Customer Reviews

Fairy Tales (Voyager Book; Avb 96)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These fairy tales are beautifully nonsensical and touching to even those who are less than sentimental. They are precious, without any reservation using such a word. Each was evidently written with a careful, loving authorship and a sense of humor that without a doubt is the creative quirkiness of the poet Edward Estlin Cummings. If you know the poet, the tender, innocent personalness of these tales might even surprise you, or, at least, bring you closer to him and his writings.

The dedication of this volume tells us that Cummings wrote these tales for his daughter when she was a very little girl. But even if it hadn't, any reader would have known. As you read, it's as if you can hear a parent telling the stories to his child over a sleepy bedtime. The stories have an effortless feeling as if they are being spoken rather than written. This free and easy quality combined with the spectacularly imaginative subjects make for a really fun reading experience.

Unless you have a really patient child, however, I wouldn't recommend this edition for sit-on-the-lap reading. The illustrations aren't particularly engaging. Rather, I would let your kids sit down with some blank paper and a box of crayons and ask them to draw their own pictures while you read out loud to them. Or read to them at bedtime when their eyes are closed. These are the kinds of stories to be savored by the senses rather than "follow-along-while-I-read."

this book of fairytales is one of the sweetest books i have ever read. i got it about 11 years ago when i was six. i lost it for about eight years, than it resurfaced only for it to burn in fire soon after. i couldn't find this book ANYWHERE! and now that i've found it again i could cry! everyone should read this book, it is sweet, it flows well, and rather satisfying. my personal favourite story is the one about the elephant and the butterfly. quite possibly the most romantic story to ever surface. this book made me laugh cry and smile and everyone should read it. e.e. cummings rocks my world.

Truly this short collection is a must have for any Cummings lover. With all the incredible imagination of the children which they were written for, these stories are incredibly original, and especially infatuating.

The wording is difficult to read aloud to a young child, but the stories are fun and my two year old enjoys them. She really likes the artwork in the book.

I first found this book in high school when I was interested in poetry. Now, I have a ten year old and a five year old- they have both loved it when they were quite young and now even at 10 years old. I love it too. It reads like a real story that is being told with robust imagination. I particularly like the "The Old Man Who Says Why".... the language is beautiful, poetic, natural, and so imaginative and sweet. I love that the fairy "breakfasts on light and silence" in the morning.

This book of fairy tales is full of great lessons for adults, and they are fun to read. They are more fun if read out loud! They don't appear to be teaching a lesson. However, the lesson is hard to miss.

These short stories are perfect, bedtime or anytime. They move along quickly and with a little bit of intonation go a "long, long, long, long, long" way in giving young children an appreciation of reading. Along with Oscar Wilde's children's stories and Dr Seuss's books, this is one of the best additions you can ever make to your child's library. The artwork is also superb.

Cummings may be known for his unique style of poetry, but he should also be remembered for the most sensitive, loving fairy tales of the 20th Century. Read them to your children, no matter how old they are. I have been reading them for over 35 years.-- Sam Yulish, author of "Where Have All the Hippies Gone?" and "The Hesitant Psychic and other Strange Stories."

There are many words of diamond in this book. Especialy "The Little Girl Named I" is the best warmhearted story.