The Classics: Tales from Grimm

The Classics: Tales from Grimm by Antonia Barber, illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain (Frances Lincoln)

HC RRP $ 27.95

ISBN 9781847805096

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Popular author of The Mousehole Cat and many other children’s books, Antonia Barber has retold 9 classic fairytales by the brothers Grimm. Companion to the gift edition of Tales from Hans Christian Anderson by Naomi Lewis, and published at the same time through Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, it is presented in an almost identical format with an outstanding jacket.

The stunning end pages are the first thing you see when you open the cover. It’s a welcome into the world of the imagination made immortal by these storytellers. The equally stunning illustrations transform the text into a visual feast to drag you back to your childhood when mystery, surprise and awe awaited on every page.

This collection contains favourites made new, but with a taste of the old flavouring the tale through Antonia Barber’s retelling. They include The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Briar-Rose, Rapunzel, Little Red-Cap, The Golden Goose, Snow White, Sweet Porridge and the Elves and the Shoemaker, one of my favourites.

This gorgeous publication to own or gift, has many full page illustrations. Some smaller ones are placed at random within the text, others at the top or bottom. A creation of great beauty, this book of fairytales suits all ages. It can be read alone, read to younger children, or enjoyed for its beauty and content by older lovers of fairytales.