P. W. Catanese
Further Tales Adventures

P. W. Catanese is writing several stand alone books in his own series of fairy tale retellings for middle readers. You can visit his site at P. W. Catanese. You can also find The Thief and the Beanstalk lesson plan from Scholastic.

Catanese, P. W. The Thief and the Beanstalk. New York: Aladdin, 2005.
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NOVEL: From the publisher: "Everyone knows the story of Jack and the beanstalk. Everyone also knows that Jack's little adventure made him a very rich man. But what they don't know is what happened a long time after Jack.... That's where Nick comes in. Orphaned and desperate, Nick joins a rugged band of thieves in hopes of a warm meal and a little protection. In exchange Nick must help them break into the lavish white castle rumored to belong to an old man named Jack. Legend says it's full of riches from Jack's quest up a magical beanstalk decades ago. When Nick's dangerous mission leads him straight to Jack, he sees a chance to climb the famed beanstalk himself. But what Nick doesn't know is that things are different from when Jack made his climb. There are new foes at the top now. Ones with cruel weapons and foul plans -- plans that could destroy the world as Nick knows it. Will Nick come down the beanstalk a hero? Will he come down at all?"

Catanese, P. W. The Brave Apprentice. New York: Aladdin, 2005.
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NOVEL: From the publisher: "'Seven at one blow!' That's what they say about the Brave Little Tailor -- he killed seven foes with one blow. But no one can prove it's even true. Besides, that took place a long time ago, and the Brave Little Tailor is now an old man. So what happens when an army of angry trolls invades his kingdom?

Meet Patch Ridlin. He's a tailor's simple apprentice in the remote village of Crossfield. He's a hard worker who's never wanted for much, except maybe a little adventure. But when he rescues his friend Osbert from an aging and decrepit troll, Patch finds himself something of a town hero. Word of his bravery quickly spreads throughout the countryside, and Patch is summoned to the king's castle. King Milo needs his help to wage war on a gang of trolls threatening to destroy the kingdom.

Soon Patch finds himself engaged in an all-out battle against the trolls. With only the help of a fool named Simon and a maddening riddle, can Patch figure out the troll's fatal flaw? Or is the kingdom destined to perish?"

Catanese, P. W. The Eye of the Warlock. New York: Aladdin, 2005.
Amazon.com: Buy the book in paperback.

NOVEL: From the publisher: "When a stranger knocks on his door and promises to lead him to hidden treasure, twelve-year-old Rudi is skeptical. And he's even more suspicious when the stranger proclaims that the jewels belonged to the legendary Hansel. Sure, Rudi's heard stories: the witch, the oven, the sister named Gretel. But he never fully believed they were real. Until now... Life has been unkind to Rudi -- and to Lucie and Elsebeth, the two little girls he looks after. So when this stranger announces he needs Rudi's help to uncover Hansel's treasure, Rudi sees a way out. And so an incredible journey -- one filled with mist-covered castles, a treehouse-dwelling outsider, and creatures called murglins -- begins. But as Rudi, the girls, and the stranger weave their way through the rambling woods, Rudi notices the clouds blackening and a thick fog descending. He wonders, Has the forest always been this...creepy? And those shadows between the trees -- is their tiny group being followed? Then the unthinkable happens: Lucie and Elsebeth are stolen! Who would take them? Rudi gets his answer in the shape of a warlock. And his ransom price is steep: Bring me Hansel and the children will be returned. Is a simple woodcutter like Rudi any match for a thousand-year-old villain?"

Catanese, P. W. The Mirror's Tale. New York: Aladdin, 2006.
Amazon.com: Buy the book in paperback.

NOVEL: From the publisher: "Everyone has heard the story -- the dwarves, the talking mirror, the evil witch. But this tale doesn't belong to Snow White anymore....

"Bert and Will, the twin sons of the baron of Ambercrest, are best friends. They do everything together and can't help it if trouble just seems to...find them. But the baron is fed up and has decided that separation will keep them out of mischief. One twin, he proclaims, will stay in Ambercrest for the summer, while the other will be sent to The Crags -- a foreboding, rocky outpost on the edge of the kingdom.

" It is there, hidden in a forbidden black chamber, that one of the boys discovers a bejeweled and mysterious mirror. What is the precious object? And why does it make him feel so...powerful? Soon the twins' kinship is replaced by dark magic and deceit, and a kingdom hangs dangerously in the balance. What becomes of one who is ruled by the forces of evil? And can brotherly love conquer a consuming quest for power?"

Catanese, P. W. The Riddle of the Gnome. New York: Aladdin, 2007.
Amazon.com: Buy the book in paperback.

NOVEL: From the publisher: "A banished boy named Tom, cursed to bring bad luck to everyone he meets...

"A bitter, ill-mannered gnome who may hold the key to Tom's salvation...

"An unstoppable army of pillaging invaders...

"A monster so hideous, nobody can stand to look upon it...

"That's what The Riddle of the Gnome is all about. Like the other Further Tales, it tells about what happens many years after a classic fairy tale. So if you ever wondered what happened to Rumpelstiltskin...here's your chance to find out."

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