Customer Reviews

Hansel and Gretel

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bought this for my 4 year old. She loves the scariness (just enough) of the story and the willingness of the children to fend for themselves and find courage. The drawings are very wonderful and she enjoys reading this again and again. Issues that she did not understand: mothers that die and stepmothers that are mean and why people can smile without really meaning it. All topics for new exploration and understanding.

Bought this for my 5 year old granddaughter, who totally LOVED this story. She was able to verbalize that although the "old woman" wore a smile, she was really " a bad person". With this thought, she was able to make the connection of "bad people" in this world, who could fool you when they wear a smile and appear "nice" to you.
She also had favorite parts (the pictoral illustrations were wonderful!) which depicted "good" things, i.e., the "house made of sugar...", when the brother and sister demonstrated their cleverness and courage and how they protecting one another. This is now her favorite book that is read to her over and over. She loves it so much that her reading skills have also increased as she always asks, "what word is this?" so she can read it herself.

Absolutely incredible illustrations and a lovely rendition of the story - it really flows off your tongue when reading aloud. Although I think they are above the target age for this book, my nine and eight year old kids ask for it to be read to them repeatedly. It would make a wonderful gift.

In this retelling of the classic Grimm's tale of sibling love and survival, we join Hansel and his sister Gretel as they face and conquer the evils of their wicked stepmother, and a wicked witch. Beautifully and descriptively illustrated, this tale is very grabbing and sure to entertain most youngsters. My daughter for example, loves this book. It's a great story for bedtime readings.

The story is about a brother and sister who are twice abandoned by their stepmother on account of poverty. Hansel and Gretel find their way home the first time due to Hansel's wits, but aren't so lucky the second time and end up running into a witch that welcomes them with a smile, but soon makes her evil intentions for the children known. Gretel finds a way to stop the witch, rescues her brother and they race off with a bunch of riches that they took from the witch. With the help of a friendly duck, they find their way home and live happily ever after with their father as the stepmother is no longer around, and they now have all the wealth procured from the witch's house.

The tale can be a little scary, but there is obviously nothing excessive in this wonderfully crafted children's book. I hope you give it a try.

Darien Summers, author of The Mischievous Hare, a children's book.

I was familiar with the Hansel and Gretel story since I was a child, but the beautiful illustrations by Jen Corace were what drew me in and brought this story back to life for me once again! 5 stars for a truly great childrens book!

The book is beautifully done, especially the artwork. Now as an adult, I notice the subject matter is a sad and scary tell, especially for young ones. The children's mother dies, the dad remarries a mean women who won't even feed the kids, they get kicked out and then a witch tries to eat them. I realize we all know the story but probably not a good message for kids.

We bought this book for our 4-year-old along with a Gretel costume. The book is perfect--just a little scary without being too graphic. Our daughter has thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and learning this classic story.

The illustrations in this book are stylish and imaginative, and they are appealing to older children (even the ones who are "too old" for fairy tales. The somber colors and the use of facial expressions will catch your eye - these illustrations are out of the ordinary. They set the mood for Once Upon a Time.

The story ends with joy and forgiveness.