Hansel and Gretel (Hardcover)

by Rika Lesser (Author), Paul O. Zelinsky (Illustrator) "At the edge of a great forest there once lived a poor wood..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This magnificently illustrated Caldecott Honor book features an understated retelling of the classic tale. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
The first Grimm tale illustrated by 1998 Caldecott medalist Paul O. Zelinsky is once again available in hardcover. Originally published in 1984, Zelinsky's paintings for Hansel and Gretel are as compelling as his later work and will captivate readers with their mysterious beauty, emotional power, and brilliant originality. Each spread brings to life a world as rich and real as our own—detailed, colorful, sensual—yet filled with the unearthly shadowed magic of the Hansel and Gretel folktale. Whether portraying the fear and anguish of children abandoned by their parents, the delicious sumptuousness of a candy house, or the joy of being reunited with one's family, the artist captures the subtle nuances of emotion and the tactile quality of the physical world with exquisite accuracy and elegance. The hauntingly spare retelling of this perennial favorite by the poet Rika Lesser perfectly complements the vivid storytelling of Zelinsky's artwork. Once again this gifted artist gives us a unique interpretation of a beloved fairy tale, allowing us to both see it anew and rediscover its eternal truths.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525461523
• ISBN-13: 978-0525461524
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,575 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #5 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( Z ) > Zelinsky, Paul O.
  #11 in	Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > European
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, September 3, 2001

By	KNSudha (Saratoga, CA USA) - See all my reviews

As a 5 and 6 year old, I recall reading this stark version of the fairy-tale. The illustrations here are simply beautiful! I remember talking to my mom about the issues in this tale -- famine and starvation, abandonment, cannibalism, supporting, being supported by your sibling, and returning/reunited to your family after being through everything.
My mom helped me understand the mom's behaviour in this story, and I hope I can do that for my son some day. Like all fairy tales, this simply looks at some of the worst that could happen, and lets you see a way out. I read it without these gorgeous illustrations too. You can't disney all of life, though I admit, I'm a sentimental soft-hearted person who cries when the cats get rained on when I'm watching the Aristocats :-) Enjoy, and think too ...

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a differing opinion ..., July 29, 2001

By A Customer

Although I love Zelinsky's work I didn't purchase this title because Hansel and Gretel was always my least favorite fairy tale. But I find it almost beyond belief that people are complaining about it's subject matter. What versions are these people reading? These tales were originally written for adults and then rewritten for children. It's definitely NOT a tale for very young children and never was. It should be ok, though, for the slightly older ones who like to be scared a bit. I always avoided it because of the child abuse/abandonment and cannibalism aspects. But I never realized people thought it was about anything else. Maybe I'm just used to the Grimm's versions because I collect fairy tale books but if you're going to make this a non-violent tale, you'd have to pretty much rewrite the whole fairy tale. I have to give this book high marks for staying true to the original tale and for the wonderful artwork. If people don't know what Hansel and Gretel is about by now they will after reading these reviews, at least. Puzzling.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice quality book., January 15, 2007

By	Nancy Bach - See all my reviews

This is a nice rendition of Hansel & Gretel, much as the one I recall from my childhood. One of the only more obvious differences I noted was that it was not the "step-mother" who encouraged the father to abondon the children in the forest, but instead, the "mother," perhaps reflective of our more sensitive times. Zelinsky's illustrations, as indicated by the Caldecott Medal, enhanced the story greatly. All-in-all, a cute, nostalgic Grimm's Fairy Tale...though I see no mention of the Borthers Grimm in this book.