Books like Once upon a test by Vivian Vande Velde
Once Upon a Test brings together three humorous fairy tales that subvert the classic prince-and-princess archetype. In each story, the royal characters defy expectations, using wit and unconventional behavior to navigate love, adventure, and self-discovery. The book offers a playful reimagining of familiar folk narratives for young readers, blending lighthearted humor with gentle life lessons.
Perfect for children who enjoy fairy tales that surprise and delight, this anthology encourages imaginative thinking and celebrates diversity in storytelling, all while keeping the traditional charm of the genre alive.
First publish date: 1984
Genre: Children's Fiction/Children's Fantasy
Authors: Vivian Vande Velde
★
★
★
★
★
0.0 (0 community ratings)
How are these books recommended?
The books recommended for Once upon a test by Vivian Vande Velde are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.
Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier
for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.
Books similar to Once upon a test (21 similar books)
A magical, time‑travel adventure for young readers, A Wrinkle in Time follows Meg and Charles Murry, the children of a missing father who was working on a tesseract. The novel blends science, fantasy, and strong family bonds, and was awarded the Newbery Medal.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Bod is the lone living child in a graveyard, raised by ghosts, werewolves and other spectral inhabitants. As he learns their ancient customs and the ability to Fade, he confronts the mysteries of both living and dead worlds.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A bored boy named Milo stumbles upon a magic tollbooth, launching him into the whimsical Kingdom of Wisdom where he embarks on a quest to recover the lost princesses of Rhyme and Reason.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Ella Enchanted follows a Cinderella‑inspired girl who must defy a childhood curse that compels her to obey every command, while learning friendship, courage, and the power of choice.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
At the heart of a bustling Paris train station lives a 12‑year‑old orphan, Hugo Cabret, who keeps the clockwork heart of his father’s old watch; when a new girl and a mysterious toy‑seller enter his cramped world, secrets, a hidden mechanism, and a mechanical man unite in a striking blend of story and illustration.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Princess Emma, a bumbling and boisterous young lady, accidentally turns into a frog when she kisses a frog prince, sparking a humorous quest to restore their human forms.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A whimsical tale of a small town’s mysterious clockmaker and a boy who discovers 13 clocks that challenge time itself, blending playful rhyme, invented words, and a gentle exploration of family, tradition, and imagination.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
When a spell strips her mother of her Green Witch powers, Princess Grassina must venture into the swamp to save Greater Greensward, discovering her own magic and proving that courage can rise where it was not expected.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Princess Pigtoria, re‑imagining her pigsty as a palace, schemes to win the attention of the proud Prince Proudfoot in this lighthearted fairy tale.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and stories to read aloud to your child.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A quick, bedtime‑ready collection of five Disney fairy‑tale excerpts—Beauty & the Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, and Aladdin—perfect for young readers.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In a city where magic is a scarce resource, a boy named Conn becomes an unlikely wizard apprentice and sets out to find his own locus stone while uncovering the mystery of the city’s disappearing magic.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Wendy Mass’s modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty follows a girl who wakes from a century‑long sleep and a boy grappling with his own challenges, reminding readers that every story has two sides.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A bright collection of classic fairy tales designed for young readers, each story paired with vivid illustrations.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Princess Bedelia, blessed with beauty, grace and common sense, uses her wisdom to rescue a prince in this charming fairy‑tale picture book.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A humorous retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic "The Princess and the Pea," this children’s fairy‑tale guides Princess Lorelei through a series of dazzling tests to prove her royalty and win Prince Nicholas’s heart.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Parsley, a sweet girl with green teeth who loves only parsley, encounters the fairy Bombina in this whimsical tale of magic and curiosity.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Some Other Similar Books
The Book of Earths by Kate KlimoThe Ultimate Student/Teacher Handbook by Jim Trelease
Psy-Fi: The Psychology of Science Fiction by Niall H. O'Neill
Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!
Please login to submit books!