This is another one of those books I’ve been excited about for ages! I finally bought it this week and I think it’s my favourite in Bethan Woollvin’s wonderful fairy tale series so far.
“The good witch Willow only uses good magic, and NEVER gets angry. But Hansel and Gretel test her patience to its limit…can Willow stop the naughty twins from destroying everything?”
Re-inventions, re-tellings, re-imaginings, re-workings: call them what you will, new versions of old tales are nothing new. There are a plethora of fairy-tale-turned-on-its-head stories out there. Some are great, some are awful, most lie somewhere in between and serve their purpose as texts for primary teachers with objectives to cover (call me cynical).
Bethan Woolvin’s series falls firmly into the first category: humorous, strong takes on well-known stories and characters. Each book provides us with something fresh and inspiring: Little Red gives us a bold heroine (with something of a nod to Roald Dahl’s Red Riding Hood in Revolting Rhymes); Rapunzel gives us a similarly brave and self-reliant damsel whose distress is taken firmly into her own hands (although we can’t help but wonder how she gets back into the tower?) and in Hansel and Gretel we see that no-one, no matter how good, is perfect and everyone’s patience has their limits!
The success of these retellings is down in no small part to Bethan’s fantastic illustrations. With a striking and distinctive style, her artwork is worth a look all on its own, but as a partner to these modern versions of classic tales it’s a perfect match.
Clear, straightforward text with no beating around the bush, fussy description or unnecessary extras leaves plenty of space for the pictures to do most of the talking. Similarly straightforward with an incredibly limited colour palette; big, bold images and clever use of simple lines and marks to add texture and detail, the illustrations are full of life and the facial expressions (despite their deceptively basic features) speak volumes (personal favourites being Hansel and Gretel’s eyes on meeting the witch; their full, hamster cheeks on feasting in her house and Willow’s reactions to their antics!).
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read – children will love Hansel and Gretel’s shenanigans (and adults will no doubt recognise the witch’s shortening fuse!). And as for the ending – well, I don’t want to spoil it, but it’s dark, delicious and absolutely delightful! Go and get the series now (speaking of which: Rapunzel has just been released in paperback, so you really have no excuse not to!)
Bellis Does Books 