Product Description

This exquisitely illustrated, large format gift book features ten of the most enduring fairy tales of all time. The stories, chosen and edited by the artist, are a balance of 'princess' classics and frolicking adventure tales.

Artist Scott Gustafson spent more than four years creating the seventy-five rich oil paintings, reproduced here in full color. His style is reminiscent of N.C. Wyeth and Wyeth;s gifted student Jessie Wilcox Smith (plus a touch of Arthur Rackham in the fairies). The rounded-face, glowing children and charming interiors contribute to Gustafson?s unique and contemporary style, which will capture the hearts of even the most hard-boiled media-savvy child.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27559 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 6-Gustafson has selected 10 of the best-known tales to retell and illustrate: "Goldilocks," "Puss in Boots," "Hansel and Gretel," "Snow White," and the like. His luminous paintings-from spot art to full spreads-are carefully composed and rendered. The facial expressions and postures of humans and animals alike are full of life. The language of the retellings is adequate, but not inspired. All in all, this handsome, oversized volume is a good addition to libraries that need to replace or supplement their fairy-tale collections.
Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 3-5. Gustafson uses 10 familiar folktales as vehicles for more than 70 elaborately detailed paintings that he acknowledges owe much to N.C. Wyeth, Arthur Rackham, and Normal Rockwell. The tales in the oversize volume are presented in toned down, nonviolent versions; the princess kisses the frog prince rather than throwing him against a wall, for instance, and "Cinderella" ends amicably. "The Three Pigs" is the most altered; as neither of the first two pigs dies, and some of the dialogue is rhymed ("'Ha, ha, old wolf, for a fool you've been taken. That butter churn was full of bacon!'"). The illustrations, ranging from thumb-size vignettes to full-spread scenes, feature nearly photo-realistic figures clad in sumptuous court dress and posed with broadly emotive body language. Gustafson's art doesn't measure up to that of Paul Zelinsky or K. Y. Craft for intensity of feeling, but it does lack Michael Hague's occasionally overwrought sentimentality, and there's plenty to see in the easy-on-the-eyes views. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Scott Gustafson's first artistic inspirations were Disney and Warner Brothers cartoons. He pursued animation at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and Columbia College, but the discovery of book illustrations by N. C. Wyeth, Arthur Rackham, and Norman Rockwell galvanized him. His previous books include The Night Before Christmas, The Nutcracker, and Peter Pan. With Greenwich Workshop Press, he has created two original titles, Alphabet Soup and Animal Orchestra, as well as Classic Fairy Tales.

Customer Reviews

Illustrations Amazing but Text Stilted
I totally agree with other reviewers that the illustrations are totally awesome. But the text attempts too hard to stay true to the earliest versions of these tales so as to make it difficult to read out loud to small children. In some cases, things only made sense when we referred back to some of the European language versions from my wife's childhood. I'm not suggesting references to wicked step-mothers trying to have their step-children offed be removed. And maybe the writers are reacting to the overly PC/Disney-sanitized for your protection trend. I am referring more to story flow. Just as much of the magic of the story can be conveyed through sounds and rhythms as much as the illustrations and accuracy. At the end of the day, I would still highly recommend to others: Just make sure you read it to yourself first and transliterate with spirit when reading out loud to eager young ears.

Will Go Down in History
The artist is not only superlative, the tales are clearly researched back to their origins, making this book wonderful for adults who remember their own fairy tales of youth. The artwork is perfectly entrancing, with detail that keep both young and old spellbound. Destined for greatness in a field glutted with medocrity in both art and story. A Classic for Every Library.

Lovely Illustrations
I bought this book mostly because I am a fan of Scott Gustafson's art work. I was not disappointed. There are illustrations on almost every page with many two page spreads.

The text is pretty standard "fairy tales" stuff, but I feel that the illustrations make it come alive and would excite the imagination of the younger reader. Definitly recommended.