Hansel and Gretel (Fairy Tale Shape Books)

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Hansel and Gretel (Fairy Tale Shape Books)

Author(s)

Lenka Chytilova

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Shunsuke Satake

Publisher Name

Albatros Media

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

August 13, 2024

ISBN13

978-8000071046

ISBN10 or ASIN

Experience the classic fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel like never before in a board book for young readers shaped like scenes from the story.

In the heart of a mysterious forest, where secrets lurk behind every tree, a timeless fairy tale comes to life. Join Hansel and Gretel as they venture deeper into the woods and stumble upon a house made of gingerbread. All is not as it seems as the story unfolds through this inventively crafted board book. Shaped to resemble scenes from the story, each page introduces a new setting, adding a hands-on and visual dimension to this beloved tale that teaches kids to be resourceful in the face of danger and to beware of deception.

This unique board book, aimed at kids ages 3–5, brings the classic fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel vividly to life for the smallest readers. With its highly tactile format, it offers a freshly interactive way to experience an age-old folk story. Designed to fit perfectly into small hands, it's both a book and a toy, providing hours of entertainment. Its durable construction ensures that it can withstand enthusiastic young hands, making it a lasting addition to any child's library.

Editor review

1 review

The pine tree looks VERY chewable

July 06, 2024

Overall rating

3.3

Plot

4.0

Characters

3.0

Writing Style

3.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

This classic Brothers Grimm tale gets an abbreviated retelling in this shaped board book. The brother and sister get lost in the woods while their father is chopping wood, and are lured with candy by the witch who wants to eat them. Once Hansel figures this out, he manages to trick the witch and shovel her into the fireplace, allowing the children to escape and return home. They are happily greated by their parents.

Good Points

Since board books are for the youngest readers, it makes sense that some of the more troubling subtext is avoided, but there are some details that are missing. This is mainly because the book is very small, and since the pages are not rectangular, there is little room for text. The cover is a tree, which is lower than a tall pine tree behind it. Further pages have the outline of the gingerbread house, and the final page has a tree. Looking at the book when it is closed gives the optimal impact, but the pages are intriguing while reading as well. The copy I had needed a bit of glue on the spine, but that is easily remedied.

I haven't done any deep dives into board books, so don't know if there are any more fairy tales that have innovative book design. I do know that my own personal children were big fans of a tiny set of barnyard animal books because they could carry the books even when their hands were very small. I'm also a huge fan of making sure children are aware of lots of folk and fairy tales. Layer by Layer Sleeping Beauty by Carly Madden and Cynthia Alonso is probably the closet read alike I can find, and this series also includes Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty.