Amazon.com Review
"Mirror, mirror on the wall,/ Who is the fairest of us all?"
This well-known entreaty by the evil queen is where any fundamental similarity between the Disney version of Snow White and this lovely interpretation begins and ends. Grimm's fairy tale is familiar, but the subtlety, respect, and mystery of this new version are unique, as are the depth of characterization and plot. Barrett's rich, gorgeous illustrations serve as a stunning backdrop to the reinvented drama, and contribute to the more sophisticated feel of this rendition. The seven dwarfs, for example, are not depicted as freakish slow-witted anomalies; they are simply small, kind men. One of the most haunting images of the book is of Snow White running through the dark forest, translucent white gown flowing, scratches from the brambles barely visible on her legs, wild animals racing along beside her as comrades and protectors.
This British author-illustrator pair also collaborated on the highly acclaimed Joan of Arc. Barrett's illustrations (also seen in The Emperor's New Clothes and other books) have an elegant, luminescent appeal, ideal for the romance of a fairy tale. Readers of any age will be mesmerized by the exquisite interweaving of Poole and Barrett's art. (Ages 5 to 10) --Emilie Coulter
From Publishers Weekly
Exquisite endpapers set the tone for this elegant version of one of the most-loved fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm: a leafless ebony tree stands in stark relief against a sweeping expanse of snow, the whiteness of which is marred by a single drop of blood. Echoing the central image of this classic tale of contrasts (good and evil, innocence and cruelty, youth and age, beauty and ugliness of spirit), Barrett's images unfold in a twilight world of ethereal beauty anchored by telling detail, from the moonlight reflected in the creek by the dwarves' cottage to the evil-looking poison comb the disguised queen offers Snow White. Poole's version of the lovely young princess and her vindictive stepmother remains faithful to the original, and enchants with its unassuming prose. The artwork's overall tone is sophisticated and somewhat remote, placing the book beyond the reach of younger readers, but this is nonetheless a fairy tale in the grand tradition, and an exemplary marriage of illustration and narrative. All ages.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.