Customer Reviews

The Snow Queen

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

 

 

Length:: 2:03 Mins

It's really interesting how this Andersen's The Snow Queen can fit in our modern life. Its massage so universal, so appealing. Look at these extraordinary illustrations by award winning Ukrainian artist Vladyslav 'This is perhaps the most extraordinary children's book that I have ever seen.' - Paulo Coelho, Internationally selebrated writer. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil"

I've had my eye on this book for a while - the incredible illustrations called to me for months. The story itself is a retelling of the original and I feel that it doesn't convey the same mysterious magic that the version I read as a child did. However, it is a beautiful read. I would reccomend this book for children aged 5 - 12, the younger ones will need you to read it to them. I was a little dissapointed that the text didn't marry up with the ilustrations perfectly e.g. The princess has blonde hair in the text and brown hair in the picture. But this is pretty minor stuff. The book is made of quality paper and some of the pictures are printed in pearly blue ink (stunning). The book concludes with a bio of the illustrator and a little eye spy game of things to look for in the pictures - this allows the fine detail to be appreciated even more.

I have received the book today, and I must say it has the most stunning illustrations by the Ukranian artist Vladislav Erko. I have rarely seen books as beautiful as this one. The story of course is timeless, and I am sure children will enjoy it tremendously.
I read and re-read Andersen's fairy tales as a child, and "The Snow Queen" is surely a masterpiece.
This particular edition is one to be treasured for years and years.

This is the loveliest edition of the Snow Queen I have ever seen. The book is one that should be read to every child and can be interpreted on many level as both a story and a parable. The courage of true love and its conquest of cruelty and indifference is grippingly told.

This is hands-down the best edition of The Snow Queen I've ever come across. As far as I can tell, the story's translation is faithful to the original Danish version, with only a few small scenes omitted. The book itself is also beautifully printed and bound, though I did notice a couple of minor typographical errors. What really makes this edition stand out, however, are the illustrations. They are truly spectacular; full of witty details in a rich, jewel-like color palette. It's only a pity this book isn't more widely available in the US; I hope to see more of Mr. Yerko's work in the future.

This is an amazing book! The story is wonderful and the illustrations are gorgeous- full of living art and beauty. My first grade class enjoyed hearing it throughout the week. The story is about friendship and never giving up on helping those close to you no matter how hopeless a situation may look.

The illustrations in this book are truly breathtaking, the details are amazing! In fact, I am so impressed, I'm looking for posters and other art that can be displayed to decorate my daughter's room.
However, the text was a surprise... I did not remember such a strong religious context in it. Even though I already purchased the book, I'm hesitant to read it to my daughter, which is why I give the book 4 stars only.

The tale by H.C.Andersen long known, it's not what makes this book exceptional. Illustrations do. The book was illustrated by a talented award-winning Ukrainian artist, Vladislav Yerko (some of his works here: [...])

I often simply flip through to marvel at the pictures.

I have an Ukrainian edition of this book.
Without a doubt it's the most beautiful book I've ever held in my hands.

October 21, 2008
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson 458 words
In the Snow Queen the two main characters, Gerda and Kay, are neighbors in the attic of two apartments and best friends. Gerda and Kay's homes were so close to each other that the two children could take two steps out of their windows into the other's just by crossing over the gutter on the rooftop that connected the apartments.
Gerda and Kay would climb out onto the rooftop and sit on their two stools while Grannie would tell them both stories. Grannie once told them, on a cold winter evening, the story of the Snow Queen and how when she looked through your window she would leave frost in the shape of flowers on your window.
Later on that year while Gerda and Kay were sitting on the rooftop Kay exclaimed that something sharp and painful went into his heart. Then another in his eye! And though later Kay believes that they have both gone, he is wrong. The sharp pains Kay feels are both tiny pieces of glass that came from a horrible looking glass made by an Imp named Old Nick, and as Hans Christian Anderson writes- "One of the wickedest." Old Nick made this looking glass so that if you looked through it everyone you saw looked hideous. "That everything good and beautiful that was reflected in it shrank up into nothing." The author writes. So, the one piece that went Into Kay's heart made Kay's heart cold, and it slowly turned into a large lump of ice. And the one piece in his eye made him see everything ugly.
Kay begins to change in his personality. He becomes very intelligent in arithmetic and he no longer cares for roses (which you will read more about in the story). But becomes very interested in ice and snowflakes which Kay calls "perfect in every way as long as they don't melt."
One day while Kay is out sledging in the snow he sees the Snow Queen and she takes him to her palace in Finmark. Gerda, wondering where Kay has gone or whether he is dead, goes out of her town to a river where many towns' people think Kay has drowned. And, there her adventures begin.
Hans Christian Anderson uses Christian perspective in the Snow Queen. In the story Gerda sings this song to Kay:
The valley glows with many roses
And there we meet the sacred child.
It means that we should be as children to be with God, and that in heaven (the valley glows with many roses) we will meet Jesus (the sacred child).
I will not tell you how the story ends but I will tell you that you will be very pleased with all the adventure both Gerda and Kay endure. I very much enjoyed this book and I am quite sure you will too.