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Hansel & Gretel

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Hansel & Gretel
By Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Lorenzo Mattotti
Toon Books, 2014. 53 p. Picture Book

Neil Gaiman recounts the Brothers Grimm’s tale of the abandonment of Hansel and Gretel in the forest when their family is starving due to war. While lost in the forest, they come across a tiny cottage made out gingerbread and find within an old woman who welcomes them and promises to care for them, never allowing them to lack for food again. But when she turns on them, the children use their wits to survive.

Mattotti’s illustrations, originally done in 2007, inspired Gaiman’s dark retelling. The text matches the mood of the sketches, rendered almost entirely in black ink sketches. The book is further enhanced by the Afterword, which explains the history of the ever-changing story of Hansel and Gretel through the years and the influence of many cultures and countries on the tale. Though this retelling is not for the young, it is a great addition to the collection of Hansel and Gretel rellings.
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Lwad said…
Totally agree. Great review!
January 15, 2015 at 8:30 AM
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