School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Two more welcome additions to the series. Hansel and Gretel tells the familiar story of two children who are abandoned by their heartless stepmother and gutless father, taken in by a child-eating witch, and ultimately escape to return home to a happy reunion with their widowed father. Losantos's ink-and-watercolor cartoons in muted colors present a Hansel and Gretel who are charmingly scruffy, a befuddled father who is almost sympathetic, and a tough-looking witch. The Musicians of Bremen concerns four elderly animals who manage to make a home for themselves with the help of their none-too-melodious voices and some superstitious robbers. Montserrat's earth-toned acrylics have an almost linocut look and make excellent and arresting use of form and volume. Though a bit abbreviated, the prose in each story follows classic translations of the Grimms' tales, maintaining cadence and humor. Both titles read aloud beautifully in both the stylish English renditions and in the European Spanish, which may sound a bit exotic to readers or listeners of Latin American extraction. Both books are beautifully laid out and a pleasure to view and share. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Hansel and Gretel is a straightforward retelling with cartoonlike illustrations reminiscent of the Tintin and Asterix comics. The Musicians of Bremen shows a bit more imagination in the retelling, and the stylish illustrations fit the story nicely. The English text is translated from the Spanish adaptations. [Review covers these titles: Hansel and Gretel/Hansel y Gretel and The Musicians of Bremen/Los musicos de Bremen.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4. This bilingual adaptation of the Grimm brothers' parable is done with style and humor in both Spanish and English. Four aging animals--a rooster, a donkey, a dog and a cat--are deemed useless and turned out by their masters. Thinking themselves musicians, they make their way to Bremen to join the city band. After outwitting a band of robbers in a house, they remain there as friends and are sidetracked from their goal. The ironic tale is told in a style that lends itself to reading aloud, with repetitions, sounds, and rhythms appropriate to each animal. The author's Catalan background makes the Spanish a bit stilted in places, but the charm and cleverness of the storytelling style overcome the occasional awkwardness. The stylized illustrations are simple, elegant, and done in vivid yet understated colors, giving the tale a modern feel. --Stella Clark Copyright 2005 Booklist
