The Golden Book of Fairy Tales (Golden Classics) (Hardcover)

~ Adrienne Segur (Illustrator), Marie Ponsot (Translator) "ONCE upon a time, there lived a brave king and his fair queen..." (more)
Key Phrases: Old Mag, The Fairy Tale Book, Green Snake (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Originally published in 1958, this book contains a selection of 28 traditional stories from the French, German, Danish, Russian and Japanese traditions. Includes The Sleeping Beauty, The Frog Prince, Puss in Boots, Thumbelina, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Beauty and the Beast.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Golden Books (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030717025X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307170255
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,093 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

116 of 117 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Fairy Tale Book You will EVER find, October 16, 2002

By	Ed N "Ed" (Kensington, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

Okay, I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the BEST book of fairy tales you will ever find in the English language. Certainly, there are books out there with more tales or more happily-ever-after endings, but this is the best. Period. I received it as a gift when I was a child and I absolutely adored it. The illustrations are truly gorgeous - most have a pseudo-Renaissance appearance to them and ALL have really amazing detail. They are also quite enormous, taking up an entire page and sometimes 2 entire pages! You can tell a real painter, not a typical kids' book animator, created these works of art. The artwork adds an extra element of classical style to these 28 stories, which have been gathered from all around the world. Some of the stories are familiar, some are not, but all have been translated with great care and love; this is immediately evident when you read even the familiar ones like Sleeping Beauty and realize that the details are a little different from the typical sanguine, Disneyfied versions you commonly see. These tales are probably very much like their original versions; in other words, they are not always happy, and sometimes they are actually quite sad. I remember as a child loving the stories yet fearing to read a few of them too because they were so sad. But this very trait is what makes them so dear to me beyond any other versions of the same tales that you might read ...

One last word - this is quite an oversized book - 11' X 20' or so. So if you buy it, be sure you have a large enough bookshelf for it, because this is a book you will keep forever! Five stars all the way!

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Golden book of fairy tales, January 17, 2000

By A Customer

My mother began reading this book to us when we were small, and it was read so much that it literally fell apart. My siblings and I have fought over the pieces for years, so much so, that a few years ago we all received xerox copies for Christmas. Because of the reprinting we all received a new copy for Christmas this year! It contains some of the loveliest illustrations I have ever seen and the stories are so unique! As an Elementary school librarian I have yet to see it's equal in fairy tale books. It is an absolute favorite at our house!

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gail :bought this book back in 1964, December 4, 2000

By	Gail A. Olson (Chippewa Falls ,Wisconsin) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am so excited to see this book back in print. I bought this book for myself when I was 10 yrs old. My best friend "Ellen" had the book and when I spent the night at her house her mother would read us stories from the Golden Book Of Fairy Tales. Some of my favorite stories are Donkeyskin,Greensnake,and Bluecrest. The pictures are incredible. These are not your average well known fairy tales. I still have my copy and have read it to both my daughters over the years. They are now 17 and 23. My oldest daughter told me about 1 month ago that she saw this book was back in print. I was so happy. I have purchased 5 copies since, and am thrilled. I have taken a copy to work to show my friends and almost everyone has ordered one as it is truely a beautiful and unique book. I have one copy now for each of my daughters,in fact my 17 yr old asked me to read to her again out of it. I hope they will share it with their children and enjoy the stories as much as I did when I was a little girl. Buy this book, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.