The Fairy Tales [Hardcover]

Jan Pienkowski (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Jan Pienkowski’s exquisitely detailed illustrations decorate every page of this stunning fairy tale collection. His bewitching silhouettes and glowing marbleized backgrounds bring to life the enchanted worlds of four beloved stories—"Snow White," "Sleeping Beauty," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Cinderella." Each fairy tale has been translated and retold to reflect the original dark magic of the earliest versions of these classic works. And with special details like gold-edged pages, this lavishly produced volume is a perfect holiday gift for the whole family to treasure.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 4–This elegant publication includes Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White. The illustrations are a dramatic mix of black silhouettes on white paper, often surrounded by swirls of color and silhouettes filled in with color. Large calligraphic letters on colorful backgrounds pop up throughout the book at the heads of paragraphs; the print is large and clear. Surprisingly, in such a beautifully designed book, there is no table of contents for readers who want to locate a specific story. Page numbers are provided, although their value seems somewhat diminished. A brief introduction includes information about the Grimm Brothers and Charles Perrault as well as some context for the artist's decision to illustrate these particular tales; however, no bibliography pinpoints the exact sources for the text. While young children may primarily be interested in the stories, the beauty and quality of presentation will please older readers and book collectors.–Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Elegant design, dramatic silhouettes, hand lettering, and gold-edged pages give a vintage look to The Fairy Tales, a collection of four stories--"Sleeping Beauty," "Snow White," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Cinderella." The tales, translated from original German texts, are illustrated with bold, color-accented silhouettes modeled after a traditional European art form; they not only decorate the page but also effectively convey the magical drama of the tales. Spaciously laid out text and thick paper add to the effect. A foreword about the tales' authors and a page each contributed by the translator and the illustrator establish origins, literary significance, and personal connections to the tales. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 188 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (October 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670061891
• ISBN-13: 978-0670061891
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #786,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gorgeous book, August 14, 2007

By 

Elaine M. Sargent "book lover" (Reno, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fairy Tales (Hardcover)

I also spotted this book in a bookstore and stopped to look through it. My daughter loves fairy tales and although we have heard these stories before, the artwork is so unusual and captivating I can't resist buying this for her. We will both love reading it together.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning treasure for adults as well as children......, June 25, 2007

By 

Rashchupkina (Off left in center.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Fairy Tales (Hardcover)

I was on a browse at my local bookstore for some children's books and just happened upon this wonder. What a work of art! I was taken aback by the beauty and art of the cover. I would adore it framed.

The stories inside are just as gorgeously written and illustrated. I love the silhouette technique she uses, so evocative! Children will be fascinated by the pictures AND the text. But I am a 35 yr. old woman and I bought this for it's artistry and it will be a life long treasure!

You won't be disappointed if you love fairytales and unusual artwork.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely beautiful, June 18, 2008

By 

T. Walker "grumpybear" (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fairy Tales (Hardcover)

This is a very high quality illustrated fairy tale book. What it isn't is a pop-up book. The illustrations are magnificent, but since it was created by Jan Pienkowski I expected it to be one of his very imaginative pop-ups. It is not. That doesn't mean that it is disappointing, just unexpected. Anyone wanting a beautifully illustrated book of fairy tales will love this.