some reason, and it was this memory that brought me back to this book at 34 years old.

[Cecilia Porjefors · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read with witty and thoughtful shorts stories

[Katie Tillwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute. So good. So original!!

[Emma McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book to my Year 1 class is absolutely hilarious... not every story has a happy ending, what lesson can we learn, what would you do differently...discussion heaven.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic illustrations with enjoyable short stories for children AND adults!

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short and just an all around treat.

[Isabel Fontes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Jones’ Fairy Tales is a delightful collection of thirty short stories, each brimming with magic, courage, and wonder.
The book is adorned with stunning illustrations by Michael Foreman that vividly bring to life the enchanting worlds created by Terry Jones.

Each story takes the reader on a thrilling adventure and introduces them to unforgettable characters. The book is a true treasure trove of imagination and will leave readers of all ages spellbound.

This book of stories is perfect for reading aloud or on your own, either in a group or alone. Some of the tales have a moral lesson attached to them, conveying messages (Touch the Moon), Eyes All Over), while others provide great entertainment (The Slow Ogre, The Sea Tiger, The Beast with a Thousand Teeth).

If you're looking for a way to escape the real world and discover a world of magic and joy, I highly recommend Terry Jones' Fairy Tales. This delightful read will transport you to fantastical realms and leave you feeling refreshed and inspired.
This is an essential collection of great stories that you must have.

[James Frase-White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only pleasure while being sick abed, is the therapy that can redeemed from books. I put aside the heavy reading (' Lolita in Tehran) and took out Terry Jones' Fairy Tales, with delicious illustrations by Michael Foreman to reread. Those little tales, between episodes of healing sleep and foggy brain were medicated with sweet humor and savory wit in the voice of this lovely, lovely man. Jones wrote these for his daughter but such creations as the fly-by-night, the corn dolly, Jack One-Step, the Sea Tiger and the Land of the people with big noses are little moral morsels that will have you giggling with delight. And like me, you'll read it to kids, and to yourself, over and over again. I'm sure the Brothers Grimm and the holy Hans Christian would agree.