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賯氐賴鈥屬囏й� 噩丕賵丿丕賳
This is a collection of 12 classic fairy tales from all over the world. They include Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Hansel and Gretel. They are retold here for a new audience.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Berlie Doherty
123听books79听followersBerlie Doherty n茅e Hollingsworth is an English novelist, poet, playwright and screenwriter. She is best known for children's books, for which she has twice won the Carnegie Medal.She has also written novels for adults, plays for theatre and radio, television series and libretti for children's opera.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 21, 2017
I already knew all the tales narrated in this book, even so, I caught myself turning the pages and eagerly reading them back to back! The illustrations are simply marvellous and I was amused to note, that the authoress stuck to the original versions if these tales, and not the mellowed, censored versions usually told to kids.
A beautiful book.
A beautiful book.
April 1, 2016
This book is absolutely gorgeous. Every page is a work of art. The colors are lush and bold. Each page has a background that contains symbols that compliment the story. The writing is contained in a smaller box that is framed in gold. Some of the pages are full-page illustrations. Jane Ray, the illustrator, used her artistry to bring each of the 17 tales to life. I much appreciated that she used characters from diverse backgrounds: Indian, African American, Middle Eastern, Chinese, as well as white鈥攁fter all fairy tales come from countries all over the world.
Berlie Doherty did her research and studied fairy tales retold by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, W.B. Yeats, Alexander N. Afanasiev, Charles Perrault, and N.J. Dawood. Taking the tales she used her own voice to retell 17 well-known fairy tales: Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Rumplestiltskin, Rapunzel, Snow White, Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp, Little Read Riding Hood, The Firebird, Hansel and Gretel, The Frog Prince, and the Wild Swans. They are told in a very traditional fashion and stick very close to the original retelling. In fact, some of the more gruesome elements are kept in鈥� Cinderella鈥檚 step-mother convinces her own daughter to either cut off her big toe or her heel to fit into the glass slipper鈥� the dwarves stick hot coals into a pair of shoes and make the evil queen dance in them until she dies鈥� the woodsman cuts open the wolf鈥檚 stomach with scissors to rescue Little Red and her grandmother and they put rocks in and sow him up. I was a bit surprised at this. At least the illustrations didn鈥檛 cover these aspects of the stories.
鈥淪now White鈥� stays close to the Grimm version. There are a few differences. The famous rhyme 鈥淢irror, mirror, on the wall, who鈥檚 the fairest of them all?鈥� is changed to 鈥淢irror, mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?鈥� The evil queen doesn鈥檛 use magic to transform herself, but rather puts on disguises. The corset becomes a lace shall, the poison comb stays the same, and apple is red on one side and green on the other. The dwarves put Snow White in a glass coffin and she stays there for seven years until the price comes to rescue her.
My favorite story in the collection was 鈥淏eauty and the Beast.鈥� Beauty is the youngest of three sisters. Her father is a merchant. Life was going great for him. He took off to meet his ships in the port and promises to bring his older daughters silk gowns, a monkey, and all beauty asks for is a rose. Alas, his ships sink and he heads home in misery. Caught in a storm, he stays at the beasts鈥� mansion. Upon leaving he cuts a rose and meets the enraged owner. His life is forfeit. He negotiates to go home for a month to say goodbye. Beauty takes her father鈥檚 place and stays with the Beast. They become friends. He gives Beauty a magic mirror and it shows her father who is ill. The Beast lets her leave for a week. She goes to her father and he recovers. Her sisters are jealous of her wealth. She stays longer than a week. One morning she looks in the mirror and sees the Beast lying as if dead. She rushes to his side and holds him in her arms and confesses her love. He transforms into a human and they get married. Her family is rewarded. Her father and brothers receive property and wealth and her sisters are turned into statues that are placed in the garden. They won鈥檛 turn back into humans until they can get over their jealousy, which will take a long time.
Overall, this is a great collection of stories. Students are very familiar with modern retellings and the Disney retellings, but they are less familiar with the more traditional retellings. Fairy Tales is suitable for students grades 4-7.
Berlie Doherty did her research and studied fairy tales retold by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, W.B. Yeats, Alexander N. Afanasiev, Charles Perrault, and N.J. Dawood. Taking the tales she used her own voice to retell 17 well-known fairy tales: Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Rumplestiltskin, Rapunzel, Snow White, Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp, Little Read Riding Hood, The Firebird, Hansel and Gretel, The Frog Prince, and the Wild Swans. They are told in a very traditional fashion and stick very close to the original retelling. In fact, some of the more gruesome elements are kept in鈥� Cinderella鈥檚 step-mother convinces her own daughter to either cut off her big toe or her heel to fit into the glass slipper鈥� the dwarves stick hot coals into a pair of shoes and make the evil queen dance in them until she dies鈥� the woodsman cuts open the wolf鈥檚 stomach with scissors to rescue Little Red and her grandmother and they put rocks in and sow him up. I was a bit surprised at this. At least the illustrations didn鈥檛 cover these aspects of the stories.
鈥淪now White鈥� stays close to the Grimm version. There are a few differences. The famous rhyme 鈥淢irror, mirror, on the wall, who鈥檚 the fairest of them all?鈥� is changed to 鈥淢irror, mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?鈥� The evil queen doesn鈥檛 use magic to transform herself, but rather puts on disguises. The corset becomes a lace shall, the poison comb stays the same, and apple is red on one side and green on the other. The dwarves put Snow White in a glass coffin and she stays there for seven years until the price comes to rescue her.
My favorite story in the collection was 鈥淏eauty and the Beast.鈥� Beauty is the youngest of three sisters. Her father is a merchant. Life was going great for him. He took off to meet his ships in the port and promises to bring his older daughters silk gowns, a monkey, and all beauty asks for is a rose. Alas, his ships sink and he heads home in misery. Caught in a storm, he stays at the beasts鈥� mansion. Upon leaving he cuts a rose and meets the enraged owner. His life is forfeit. He negotiates to go home for a month to say goodbye. Beauty takes her father鈥檚 place and stays with the Beast. They become friends. He gives Beauty a magic mirror and it shows her father who is ill. The Beast lets her leave for a week. She goes to her father and he recovers. Her sisters are jealous of her wealth. She stays longer than a week. One morning she looks in the mirror and sees the Beast lying as if dead. She rushes to his side and holds him in her arms and confesses her love. He transforms into a human and they get married. Her family is rewarded. Her father and brothers receive property and wealth and her sisters are turned into statues that are placed in the garden. They won鈥檛 turn back into humans until they can get over their jealousy, which will take a long time.
Overall, this is a great collection of stories. Students are very familiar with modern retellings and the Disney retellings, but they are less familiar with the more traditional retellings. Fairy Tales is suitable for students grades 4-7.
October 7, 2012
Berlie Doherty鈥檚 Classic Fairy Tales, as the title promises, is a collection of some of the all-time favourite fairy stories including Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin, Little Red Riding Hood and the Frog Prince. Amongst the twelve tales, there are a couple that I wasn鈥檛 so familiar with 鈥� The Fire-Bird and The Wild Swans but nevertheless equally enjoyed.
The stories are well written and beautifully packaged with distinctive and quirky illustrations 鈥� much like the stories themselves. The fresh re-telling of the tales retains their magic but makes them feel more contemporary. Part of their enchantment is that they transcend time and culture and reveal patterns you can take comfort in. Namely, that goodness is rewarded and evil is wrong and will always be punished.
Reading them brought back memories of my childhood 鈥� having them told to me by my grandad and reading Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. Although admittedly, I missed some elements in the versions I grew up with, like the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, replaced here with a wish-granting hazel tree. On the whole though, the legendary tales remain intact with Doherty鈥檚 interpretation sticking closely to the classic re-telling that I hold dearly. I just wish the Shoe Maker and the Elves had made the cut!
I can imagine using this book in Key Stage 1 for interactive story telling sessions. This could support Drama in the curriculum with tales being re-enacted as plays, and also Art as I think children would enjoy choosing a fairy tale to illustrate. The tales could furthermore be used to inspire creative writing and develop written skills. Even in Year 3, I think the book could be used to promote literacy development by tasking the class to write their own fairy tale, write an alternative ending to one of the classic tales or even re-tell one of the tales from the perspective of the villain.
A highly recommended read!
The stories are well written and beautifully packaged with distinctive and quirky illustrations 鈥� much like the stories themselves. The fresh re-telling of the tales retains their magic but makes them feel more contemporary. Part of their enchantment is that they transcend time and culture and reveal patterns you can take comfort in. Namely, that goodness is rewarded and evil is wrong and will always be punished.
Reading them brought back memories of my childhood 鈥� having them told to me by my grandad and reading Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. Although admittedly, I missed some elements in the versions I grew up with, like the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, replaced here with a wish-granting hazel tree. On the whole though, the legendary tales remain intact with Doherty鈥檚 interpretation sticking closely to the classic re-telling that I hold dearly. I just wish the Shoe Maker and the Elves had made the cut!
I can imagine using this book in Key Stage 1 for interactive story telling sessions. This could support Drama in the curriculum with tales being re-enacted as plays, and also Art as I think children would enjoy choosing a fairy tale to illustrate. The tales could furthermore be used to inspire creative writing and develop written skills. Even in Year 3, I think the book could be used to promote literacy development by tasking the class to write their own fairy tale, write an alternative ending to one of the classic tales or even re-tell one of the tales from the perspective of the villain.
A highly recommended read!
April 22, 2018
This is a beautifully illustrated book and a pleasure to ponder and read. The text is really a small section of the page, framed by decoration and illustration in gilt and many colours. The fairy tales are given a
Fairy Tales is a compilation of traditional fairy tales - the best known and most loved. There are twelve including Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel and The Sleeping Beauty. Doherty describes them in her introduction as enchanted dreams. She adds that every time they are told, these traditional stories are given a little of the teller - a colour or a jewel, a sigh or a song - but they must never change what actually happens because the magic of the fairy stories is just right.
And on reading these stories, I feel certain they are given a extra twist of imagination that I wasn't expecting and doesn't alter the magic but makes them Berlie Doherty's stories. In the recount of Cinderella, there is a hazel tree that sprouted from a twig caught in her father's hat and planted on her mother's grave. The hazel tree plays the same part as the more usual fairy godmother. The wolf in Little Red Riding Hood is made out to be a cad, of course, but we are entertained by his devious thoughts and tricks as he plots his way into the Grandmother's bed. The embellishments and sparkle are Doherty's touches. They don't stray from the traditional plot but they enliven the story with a newness and freshness.
This volume of fairytales would be a delight to children of any age and adults too. They will be easy to tell aloud in a Shared Reading session and together with ambiguities in the illustrations, the class will have intriguing discussions. I hope Doherty's example will inspire the children to lend their own character to stories and to encourage them to think beyond the expected. If they look at the text themselves, they will enjoy clearly displayed pages of exemplary grammar and composition.
Fairy Tales is a compilation of traditional fairy tales - the best known and most loved. There are twelve including Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel and The Sleeping Beauty. Doherty describes them in her introduction as enchanted dreams. She adds that every time they are told, these traditional stories are given a little of the teller - a colour or a jewel, a sigh or a song - but they must never change what actually happens because the magic of the fairy stories is just right.
And on reading these stories, I feel certain they are given a extra twist of imagination that I wasn't expecting and doesn't alter the magic but makes them Berlie Doherty's stories. In the recount of Cinderella, there is a hazel tree that sprouted from a twig caught in her father's hat and planted on her mother's grave. The hazel tree plays the same part as the more usual fairy godmother. The wolf in Little Red Riding Hood is made out to be a cad, of course, but we are entertained by his devious thoughts and tricks as he plots his way into the Grandmother's bed. The embellishments and sparkle are Doherty's touches. They don't stray from the traditional plot but they enliven the story with a newness and freshness.
This volume of fairytales would be a delight to children of any age and adults too. They will be easy to tell aloud in a Shared Reading session and together with ambiguities in the illustrations, the class will have intriguing discussions. I hope Doherty's example will inspire the children to lend their own character to stories and to encourage them to think beyond the expected. If they look at the text themselves, they will enjoy clearly displayed pages of exemplary grammar and composition.
May 15, 2025
***Due to some scenes of violence, not recommended for sensitive readers***
Fairy Tales is a collection of twelve various fairy tales from various sources for interested readers told in the author's own voice. These stories include:
-Cinderella (Ashputtel)
-The Sleeping Beauty In the Forest
-Beauty & the Beast
-Rumpelstiltskin
-Rapunzel
-Snow White (Snowdrop)
-Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp
-Little Red Riding Hood
-The Firebird
-Hansel & Gretel
-The Frog Prince
-The Wild Swans
There is a bit of an unofficial Introduction just before the Dedication and then the rest of the book is dedicated to the stories mostly.
On the last page is an About the Tales, which gives acknowledgement to the origins of seven of these tales. Otherwise there is no mention on just whose version Berlie Doherty chose to use.
The reason for my rating versus giving it another star is the content. Although these stories are beautifully and engaging provided in simple format there didn't seem to be any consistency. Some leaned more towards the darker origins and others not so much. Additional names were also provided in the Table of Contents buy not really acknowledged in their stories, not even as a footnote.
The illustrations were beautifully done although a bit abstract at times. A few pages had the brightly colored focused full illustration on spread or page while the rest of the story was told with silhouettes with each tale having its own decorative backgrounds that related to story to one degree or another.
All in all this is a beautiful collection for those who love the genre and a fairly nice start for those who are looking into getting to know the darker side of a few of these tales.
Fairy Tales is a collection of twelve various fairy tales from various sources for interested readers told in the author's own voice. These stories include:
-Cinderella (Ashputtel)
-The Sleeping Beauty In the Forest
-Beauty & the Beast
-Rumpelstiltskin
-Rapunzel
-Snow White (Snowdrop)
-Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp
-Little Red Riding Hood
-The Firebird
-Hansel & Gretel
-The Frog Prince
-The Wild Swans
There is a bit of an unofficial Introduction just before the Dedication and then the rest of the book is dedicated to the stories mostly.
On the last page is an About the Tales, which gives acknowledgement to the origins of seven of these tales. Otherwise there is no mention on just whose version Berlie Doherty chose to use.
The reason for my rating versus giving it another star is the content. Although these stories are beautifully and engaging provided in simple format there didn't seem to be any consistency. Some leaned more towards the darker origins and others not so much. Additional names were also provided in the Table of Contents buy not really acknowledged in their stories, not even as a footnote.
The illustrations were beautifully done although a bit abstract at times. A few pages had the brightly colored focused full illustration on spread or page while the rest of the story was told with silhouettes with each tale having its own decorative backgrounds that related to story to one degree or another.
All in all this is a beautiful collection for those who love the genre and a fairly nice start for those who are looking into getting to know the darker side of a few of these tales.
November 23, 2023
Beautiful illustrations for classic fairy tales. I really liked the pictures. And I think most of the fairy tales were exactly how most fairy tales are, but also feel like some could (and should) have been changed a little. For example the sleeping beauty running away because she doesn't want to get marries but then agrees to marry happily after what must have felt like an hour for her? I think that could have been easily fixed as to make it a little bit more consistent. Same with some other (small) things, but like this the book was still full of great illustrations for exactly the kind of stories that were inside: Classic fairy tales.
November 26, 2018
I'd forgotten to add this beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written book of Fairy Tales to my "read" section since joining 欧宝娱乐. It's a book that's very close to my heart; given to me to 'borrow' and read from my Great-nana. I didn't get the chance to give it her back and it is now one of, if not my most cherished book on my shelves.
It is extremely well-written, but the illustrations are my favourite part of this book. They are magnificent. True masterpieces. I love this book with all my heart!!!
It is extremely well-written, but the illustrations are my favourite part of this book. They are magnificent. True masterpieces. I love this book with all my heart!!!
August 12, 2019
I was taken this book because of my childhood fascination with fables and the evocative illustrations. But the tales themselves are not retold in a way that places them in a new light and continues the problematic gender and familial dynamics of fairy tales. How many times can you read a story of a neglectful and hateful mother, passive father, or a young girl who says that she does not want to be married and then marries the first person who 'asks' her? I'm over these types of tires fables.
December 30, 2018
When I was a little girl, I had a small collection of "audio books". These records were listened to over and over again. My favorite by far was the Grimm's Fairytales. This book reminds me of those stories and the time spent enjoying them. The illustrations are breathtaking and I love the fact that each page of text is beautifully framed. Very well done!
July 10, 2018
The things people do when they're stupid.
August 1, 2018
The art is so beautiful!!!
October 2, 2019
beautiful drawings and great stories
December 23, 2020
5 stars for the illustrations alone - they're gorgeous! The characters are also multi-ethnic, which I loved! The tales themselves are oldies but goodies.
February 8, 2022
Good stories.
My favourite was Hansel and Gretel. I liked it because I enjoyed the illustrations and storyline.
I would read this book again.
My favourite was Hansel and Gretel. I liked it because I enjoyed the illustrations and storyline.
I would read this book again.
September 25, 2023
6.5 lovely illustrations, great telling. Easy to read.
November 11, 2023
Loved this book as a child, lost it and am so glad I found it on here so I can buy it again! The illustrations are just mesmerizing, they've been in my mind for years.
May 25, 2022
This book was one of my favorites as a kid.
Jane Ray鈥檚 illustrations are so lovely and evocative. I love Berlie Doherty鈥檚 writing-it鈥檚 simple enough for a young listener/reader to understand and be engaged, but still rich with details. Her versions of these fairy tales are among my favorites.
Jane Ray鈥檚 illustrations are so lovely and evocative. I love Berlie Doherty鈥檚 writing-it鈥檚 simple enough for a young listener/reader to understand and be engaged, but still rich with details. Her versions of these fairy tales are among my favorites.
February 11, 2023
This is such a beautiful book. The illustrations are incredible. Incredible. You can really see the care and consideration that the illustrator has taken when working on this book. The stories themselves were good. I enjoyed them, but I think I'm too old for them. I'm not actually sure if this is considered a children's book, but the stories are written in a very accessible way that definitely makes it suitable for children. However, after reading the retelling of The Wild Swans, I am now interested in finding some novel length retellings, or even reading the original!
December 18, 2012
Fairy Tales 鈥� Berlie Doherty (illustrated by Jane Ray)
Twelve fairy tales traced back to their earliest written roots from around the world provides the foundation for this take on stories we all grew up with. Sourcing back to some of the great tale tellers of the last four hundred years, Doherty has sought to find the essence of the original text. Jane Ray has provided artwork to accompany the text in incredible detail with flecks and flashes of gold.
This book comes highly recommended by just about anybody who has read it from broadsheet critics to the hoi polloi on amazon. They love the art work and the retelling of old tales from source giving them their original voice. Lamentably I did not like it. I found the faux Klimt(esque) artwork self-indulgent but I could instantly forgive this small matter had I enjoyed the writing. Unfortunately I found it utterly disenchanting.
It is laudable that Berlie Doherty has researched the texts so thoroughly and apparently sought to be true to them. However, I think what I find most frustrating about the texts is that they almost all come to such abrupt endings. I was actually enjoying Cinderella, Aladdin and Little Red Riding Hood but each, just as the story appeared to be building nicely to a crescendo, was brought to an almost explained end. It appears as if there was a word count or page limit on each story and regardless of the juncture the story is at it must finish. Ultimately this simply left me feeling short changed and longing for a fuller ending.
I was also disappointed to that there was no information provided on the actual sourcing of the stories or details on how closely each text was followed. It is suggested that each tale had a number of sources from differing countries but no information is detailed to explain how they varied.
For all my criticism the book certainly has its place in the classroom and I would look to use it in the following ways:
鈥� The art of Jane Ray could be used independently of the text to elicit ideas from children for what they are about or which story they go with.
鈥� They artwork could be used as the basis of children doing their own drawings for chosen stories.
鈥� The stories could be used to juxtapose against more modern versions and children could write reviews of them, comparing and contrasting styles.
鈥� The stories could be used as the basis of different groups doing their own drama project using the different styles of modern takes and the originals as their source material.
Twelve fairy tales traced back to their earliest written roots from around the world provides the foundation for this take on stories we all grew up with. Sourcing back to some of the great tale tellers of the last four hundred years, Doherty has sought to find the essence of the original text. Jane Ray has provided artwork to accompany the text in incredible detail with flecks and flashes of gold.
This book comes highly recommended by just about anybody who has read it from broadsheet critics to the hoi polloi on amazon. They love the art work and the retelling of old tales from source giving them their original voice. Lamentably I did not like it. I found the faux Klimt(esque) artwork self-indulgent but I could instantly forgive this small matter had I enjoyed the writing. Unfortunately I found it utterly disenchanting.
It is laudable that Berlie Doherty has researched the texts so thoroughly and apparently sought to be true to them. However, I think what I find most frustrating about the texts is that they almost all come to such abrupt endings. I was actually enjoying Cinderella, Aladdin and Little Red Riding Hood but each, just as the story appeared to be building nicely to a crescendo, was brought to an almost explained end. It appears as if there was a word count or page limit on each story and regardless of the juncture the story is at it must finish. Ultimately this simply left me feeling short changed and longing for a fuller ending.
I was also disappointed to that there was no information provided on the actual sourcing of the stories or details on how closely each text was followed. It is suggested that each tale had a number of sources from differing countries but no information is detailed to explain how they varied.
For all my criticism the book certainly has its place in the classroom and I would look to use it in the following ways:
鈥� The art of Jane Ray could be used independently of the text to elicit ideas from children for what they are about or which story they go with.
鈥� They artwork could be used as the basis of children doing their own drawings for chosen stories.
鈥� The stories could be used to juxtapose against more modern versions and children could write reviews of them, comparing and contrasting styles.
鈥� The stories could be used as the basis of different groups doing their own drama project using the different styles of modern takes and the originals as their source material.
September 8, 2009
I am always cautious of modern re-tellings of classic fairy tales. I greatly prefer fairy tales to remain largely the way I remember them from my childhood and I wholeheartedly believe children today should experience the same joy from these stories as generations before them. That said, I am happy to report Candlewick Press's Classic Fairy Tales written by Berlie Doherty passes my rigid authenticity test.
Doherty admits that she took the liberty to add small changes to each of the fairy tales with a "color here or a jewel there", but these inclusions don't twist the plot or characters into unrecognizable new tales.
One of the things I love most about Candlewick Press' edition of the classic fairy tales is the illistrations modernize the stories. Jane Ray, the amazingly talented illustrator of these fairy takes, render the characters more diverse and even ethereal. For example, Sleeping Beauty looks as if she was born in South America. And Beauty from Beauty and the Beast is clearly an African-American character. It is refreshing to see that the characters as they are drawn in the book changes the stories to a degree while the stories themselves remain the same.
Regardless of race, though, Ray's drawings bring each fairy tale to life with her attention to detail and gorgeous depictions of characters we have all come to love and behold in our collective imaginations.
Kindergarten and up
Doherty admits that she took the liberty to add small changes to each of the fairy tales with a "color here or a jewel there", but these inclusions don't twist the plot or characters into unrecognizable new tales.
One of the things I love most about Candlewick Press' edition of the classic fairy tales is the illistrations modernize the stories. Jane Ray, the amazingly talented illustrator of these fairy takes, render the characters more diverse and even ethereal. For example, Sleeping Beauty looks as if she was born in South America. And Beauty from Beauty and the Beast is clearly an African-American character. It is refreshing to see that the characters as they are drawn in the book changes the stories to a degree while the stories themselves remain the same.
Regardless of race, though, Ray's drawings bring each fairy tale to life with her attention to detail and gorgeous depictions of characters we have all come to love and behold in our collective imaginations.
Kindergarten and up
October 25, 2020
The illustrations are beautiful! Unfortunately the stories are disappointing with the same backwards old-fashioned mentality as the original versions of fairytales. Doherty has chosen to put the main emphasis of most of the stories on marriage. In almost all stories the prince asks if the girl will marry him and then in every case the next line is..., "and she said yes" ("yes" in italics every time)! Drawing so much focus through intentional repetition of text detracts from the actual stories themselves and highlights the perceived reward of marrying someone rich and handsome as the ultimate message to the detriment of much more modern and important themes that could be highlighted.
The stories had some lovely parts but were too simplistic with unnaturally sudden endings. I felt that there was a missed opportunity to build up stronger, more unique character interpretations and demonstrate morals and values to the children that will be reading this gorgeously illustrated collection.
The stories had some lovely parts but were too simplistic with unnaturally sudden endings. I felt that there was a missed opportunity to build up stronger, more unique character interpretations and demonstrate morals and values to the children that will be reading this gorgeously illustrated collection.
June 28, 2012
Sleeping Beauty In The Forest:
Rumpelstiltskin:
Rumpelstiltskin:
January 30, 2011
Just a beautifully illustrated book! Admittedly, I bought it for the photographs, but I was hoping for a new spin on the familiar old stories, too. Unfortunately, the stories are just their standard versions. That makes this a great book to give kids, if they don't already have a anthology of fairy tales, but not much of a variation to a collection of fairy tale books already in place.
October 30, 2012
This is definitely one of my very favorite fairy tale collections. There are several we were familiar with, but accompanied by glorious new gilded illustrations, and there were also several stories that were new to our family, all lovingly, clearly, and beautifully written.
My kids and I were always excited to pick up this beautiful book together.
My kids and I were always excited to pick up this beautiful book together.
November 20, 2012
I enjoyed this book of fairy tales. Berlie Doherty has included different versions of the favorite fairy tales and I liked that. The illustrations by Jan Ray are excellent, most appropriate for the stories.
May 17, 2014
Ik heb het in Nederlands geleesd en ik vind het heel leuk!
Ik staarde de hele tijd aan de tekeningen!!
Ik vind hen beter dan de verhaaltjes !!
Maar het was een geweldig ervaring! :)
De drie sterren zijn voor de tekenaar niet de schrijver :)
Ik staarde de hele tijd aan de tekeningen!!
Ik vind hen beter dan de verhaaltjes !!
Maar het was een geweldig ervaring! :)
De drie sterren zijn voor de tekenaar niet de schrijver :)
September 14, 2015
This is a great collection of fairy tales. The illustrations are gorgeous, and show many of the main characters as people of color, which is rare in fairy tale collections. Doherty's versions of these stories read very naturally, and have a unified voice. Beautiful book!
February 18, 2009
I love loved it. I want to give it 100 stars.
August 20, 2011
Wonderfully vivid pictures illustrate the classic fairy tales as depicted within this collection of timeless stories. :)
October 30, 2011
Jane Ray is a favorite of mine. I love her beautiful characters and sense of design.
Gorgeous book!!!
Gorgeous book!!!
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