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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In older versions of the classic tale Rapunzel, it always seemed
improbable that a grown man could scale a tower using only his beloved's
hair. Not so in Paul O. Zelinsky's Caldecott Medal-winning version
of Rapunzel. Here, Rapunzel's reddish-blonde mane is thick with
waves and braids, and cascades like a waterfall down the walls of
her isolation tower. In Zelinsky's able hands it's easy to believe
that a prince would harbor no hesitations about scrambling up our
fair heroine's hair.
Of course, this is not the work of an amateur--Zelinsky's lush versions
of Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, and Swamp Angel all earned
him Caldecott Honors. His gorgeous, Italian Renaissance-styled illustrations
are characterized by warm golden tones and the mesmerizing sensation
of trompe l'oeuil. Not only does he have the touch of a world-class
illustrator, Zelinsky has also proven himself a master storyteller.
We are frightened when the sorceress demands to take the baby Rapunzel,
we are alarmed when the flowing locks are cruelly shorn, and we
rejoice when the prince and his now modest-haired love are reunited.
The notes at the back of Rapunzel reveal his careful scholarship
regarding the long history of the story (tracing its origins and
transformations from Italy to France and finally to Germany and
the Grimm brothers)--work that no doubt contributed to his clean,
compelling version of the age-old tale. Children will be captivated
by the magical story and evocative pictures and adults will delight
in the fresh feel of a well-loved legend. (Click to see a sample
spread. Illustration © 1997 by Paul O. Zelinsky, published
by Dutton Children's Books, a division of Penguin Putnam Books for
Young Readers.) (Ages 4 and older)
From Publishers Weekly
Trina Schart Hyman fans will be glad to know that Rapunzel, retold
by Barbara Rogasky, originally published in 1982, is back in print.
The artist frames her dark and dramatic full-page and vignette illustrations
in repeated pattern borders, and evokes the detailing and care of
quiltmaking as she pieces together the images of this classic story.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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