Everyone knows the story of Alice in Wonderland, but have you heard about the re-mix? That's right, there is a new version of Alice in Wonderland with an all African American cast, and it's amazing. It's called Alice in Wonderland: Remixed, and it is written and illustrated by a super-talented publisher and creator named Marlon McKenny.
The book opens with a caramel-skinned beauty called Alice. Alice is resting in the most lush and beautiful woods a picture book lover ever saw while her sister reads from a book of poems by the phenomenal Maya Angelou. Alice is just about to drift off to sleep. when a large white rabbit whizzes by. The rabbit disappears down the base of a nearby tree, and of course Alice follows it. As she tumbles down the rabbit hole, she gets an up-close-and-personal view of some of the greatest women of history, including Harriet Tubman, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
After this, curly-haired Alice has experiences that mirror the original Alice, including a potion that makes her small enough to fit through a tiny doorway and eating a cupcake that turns her into a giant. Alice also gets to swim with sea creatures and watches Tweedledee and Tweedledum honing their break-dancing skills in preparation for the Queen's birthday.
This is a fast-paced, creative spin on the original Alice in Wonderland tale. The only difference is that this version sports a white rabbit who proclaims himself a DJ, photos of former President Barack Obama, and images of other greats like Nelson Mandela and Bob Marley.
Mr. McKenny puts an amazing spin on Alice's story, with references to break dancing, DJ'ing, sweet potato pies that make Alice grow bigger, and a regal black Queen whose beauty is simply breathtaking. Mr. McKenny also uses deep blues, rich browns, lush greens and the like to decorate his scenery. Alice is caramel-skinned with wide brown eyes, lovely natural hair and full lips that make her more adorable than can be described.
Use this book as a compare and contrast to the original Alice in Wonderland. Also use it as an inspiration to re-telling fairy tales, legends and classic books with an urban/African American spin. Enjoy!
