Dwarf Nose, The [Hardcover]

W. Hauff (Author), L. Zwerger (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up

A tale rich in unforgettable characters and fantastic settings and events, Dwarf Nose tells the story of a little boy whose complaining so angers a wicked fairy that she casts a spell on him. Zwerger's illustrations evoke all the magic, mystery, and drama of this German classic. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6?An odd, rather lengthy German fairy tale, written in 1827. When a boy insults an elderly fairy, she changes him into a squirrel and makes him work in her household, run by guinea pigs and squirrels, for seven years. At the end of that time, he is transformed into a hunchbacked, long-nosed dwarf. Spurned by his parents and chased by the townspeople, he uses his skills as a chef (learned from his time in the fairy's service) to obtain work in the Duke's kitchen. With the help of an enchanted goose (really a wizard's daughter), he reverses the spells, and all ends happily. Dwarf Long-Nose (Random, 1960; o.p.), translated by Doris Orgel and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, has a nicer flow to the language and a more eye-pleasing format; Bell's translation is capable, but stiff, and unlike the people in many of Zwerger's earlier books, the main characters here are painted in a somewhat surrealistic style. A dear illustration of the animals in the old fairy's house and a scene in the Duke's kitchen soften the appropriately grotesque tenor of the book. Libraries that do not own the earlier version may want to consider this new one.?Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. A new translation of Hauff's 1827 fairy tale tells the story of Jacob, a young boy kidnapped by an old woman. He insults her, and in return, she transforms him into an ugly dwarf with a long nose. When he finally escapes, he goes unrecognized by his parents and is forced to work as a cook for a duke until a young girl who has been turned into a goose helps him undo the spell. He reciprocates by helping her regain her true form. Zwerger's Old World^-style watercolor paintings mesh nicely with the classic text, and combined with high quality paper, they make for an elegant book. Most intriguing are the fanciful illustrations; for example, the one featuring the young goose/girl can be viewed from multiple perspectives. Although the story may seem somewhat verbose to modern listeners, it will be popular with fairy tale fans and belongs in larger collections. Kay Weisman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 49 pages
• Publisher: Michael Neugebauer (North South Books); First edition (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558582614
• ISBN-13: 978-1558582613
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dwarf Nose is an excellent and inventive original fairy tale, December 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dwarf Nose, The (Hardcover)

Dwarf Nose captivated my young children. Wilhelm Hauff was a brilliant talented original fairy tale writer who was a contemporary of the Brothers Grimm. This book is an original fairy tale and not a "knock-off" It's possible that both authors were drawing from oral literature of the period. I thought it was engrossing, my kids loved it and Zwergers illustrations are fantastic

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zwerger's delicious sense of humor breathes life into Hauff, December 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dwarf Nose, The (Hardcover)

Lizbeth Zwerger's drawings are deceivingly spare and simple. When you actually take the time to obseve what she accomplishes with her work it's like discovering the brilliant subtlty of a Zen Garden with a dash of raw childhood thrown in. I have no doubt that when critics look back in years to come, she will be talked about as some who has trult MASTERED her craft. In this version of Hauff's story there are sorts of examples of her clever interpretations of the story. For example: when the spell of the goose is broken and she changed back in a woman, Zwerger rendering shows the woman stitting on a chair and her silluette is that of the goose! Brilliant.

0 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This story was first written by the brothers Grimm., September 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dwarf Nose, The (Hardcover)

The story I read by the brothers Grim is a highly intricate tale revealing a profound problem, viz., that of identity crises, but written as a fairy tale it is a wonderful story which captivates the imagination of pre-teenagers, in the telling of it. The old witch involved in it was named Krauterweis, and not "Herbwise". I suspect that your book is a poor, adulterated copy of the elegant work I read so many years ago.