The Classic Grimm's Fairy Tales (Children's Storybook Classics) [Hardcover]

Louise Betts (Author), Louise Betts Egan (Editor), Erin Wise (Illustrator), Karen Pritchett (Illustrator), Kay Life (Illustrator), Jada Rowland (Illustrator), Arlene Klemushin (Illustrator), Julia Noonan (Illustrator), Richard Watz (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Children's Storybook Classics

Including the ten most popular tales by the Brothers Grimm, this children''s classic is illustrated by a team of seven artists who use varying styles throughout the book '

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Once upon a time in Germany, some 200 years ago, the brothers Grimm began collecting unusual tales from friends, relatives, and a variety of acquaintances. They eventually recorded their stories, which not only found their way across the ocean, but also around the globe. The stories survive to this day as Grimm's fairy tales, in which wolves, witches, and cruel stepmothers abound. Children get lost in the woods, grandma gets eaten by a wolf, and robbers steal into houses in the dead of night, among other misfortunes. But never fear! Precocious children, beautiful princesses, and enchanted animals prevail in the battle between good and evil. Seven artists provide lively illustrations for the stories included in this treasury of tales.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- Ten of the most familiar Grimm tales, including "Snow White," "Rumplestiltskin," "Rapunzel," and "The Fisherman and His Wife," presented in a handsome format with full-color illustrations by seven different artists. Although the oversized book seems attractive at first glance, closer examination reveals some serious flaws. Egan's retellings are curiously flat, written in dull and unimaginative language. In an attempt to simplify the stories, elements of plot are skimmed over, and a jarring lack of descriptive detail makes the stories seem sketchy and uninvolving. Readers will be left wondering where the magic of the original stories has gone. The illustrations vary considerably in quality and mood. Erin Wise's for "Cinderella" and Karen Pritchett's for "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Hansel and Gretel" are the most successful, far outstripping the watered-down texts. The rest range from saccharine to cartoonish, featuring awkward postures; flat, featureless faces; and undistinguished technique. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Courage Books (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762401842
• ISBN-13: 978-0762401840
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #455,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Collections

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous illustrations and abridged versions make these perfect for young readers, April 26, 2009

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Classic Grimm's Fairy Tales (Children's Storybook Classics) (Hardcover)

"The Classic Grimm's Fairy Tales" book contains 10 classic fairy tales illustrated by different artists. The stories have all been abridged, but mostly retain the flavor of the original stories. These are suitable for young readers and for read-aloud for younger children [preschoolers and up]. It all depends on the level at which a young child is reading, and as for reading to preschoolers, I'd advise caution [some of these fairy tales have dark elements as in Hansel and Gretel that may cause nightmares for young children].

The stories contained in this version are "Cinderella", "Little Red Riding Hood", "Rumpelstiltskin", "Snow White", "The Bremen Town Musicians", "Rapunzel", "The Shoemaker and the Elves", "The Frog Prince", "The Fisherman and His Wife", and "Hansel and Gretel". The illustrations are all beautiful and each artist vividly captures the essence of the fairy tales.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sweet book for children, September 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Classic Grimm's Fairy Tales (Children's Storybook Classics) (Hardcover)

I would say that this book is the exact bedtime story to read to children. It has been edited but one thing that dissapointed me was the fact that they changed them a little too much. There is no kissing in this book as sane as it may be, that was dissapointing. But other than that, It was a good book and I enjoyed it.