Petrosinella: A Neopolitan Rapunzel (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As the expression goes, "Everything old is new again," and two publishers are taking that adage literally for a pair of May releases. In the case of James and the Rain, British artist Reg Cartwright (Mr. Potter's Pigeon) adds whimsically rambunctious new illustrations to Karla Kuskin's droll verse, originally published in 1957 (Simon & Schuster, $15, ages 3-7 ISBN 0-671-88808-0). At Dial, meanwhile, a classic fairytale retains its artwork but receives a new telling?Diane Stanley's stylish paintings continue to grace Petrosinella: A Neapolitan Rapunzel, but now her own narrative spin replaces John Edward Taylor's 1847 translation, used in the book's 1981 publication ($14.99, 32p, ages 4-8 ISBN 0-8037-1712-1).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?Stanley offers a Neapolitan version of Rapunzel that predates the Grimms by 200 years. Petrosinella ("parsley" in Italian) is similar in many ways to the more familiar Grimm tale, but here the women play a more active part in the plot. It is Petrosinella's pregnant mother (not her father) who steals the parsley from the ogress?the event that leads to the girl's imprisonment. Likewise, it is the girl who discovers the secret to her release (three hidden acorns) and who implements the steps that cause the destruction of the enchantress. Stanley's watercolors and colored inks are rendered in royal blues and verdant greens?a fitting backdrop for the young woman and the prince with whom she falls in love, and an effective contrast to the ugly hag. Visual parallels, however, abound; note the folds in the cliffs, the ogress's face, and the bulldog's jowls in the scene with the first acorn. Pair this story with Rafe Martin's Rough-Face Girl (Putnam, 1992) and traditional tellings of "Rapunzel" and "Cinderella" for a group discussion of fairy-tale variants. An introductory note details the sources.?Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140554912
• ISBN-13: 978-0140554915
• Product Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 20 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,983,857 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #57 in	Books > Children's Books > Popular Characters > Fairy Tales & Folk Tales > Rapunzel
  #64 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( S ) > Stanley, Diane

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Active Rapunzel, May 5, 2000

By	Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Petrosinella came before Rapunzel and is a spunkier character. Like Rapunzel, she is held captive by the witch after being taken from her mother. Petrosinella, however, uses her wits to escape her captor and live happily ever after. This story originally appeared in Giambattista Basile's Il Pentamerone almost 400 years ago. The illustrations are beautiful and reflect both today's tastes as well as the age of the story. I recommend this book for anyone looking for an old twist on a tale that is more exciting than the one we are most familiar with. END

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Early Rapunzel, April 27, 2004

By	Charles (Pensacola, FL) - See all my reviews

This story shows the truth behind the fairy tale, "Rapunzel", before it was changed by the Grimms to reflect their patriarchal ideologies. Rapunzel is a strong, active character not just a woman who needs to be rescued. I think this book is a great way to look back in time nd see how fairy tales have changed and how the message they are sending to young people has been altered.