From School Library Journal
Grade 3 6?Do libraries really need another edition of Grimm tales? In this case, the answer is a resounding "YES!" Philip retells 17 complete stories, two humorous vignettes, and one repetitive cumulative chant with internal rhyme. The stories are mainly familiar ones, such as "The Fisherman and His Wife," "The Musicians of Bremen," and "Rapunzel," but some lesser-known tales, such as "The Gold Children" and "The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn," are included. To sample the cleverness and accessible language of these sharp-witted retellings, just try "The Three Lazybones." Barely one page, this brief tale can be connected to many other stories here and elsewhere. At the same time, it is related to contemporary parodies such as Jon Scieszka's The Stinky Cheese Man (Viking, 1992). This valuable collection is superbly enhanced by the unusual, eye-catching illustrations, luxuriously painted in the manner of medieval illuminations and decorated with gold-leaf accents. With one or two full-page pictures per story, this book could easily become a family keepsake. Of course, library budgets are always a consideration, and the acquisition of this item depends upon the size, depth, and use of the folklore section. But it might be wise to jettison a well-loved and well-worn copy of the Grimms' tales and replace it with this one. It is sure to spark the interest and enthusiasm of a new generation of folk and fairy-tale aficionados.?Martha Rosen, Edgewood School, Scarsdale, NYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 4^-6. Wenzel and Wheeler give "Snow White," "The Shoemaker and the Elves," and "The Three Sluggards" classic comic-book treatment. The nontraditional form works quite well with the tales. Pictures tell most of the story, but the sophistication of the original language is left relatively intact. Given the easily sensationalized events in the Grimms' tales, the illustrations are refreshingly nonsensational, and they retain the visual energy and complexity necessary to intrigue the discriminating comic-book reader. Janice del Negro


From Kirkus Reviews
A lovely edition of tales that hearkens back to the stories' roots in oral telling and wordplay. Philip (In a Sacred Manner I Live, p. 1034, etc.) writes an introduction to these tales, describing in simple terms how the Grimms collected their material and worked it for publication, mentioning their lives as scholars of the German language. Making their customary appearances in the 20 stories are Rapunzel, Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, and the Musicians of Bremen as well as lesser known characters, among them the Gold Children and Mother Snow. The selections have the rough edges of traditional folktales. Philip's attempts to capture the cadence of oral telling ranges from the colorful--``common or garden bright won't do. I want a real clever-clogs'' and ``he might as well have saved his breath to cool his porridge''--to the contemporary (and jarring) ``fine by me.'' Brent's illustrations, which consist of full-page, full- color images as well as pretty little vignettes to close most of the stories, are framed in patterns inspired by gothic architecture and illumination; every page has a delicate blue-and-gold edge. For collections that need yet one more Grimm, this is a good choice to hand to middle graders who are starting to think they are too old for fairy tales. (Folklore. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Midwest Book Review
This is recommended for a wide range of young readers, into adults: the adult comic form is used here, with plenty of color cartoons illustrating the classics of Snow White, The Shoemaker & The Elves, and 'The Three Sluggards'. Fantasy comes alive in this fun collection of changed tales and dramatic color portraits of fantasy worlds.


Book Description
Already well established as a children¹s book illustrator, Wenzel is also well-remembered for his beautiful comics adaptation of Tolkien¹s The Hobbit. He brings his knowledge of both crafts here to eyestopping effect with fresh and authentic versions of ²Little Snow White², among others. Script adaptation by Doug Wheeler.


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German


Card catalog description
Included among the 12 fairy tales in this facsimile edition are "Snowdrop," "Hansel and Gretel," "Cherry, or the Frog Bride," and "The Goose Girl."

FROM THE CRITICS

BookList - Janice del Negro