King Midas and the Golden Touch [Hardcover]

Charlotte Craft (Author), Kinuko Y. Craft (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

King Midas is a goodman, and he is adevoted father to hisdaughter, Aurelia. Yet Midasknows no music sweeter than therattling of golden coins, and themore gold he gathers, the morehe desires. When a mysteriousstranger offers to grant the kinga single wish as a reward for akindness, Midas does not hesi-tate: He wishes that all hetouches would turn to gold. Butall too soon, he learns that whatat first seems a blessing can alsobecome a curse.

The legendary man with the magic touch comes alive as a remarkably complex figure in this breathtaking new vision of perhaps the most universal of all Greek myths. Kinuko Y. Craft's radiant paintings glow with human drama, natural beauty, and golden splendor.

King Midas is not a cruel man, but his passion for gold surpasses all else, save his love for his daughter. If only everything he touched would turn to gold! When Midas is granted that single wish, he rejoices -- until he nearly loses his beloved child to his greed. Here is a skillfully retold story of extraordinary resonance and wisdom, with a message no reader will soon forget. Radiant paintings glow with luxurious, golden, splendor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The mother-daughter duo that produced Cupid and Psyche sumptuously interprets a familiar Greek myth. A note at the beginning explains that the text is inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's retelling, and it is structured like a fairy tale. Midas's kindness to a stranger earns him his ill-fated wish; Midas's love for his daughter inspires his remorse; and in the end, he is magically redeemed. The author writes fluidly and capaciously, invoking castle rose gardens and secret chambers of treasure. The lavish oil-over-watercolor paintings, said to be set in the Middle Ages, make overtures to the Renaissance in their lush compositional style and the characters' costumes. As Kinuko Craft's admirers will expect, her attention to detail is unflagging: embroidered, jeweled clothes almost seem to rustle, and the palace's columns, stairways and arches form dizzying arcades. At first her gold palette dazzles, but as the insidious gilt trail extinguishes the vibrant range of colors, the dark side of Midas's supposed good fortune is manifested as clearly in the pictures as in the text. A regal treatment. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-Like the previous Craft collaboration, Cupid and Psyche (Morrow, 1996), this gloriously and elaborately illustrated Midas is faithful to the myth (in Hawthorne's redaction). A sharp eye will spot a few Anatolian visual clues in an otherwise baroquely splendid fantasy of a medieval court, rendered in meticulous detail. Excess never looked better. Libraries with budgets of gold might want both this volume and John Stewig's King Midas (Holiday, 1999), illustrated by Omar Rayyan: they make a fascinating and instructive pair. Lacking the Midas touch, librarians must choose between the essentially conservative Craft approach, as unsurprising and toothsome as Turkish delight, and Stewig's much more flavorful and inventive recipe. If readers want the Hollywood spectacular, Craft is for them, but the innovative team of Stewig and Rayyan would get my vote in a heartbeat.
Patricia Lothrop-Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688131654
• ISBN-13: 978-0688131654
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking artwork enhances a classic tale, January 27, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
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This review is from: King Midas and the Golden Touch (Hardcover)

"King Midas and the Golden Touch," retold by Charlotte Craft with illustrations by K.Y. Craft, is an outstanding version of a classic tale. Although you may have read or seen versions of this story before, this book is truly special.

The story of King Midas, who gains the power to turn anything he touches to gold, is a tale with an important lesson. The story teaches us to not be greedy, and to treasure the people and things that we take for granted. These are important ideas for both children and adults. Charlotte Craft presents this story in straightforward, yet elegant language. A typical line: "The roses glistened with the morning dew, and their scent gently perfumed the air."

But it is Kinuko Y. Craft's breathtaking artwork that really brings magic to this collaboration. Each illustration looks like a classic painting by an old master--lovingly detailed and alive with rich colors. K.Y. Craft's realistic portrayals of people, animals, and plants are an effective complement to the fantasy elements of the story. This book is both a timeless tale and a stunning work of art.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book with pictures helps the reader to enjoy the story, September 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: King Midas and the Golden Touch (Hardcover)

This elaborately illustrated book helps the reader enjoy the story of King Midas and his golden touch. The pictures will draw the reader first. The story is well written and the page lay-out is pleasing to the eye. It will interest students and teachers alike. Highly reccommended for grades 1 - 4.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing illustrations., August 4, 2006

By 

Anne-Marie Gilliland (Near D.C., USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: King Midas and the Golden Touch (Paperback)

Each page is like a canvas from the preraphaelite movement. Gold is simmering in the light with each turn to read more of the story. Its a story that most are pretty familiar with, but I love these illustrations, they are what a fairy tale should look like (in my mind).

Craft's telling of the story is well done, except at one point I felt like I had accidentally turned two pages (but it really was only one) as the story had skipped more abruptly from point A to B than I would have liked. Otherwise, it is worth buying this book for the art alone.