Snow White: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm
Gr 1-3–Lovely, broad paintings provide a rich sense of place and characters in this faithful rendering of the well-known tale. Snow White is a pretty child, the envious queen is haughty and wonderfully wizened in her disguises, and the dwarfs are distinctive individuals. Only the final wedding scene seems hastily assembled with the couple standing to one side on a white spread. Here Snow White and her prince unaccountably appear less mature than in the previous scene of their first meeting. Black-and-white endpapers in a busy vine pattern are a jolting contrast to the fulsome illustrations. Many of the best-known versions retain the Grimms' concluding emphasis on the death of the wicked stepmother, but this one softens the harsh lesson, giving readers a happily ever after statement about the bridal pair. For the most part this volume compares well with other retellings and will be a useful addition where needed.Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston© Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.