Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Lewis Carroll (Author), Iassen Ghiuselev (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 5–Ghiuselev captures all of Alice's adventures in one sophisticated painting, which was done in gouache on wood panel and is reproduced on the book's cover. This is the only place where the picture is presented in its entirety, and it will be concealed by the dust jacket, which features another image. The unabridged text is illustrated with details of this larger painting, supplemented by additional monochromatic sketches. The artist's blend of unusual perspectives and strangely interconnected walkways and buildings seems reminiscent of the style of M. C. Escher. The artwork is the color of old parchment, and the beige and brown tones are highlighted with muted touches of blue and green. While many of the views reproduce beautifully and their bigger size invites a closer inspection of numerous details, some of the scenes seem a bit grainy and slightly out of focus. Still, the art is evocative, and the layout is appealing and carefully balanced. Not a first purchase for most collections, but an intriguing addition for Alice addicts.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 5-12. Ghiuselev, like many illustrators before him, has responded to the siren song of a certain English schoolgirl and her trip down the rabbit hole. Like his Pinocchio (2002), this interpretation showcases his painterly style, mixing full-color scenes with vignettes reminiscent of the burnt sienna drawings in an old master's sketchbook. The twist is that every full-color illustration hails from one painting, reproduced on the cover, that incorporates most of the major episodes into one Escher-inspired dreamscape. Parlaying a single painting into enough artwork for Carroll's unabridged text presents obvious challenges. Readers may be bothered by the frequent repetition and sometimes awkward manipulation of key visuals, and the page design seems more focused on decorative effects than a strong correspondence between text and art. Nonetheless, Ghiuselev's ambitious vision and startling perspectives--such as a dramatic overhead view of the Mad Hatter's tea party--will delight children's literature enthusiasts and aspiring fine artists alike. Younger Alice fans, however, may prefer the more straightforward renditions by Helen Oxenbury or Lizbeth Zwerger (both 1999). Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Simply Read Books; illustrated edition edition (December 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1894965000
• ISBN-13: 978-1894965002
• Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,001,953 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heirloom edition book, January 18, 2006

By	James D Mcgee "Camper Dad" (Kleine Brogel, Belgium) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I ordered this book for my 9 year old daughter for Christmas and was very pleased at the high quality edition I received. Specifically, I was looking for a book that would draw her into reading it with exceptional artwork and craftmanship. This is exactly what I got in this edition. One possible drawback is its size. It's a bit large for little hands and portability, but that is a small trade-off for this work of art. Also, the pages are thick so watch out for paper cuts!!! This edition is nice enough to display as an unusual conversation piece on a coffee table, or pass down to the next generation.

The booklist reveiwer mentioned that the print was at times distracting, but I think he misses the point. It's meant to enhance the story. For instance, as one character falls the print spirals and gets smaller. It wasn't difficult to read and my daughter "got it" and thought it was fun!

Bottom line is that if you are looking for an edtion of a beloved story that can be kept for years to come for your treasured daughter or that special neice, this is without question the one you are looking for!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A simply gorgeous version, March 7, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This Simply Read Books edition of Lewis Carroll's classic fantasy, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, is a simply gorgeous version showcasing bold, often monochromatic, and somewhat exaggerated illustrations by Iassen Ghiuselev that bring the unreality of Wonderland vividly to life. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland is a literary treasure for readers of all ages. The quality book binding incorporates a built-in bookmark on a ribbon that says "Read Me", in a delightful complement to this widely beloved story. Due to the coffee-table size of this edition, it may be a little physically large and heavy for younger readers to handle, and therefore is better suited for parents to read aloud to their children. No Lewis Carroll collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of this enthusiastically recommended edition of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning rendition of a classic, March 14, 2004

By A Customer

This is a must for "Alice" collectors of all ages. The art is beautiful and the design is unusual.

I disagree with the Booklist reviewer that the design makes for difficult reading or is distracting. The design flourishes enhance the reading experience.