Russell Brand’s Trickster Tales – The Pied Piper of Hamlin
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley December 16, 2014
Author Russel Brand Ill: Chris Riddell
Distributor:
ISBN: 9781782114567
Publisher: Canongate
Release Date:
Website: http://www.simonandschuster.com
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This is a fairy story which has definitely grown up under the talented imagination of Brand and his partner in re-creation Riddell, as they have woven their magic to create a Pied Piper for today’s young readers.
The astonishing, descriptive graphics illustrate a tried and true tale of arrogance and stupidity verses truth and honesty giving it a fresh and fascinating new twist.
The language used has also been updated as the rats don’t come into town; they ‘bowl’ into town and create a ‘right rumpus’ once they get there.
The tales is traditional, the modern creative licence used is entertaining, imaginative and colourful, designed to appeal to readers in the age range of 10-13 years, as well as their parents. You may find boys enjoy it more than the girls, as some of the wording totally relates to boys in that particular age group, but don’t let that put you off!
Bet that surprised you, but I found that in reading this tale again for the umpteenth time, that it captured the imagination once again and the moral of the story is as sound today as it was when the tale was first told back in the 13th Century.
Yep, the story is that old and if you care to take a look at the history, it is even more fascinating than the tale, because it is a true mystery story about what happened to the children of the town of Hamlin. Or is it!
The last word of course, in this version is by Russell Brand, as he leaves you something to think about in regard to how you treat your friends, family and people around you, and that greed and silliness is perhaps not a good look, perhaps it never was!
That is for you to figure out once you have taken a journey into the world of the people of Hamlin and the plague of rats which changed their world.