THE FAIRY TALES

These four tales from the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault (Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella) were first published as separate small volumes in the 1970s and again in 1992. However, this new format, containing four of the original six tales, marks an impressive step forward. Pienkowski’s exquisite illustrations of paper-cut silhouettes with occasional color or marbled paper effects are of such astonishing detail and great power that they need this larger size to show off their beauty. Much care has gone into the making of this volume; the font is large, clear and decorative and there is judicious use of white space. Still, there are gorgeous illustrations on every page. Even the page numbers nestle within a fleuron. The language is consciously antique but effective and is well suited to reading aloud. A wonderful gift in all meanings of the word. (foreword, author and translator notes) (Fairytales. 7-12)