Saturday, January 31, 2015

Hansel and Gretel by Neil Gaiman - ADVISABLE

Gaiman, Neil. Hansel and Gretel, 53 pgs. Toon Graphics, 2014. $16.95. Language: G; Violence PG (fairytale violence); Content: PG. 

This story follows the typical version of Hansel and Gretel in which the children are led into the forest and left behind to fend for themselves. They come upon an old woman who welcomes them into her home and begins fattening up Hansel so that she can eat him. The ordeal concludes with Gretel shoving the old woman into the oven, where she is burned alive and the children find their way back home. 

Neil Gaiman was inspired to write this version of Hansel and Gretel when he saw Lorenzo Mattotti’s artwork depicting the story. This book is a combination of the two. Gaiman’s retelling is a traditional version of the fairy tale and is unsurprisingly written with his beautiful textual imagery in a very dark setting.  The illustrations reflect the same dark tone. Definitely meant for older elementary students and middle school, this is a great version for visualizing the story. 

EL, MS –ADVISABLE. Reviewed by: Shay, School Librarian

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