Hansel and Gretel [Hardcover]

Jacob W. Grimm (Author), Wilhelm K. Grimm (Translator), Elizabeth D. Crawford (Illustrator), Lisbeth Zwerger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 1991 | Age Level: 4 and up

When they are left in the woods by their parents, two children find their way home despite an encounter with a wicked witch.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Working from a faithful translation of the original text, Zwerger has created rosy-cheeked, appealing children who look as if they have just descended the Alps. The witch, by contrast, is a shapeless, fiery-eyed ghoul with real scare potential, but the illustrations never take advantage of that; the pictures show passive moments and have an ephemeral quality because there is almost no background for the figures on the page. For example, on one page of text, the stepmother kindles a fire and leaves Hansel and Gretel alone, the birds come and eat the trail of bread crumbs, the children walk for 24 hours without much food, sleep and walk again. Opposite is a picture of the siblings, looking melancholy but not appearing to be in dire straits. The design of the book falters: some of the artwork is horizontal and bleeds, other paintings are vertical, with wide gutters and margins; the text is set in light type without paragraph indentations and so readability suffers. Zwerger's artistic gifts are not wholly in evidenceeven simple details like Hansel's hair color, which varies, are overlooked. For once, her version of a popular story is extraneous, and Hansel and Gretel, so often done and redone, seem lost. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 20, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887080685
• ISBN-13: 978-0887080685
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,413,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After several comparisons, this was it!, January 25, 2010

By 

Mrs. W (WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hansel and Gretel (Hardcover)

I borrowed this book from the library. I actually borrowed several picture books of Hansel and Gretel to compare which one I liked before I purchased any. I was specifically looking for an original translation, and this was it! The witch's house is not made of all colorful pretty candy in this book. The roof is a cake, a pioneer type of cake; the wall is made of bread; and the window pane is pure sugar. This is more believable from the Brother Grimm's time.

I would also like to point out that Hansel and Gretel believe in God's protection. That religion was a very important culture when the Brothers Grimm collected this tale. If a religion is taken out of this fairy tale, it should be considered "diluted."

I read this book to my 4-year-old daughter. She sat through and asked many questions while I read to her, which was the same reaction as the other Hansel and Gretel's. She didn't seem bored at all. This may be just a parent's preference, but I prefer emerging my daughter in original tales that survived generations after generations.

If you are looking for something authentic without Disney's garnish, you will be happy with this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zwerger's illustrations are wonderful, September 15, 2005

By 

J. Wilder - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hansel and Gretel (Hardcover)

Hansel and Gretel happens to be my favorite fairy tale; I have many versions and my best loved is illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. The Publisher's Weekly technical criticisms re gutters, bleeding, etc., are very true; but unless you are in the publishing field these details are not particularly noticeable. The story is the original; it has not been made politically correct. Zwerger's illustrations are Germanic in feel, which is appropriate for a Grimm story. And the overall sepia tone takes you back to a time when such tales were first being told. The illustrations, like so many of Zwerger's, are perfectly matched to the plot and emotions of this fairy tale.