Hansel and Gretel

Walser, D. (2005). The Fairy Tales: Hansel and Gretel as Told by Brothers Grimm. (pp. 95-138) New York, NY: Penguins Group.

Brief Annotation: This is a traditionally classic version of the tale of Hansel and Gretel. The story is complete with a loving father, evil stepmother, and wicked witch. The father, although he does not agree with the idea, takes his children into the woods to leave them to die because they are in a terrible drought and believes that he cannot fend for them any longer. The savvy children find ways to make a path to find their way home. The breadcrumb trail however proves to be insufficient when they try to make their way home. The children come across a house made of delicious morsels and become trapped by an evil witch. They eventually escape her and make it home on white duck. The story contained various rhymes throughout. The images were dark, shadows, rarely any color throughout the story

Grade Level:3-6

Readers who will like this: Readers who enjoy fairly tales and readers who enjoy stories about couragoues children would like this book.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4. It was a traditional well-written version of Hansel and Gretel. The rhymes made it fun, and the images reflected the story. The text reminded me of the “once upon a time” stories. Children following along could choral read the short poems.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you ever wandered far from your home?