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Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library | Juvenile Nonfiction Book Hardback | 120704163411018 | J 398.21 MAR | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library | Juvenile Nonfiction Book Hardback | 120704163411026 | J 398.21 MAR | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
A poor woodcutter's children, lost in the forest, come upon a house made of cookies, cakes, and candy, occupied by a wicked witch who likes to have children for dinner.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3A wacky, witty warning to wicked witches everywhere. In his irreverent version of the classic tale, Marshall finds levity in the grimmest of situations and his candy-bright illustrations are as enticing as a house made of gingerbread. An absolute treat. (Dec. 1990) (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Marshall's trademark wit and slyness mark every page of this effervescent interpretation. Never has there been a more horribly magnificent witch than his--an overstuffed, cackling harridan resplendent in scarlet costume, lipstick and rouge, her hair bedecked with incongruously delicate bows. She is matched, perhaps even surpassed, in girth by the woodcutter's bad-tempered wife, whose piggish eyes, ferocious countenance and caustic barbs will prompt delicious shivers. The children triumph over both in high style, proving themselves worthy successors to the fairytale characters who have previously found new life in Marshall's hands. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Marshall's familiar droll style of illustrations seems unsuited for this retelling. Unlike other tales he has successfully parodied - 'Cinderella', 'The Three Little Pigs', and 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' (all Dial) - this folk tale is diminished by such a treatment; 'Hansel and Gretel' is just not a funny story. From HORN BOOK 1990, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Once again Marshall works his magic on a popular tale, retelling without reshaping it and infusing both text and pictures with ingenuous simplicity lit by flashes of roguish humor. Gretel is the clearer-eyed here--the first to comprehend that the chubby, scowling woodcutter's wife (never specifically referred to as mother or stepmother) means no good, and that the gaudily dressed woman in the candy house is a witch. After the witch is ""roasted to a regular crisp"" in her own oven, Hansel and Gretel return home in triumph and are last seen decked with jewels, posing with their joyful father. Marshall's comic genius is less appropriate to this dark tale of betrayal than to ""Red Riding Hood"" and ""The Three Little Pigs,"" which better lend themselves to farce; but his fans will probably be delighted with this anyway. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Ages 4-6. Marshall has in part built his career on presenting humorous versions of familiar fairy tales. In some cases, such as his Three Little Pigs [S 1 89], these wacky revisions have worked quite well. His Hansel and Gretel, however, is a more problematic case. Most will agree that this story is one of the Grimms' darker tales. Reams have been written about the underlying horror implicit in a story in which parents conspire to do away with their children. Thus, some will wonder if an amusing edition of the tale is warranted. In fact, Marshall's text, basically following the original, is not very funny. Only in the pictures, which feature a campy, overdressed witch and such touches as a sampler proclaiming "Home Sweet Home" on her wall, does the wit really show. The artwork is some of Marshall's best. Using bold colors and interesting perspectives and design work, he can't be faulted on artistic merit. The witch's house, a candied conglomeration, delights the eye (and