A Wembley writer is hoping to enthrall children with her new way of telling fairytale stories - as newspaper articles.
The unique twist on well-known stories such as The Three Little Pigs , Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella sees them printed as if they are being reported on newspaper pages, complete with headlines and quotes from the characters.
Written by molecular cell biologist Zanib Mian, and published by her company Sweet Apple Publishers, The Fairytale Times will be published on October 3 and will be available from book shops and online retailers.
It means readers can look forward to a crime report on the Big Bad Wolf as he seeks rehabilitation, read an emotional appeal from Prince Charming who has only a glass slipper to find a mysterious princess, and an exclusive interview with a supermodel swan who tells his story of growing up as an ugly duckling.
To add to the newspaper front page, and the whole book being laid out like a real newspaper from front to back, there are even comical adverts dotted around for products that might be used by the fairytale community.
Zanib, who has written many other children's books , said she wanted to reflect the fact newspapers were always packed with exciting and shocking stories and celebrity gossip in her book.
The book is illustrated by Laura Ewing, a primary school teacher in Madrid.
Zanib said: "I’ve had such a laugh writing this book, which was inspired by a simple painting of a wolf by my four year old nephew.
"I immediately imagined that wolf as the Big Bad Wolf when he was a child. But he was good. There was a softness to his face.
"I wrote the story of what ‘turned him bad,’ and realised that all fairytales could be told in this way. The idea for The Fairytale Times was born."
She added: "I’m a big advocate for thinking outside the box and seeing the other side to things. I hope my work will inspire children to use that in their own writing."
The book is available to pre-order from Amazon here and will be delivered when it is published on October 3..
