Hansel and Gretel [Library Binding]

Dom Deluise (Author), Christopher Santoro (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997 | Age Level: 4 and up

Dom DeLuise retells this popular fairy tale, including everything from the wicked stepmother (the Widow Block, who won the children's father because of her low-fat chicken soup), to the candy house ("with a cholestoral count of 888, which is high, even for a house") to the evil witch (Miss Glut Annie Stout), and throws in a healthy dose of his own, well-loved humor. The book also contains Dom's own recipes for Sugarless Apple Pie, and Fat-Free Chicken Soup.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. This modified version of the classic tale has the feel of an impromptu bedtime story. The awful stepmother is the next-door neighbor, who looks like a Lane Smith creation. The Disneyesque witch is a humongous food-lover named Glut Annie Stout (note the initials) who spends her days baking and eating, using the children as her clean-up crew. When she locks Hansel in the pantry, Gretel shoves Glut Annie into the larder, phones 911, and has the fat lady arrested by the police for "kidnapping, being mean to children, and eating an entire smorgasbord without a license." The children are returned to their loving father, who opens a successful health food store. The tale is so infused with DeLuise's own personality that adult readers might well envision him reciting it aloud. Garish is a fit descriptor for both the story and the art. Text appears within illustrations, in colored boxes (some surrounded by contrasting striped borders), in conversation balloons, and as asides in large colored letters near the bottom of some pages. Every scene is filled with brightly colored, heavily detailed cartoon images, but much of the humor in the pictures will be lost on children. Like the gingerbread house, this book has little appeal once you get inside.?Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Library Binding: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689812027
• ISBN-13: 978-0689812026
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,539,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Deluise does it again!, January 3, 2012

By 

MommyBunny - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hansel And Gretel (Paperback)

Dom Deluise, we know we love to hear things in his voice, and this one does not disappoint. It's hilarious (Glut Annie Stout... ha!), but with a little non-preachy nudge to the kiddies about healthy eating, and two nice and easy recopies at the end to make with them. The illustrations make the kids laugh every time...

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, December 5, 2011

By 

Olivia - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hansel and Gretel (Library Binding)

This book is adorable and hilarious! Dom Deluise is as great a writer as he is a comedian and cook! The illustrations are just lovely, too, and they work so well with the story. There are two recipes at the end of the book as well, which is a nice little inclusion.

5.0 out of 5 stars smash hit in our household, December 15, 2008

By 

pepperminty (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hansel And Gretel (Paperback)

This is a book our 3 1/2 year old asks for over and over and over again. But because of the very funny and inventive pictures, the modern twists and slyly comedic text, it's an interesting book for adults too. Glut Annie Stout has become an established part of our family vocabulary as well as "I don't THINK so!!!" as said by a firmly admonishing yet loving parent. Wonderful, fun way to teach kids about the pitfalls of eating too many sweets.