What do you think?
Rate this book
The Graphic Canon
The Graphic Canon of Children's Literature: The World's Great Kids' Lit as Comics and Visuals
The original three-volume anthology The Graphic Canon presented the world's classic literature--from ancient times to the late twentieth century--as eye-popping comics, illustrations, and other visual forms. In this follow-up volume, young people's literature through the ages is given new life by the best comics artists and illustrators. Fairy tales, fables, fantastical adventures, young adult novels, swashbuckling yarns, your favorite stories from childhood and your teenage years...they're all here, in all their original complexity and strangeness, before they were censored or sanitized.
470 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2014
About the author
Russ Kick
40 books99 followersEditor of the website The Memory Hole which publishes and archives hidden US government documents, including scientific studies and reports, civil rights-related reports, intelligence and covert action reports.
He was also editor-at-large for The Disinformation Company, where he had published several books including The Book of Lists and 50 Things You're Not Supposed to Know.
He was also editor-at-large for The Disinformation Company, where he had published several books including The Book of Lists and 50 Things You're Not Supposed to Know.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 5, 2015
this is the time of year i float reviews of fun books that would make nice presents. not for me, i already have them. i’m just being a kindly readers’ advisory holiday angel.
"I refuse to lie to children. I refuse to cater to the bullshit of innocence."
- Maurice Sendak
this is a gorgeous book that reminds us how unsettling many esteemed classics of children's literature are. you know, when they're not flat-out terrifying. this is not a book for children, but it uses children's books as its foundation. that's not to say a kid couldn't flip through it - there's nothing more scandalous than a boob, but the point of this book is to kind of reimagine or recontextualize familiar works into something new, something unexpected. they've already been illustrated for kids - let's see what it's like without the disney treatment.
There's something about seeing a children's work fully illustrated sequentially to make the terror and weirdness that much more visceral, that undeniable…We don't often see "Little Red Riding Hood" faithfully related in pictures. It's a shock to see Pinocchio hanging from a tree, Ratty brandishing a pistol in The Wind in the Willows, the wasp ruthlessly torturing the snake in Aesop's fable, Humpty Dumpty cracked wide open and dead, and the three blind mice getting tailectomies, to say nothing of the nightmarish seven-headed Mouse King from The Nutcracker.
and this book delivers. naturally, i wasn't crazy about all the artwork, or all the reboots, but come on - how great it this?
there are fifty texts covered at length, followed by a "gallery" of 61 single images illustrating a storybook, fable, fairytale, nursery rhyme etc. and although i hadn't read or even heard of some of the texts being referenced, this is a truly laudable project, and i definitely want to check out the other books in this series:
From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to Dangerous Liaisons
From "Kubla Khan" to the Bronte Sisters to The Picture of Dorian Gray
From Heart of Darkness to Hemingway to Infinite Jest
and now for a game!! i will post pictures, and you will guess the story!! i will try to limit it to things people have actually heard of, because some of them are a bit obscure, but i'm not going to make it TOO easy! there should probably be prizes, but i haven't figured that part out yet. feel free to make wild suggestions.
okay, here we GO!
1) manuel sumberac (i do not know how to make a háček over the "s")
2) andrea tsurumi
3) david w. tripp
4) lesley barnes
5) maëlle doliveux
6) maëlle doliveux
7) isabel greenberg
8) billy nunez
9) keren katz
(this one is probably too obscure, but i wanted to include it for greg because - foxes!)
10) sandy jimenez
(this one is probably also too hard out of context like this, but yes - that is indeed ziggy stardust and freddie mercury)
11) joy kolitsky
12) molly brooks
13) alex eckman-lawn
(my favorite)
14) roberta gregory
15) lance tooks
16) kevin h. dixon
17) dame darcy
18) vicki nerino
19) caroline picard
20) eric knisley
21) shawn cheng
22) matt wiegle
23) kate glasheen
24) katherine hearst
(probably also too hard without context, but i love this artwork, which i photographed poorly)
25) emelie östergren
26) ernie colón
27) tori christina mckenna
28) lucy knisley
29) omri koresh
30) j-box
31) mimi leung
32) aaron fulcher
33) maria pérez pacheco
34) katrina young
35) jeff christensen
great, great book.
"I refuse to lie to children. I refuse to cater to the bullshit of innocence."
- Maurice Sendak
this is a gorgeous book that reminds us how unsettling many esteemed classics of children's literature are. you know, when they're not flat-out terrifying. this is not a book for children, but it uses children's books as its foundation. that's not to say a kid couldn't flip through it - there's nothing more scandalous than a boob, but the point of this book is to kind of reimagine or recontextualize familiar works into something new, something unexpected. they've already been illustrated for kids - let's see what it's like without the disney treatment.
There's something about seeing a children's work fully illustrated sequentially to make the terror and weirdness that much more visceral, that undeniable…We don't often see "Little Red Riding Hood" faithfully related in pictures. It's a shock to see Pinocchio hanging from a tree, Ratty brandishing a pistol in The Wind in the Willows, the wasp ruthlessly torturing the snake in Aesop's fable, Humpty Dumpty cracked wide open and dead, and the three blind mice getting tailectomies, to say nothing of the nightmarish seven-headed Mouse King from The Nutcracker.
and this book delivers. naturally, i wasn't crazy about all the artwork, or all the reboots, but come on - how great it this?
there are fifty texts covered at length, followed by a "gallery" of 61 single images illustrating a storybook, fable, fairytale, nursery rhyme etc. and although i hadn't read or even heard of some of the texts being referenced, this is a truly laudable project, and i definitely want to check out the other books in this series:
From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to Dangerous Liaisons
From "Kubla Khan" to the Bronte Sisters to The Picture of Dorian Gray
From Heart of Darkness to Hemingway to Infinite Jest
and now for a game!! i will post pictures, and you will guess the story!! i will try to limit it to things people have actually heard of, because some of them are a bit obscure, but i'm not going to make it TOO easy! there should probably be prizes, but i haven't figured that part out yet. feel free to make wild suggestions.
okay, here we GO!
1) manuel sumberac (i do not know how to make a háček over the "s")
2) andrea tsurumi
3) david w. tripp
4) lesley barnes
5) maëlle doliveux
6) maëlle doliveux
7) isabel greenberg
8) billy nunez
9) keren katz
(this one is probably too obscure, but i wanted to include it for greg because - foxes!)
10) sandy jimenez
(this one is probably also too hard out of context like this, but yes - that is indeed ziggy stardust and freddie mercury)
11) joy kolitsky
12) molly brooks
13) alex eckman-lawn
(my favorite)
14) roberta gregory
15) lance tooks
16) kevin h. dixon
17) dame darcy
18) vicki nerino
19) caroline picard
20) eric knisley
21) shawn cheng
22) matt wiegle
23) kate glasheen
24) katherine hearst
(probably also too hard without context, but i love this artwork, which i photographed poorly)
25) emelie östergren
26) ernie colón
27) tori christina mckenna
28) lucy knisley
29) omri koresh
30) j-box
31) mimi leung
32) aaron fulcher
33) maria pérez pacheco
34) katrina young
35) jeff christensen
great, great book.
May 20, 2018
An anthology of different "children's" stories, starting from some typical choices like Brother Grimm's stories and Aesop, continuing with stories like Tom Saywer and Wizard of Oz and ending with Harry Potter, Time Machine and Anne Frank.
Some illustrations were amazing pieces of art, some were cute comics that explained whole books in one page, some were ugly.
In any case, it is worth owning this book.
Some illustrations were amazing pieces of art, some were cute comics that explained whole books in one page, some were ugly.
In any case, it is worth owning this book.
November 7, 2017
Some of the adaptations were spot on. Others, not so much. Still, the book is incredibly beautiful. Well worth a look if you are a graphic novel/kidlit aficionado.
September 9, 2015
Like any anthology such as this, there are hits and misses, and if you don't know the stories that these are based on, some of them can be confusing, or just flat out skipable. However, the variety of art styles and techniques was wide reaching and gorgeous to look at, regardless of story.
I actually didn't care much for most of the adaptations of novels (both modern and classics), but I really enjoyed all of the fairy tale adaptations there were. They're the ones I still remember, while most of the novel ones either fell flat or were in styles I wasn't as crazy about. There were a few exceptions when it came to novels though, namely The Time Machine and Pippi Longstocking, and the ultimate complete Oz series summaries.
I have this book to thank for kicking me to finally read the Oz stories (which I can now say, that style was on point), and this was my first introduction to Sandberg's "Rootabega Stories" (although I wasn't a fan of the style or storytelling here, its nonsensical premise was too intriguing not to research further).
While this certainly isn't for children (traditional Grimm level violence, some nudity, some delightfully creepy illustrations in some parts), I would recommend it for middle graders on up, who likely have been exposed to more of the stories, and hopefully have gotten to a point where they appreciate different art styles.
I was pleased with the variety of styles and stories told, and this was the first time a compilation such as this encouraged me to go out and read some source materials, rather than simply be content with not understanding the adaptation.
See the full table of contents here.
(Cross posted on my blog.)
I actually didn't care much for most of the adaptations of novels (both modern and classics), but I really enjoyed all of the fairy tale adaptations there were. They're the ones I still remember, while most of the novel ones either fell flat or were in styles I wasn't as crazy about. There were a few exceptions when it came to novels though, namely The Time Machine and Pippi Longstocking, and the ultimate complete Oz series summaries.
I have this book to thank for kicking me to finally read the Oz stories (which I can now say, that style was on point), and this was my first introduction to Sandberg's "Rootabega Stories" (although I wasn't a fan of the style or storytelling here, its nonsensical premise was too intriguing not to research further).
While this certainly isn't for children (traditional Grimm level violence, some nudity, some delightfully creepy illustrations in some parts), I would recommend it for middle graders on up, who likely have been exposed to more of the stories, and hopefully have gotten to a point where they appreciate different art styles.
I was pleased with the variety of styles and stories told, and this was the first time a compilation such as this encouraged me to go out and read some source materials, rather than simply be content with not understanding the adaptation.
See the full table of contents here.
(Cross posted on my blog.)
February 10, 2016
I love the Graphic Canon series! I think it is such a unique, wonderful way to make literature, especially the daunting or boring pieces, accessible and wonderful. This one might be my favorite of them all though. The takes on fables, fairytales and kids' books are imaginative, if not always pretty (I'm looking at you, Alice). I read a few new fairy tales (for me, anyway), and got to read my favorites in a whole new way.
Seriously, these books are awesome. I've been introduced to new books I want to read, new adaptations and translations of stories I'm familiar with, and new artist's and their projects. There are even handy indexes, which I refer to far too much. I've been touting these to my friends for 2 years now, so I guess it's the internet's turn.
Crime and Mystery is supposed to come out this year! Needless to say, I am stoked!
Seriously, these books are awesome. I've been introduced to new books I want to read, new adaptations and translations of stories I'm familiar with, and new artist's and their projects. There are even handy indexes, which I refer to far too much. I've been touting these to my friends for 2 years now, so I guess it's the internet's turn.
Crime and Mystery is supposed to come out this year! Needless to say, I am stoked!
February 27, 2018
A large, lovely compendium of retold classics. Fun to experience other artists’ reimaginings.
January 28, 2022
Loved the art and the stories are classic but some of it was really hard to read because the print was so small or weirdly positioned.
February 8, 2015
This was so much fun to flip through. I found myself drawn at first to my favorites- Alice in wonderland (which was hilarious! Alice reminded me totally of LSP in Adventure Time ), Oz (amazing, one page summary for each 14 books, colored like old sunday comics, original pages were two feet by a yard!), Watership Down (like a dark, silent movie of Fiver's horrific, prophecy and trying to get the rabbits out), and Harry Potter (full summary posters for each book).
But then I found myself flipping through all the others, each in such a unique art style and adaptation. Especially liked- the colorful, geometric version of Time Machine. the simplistic, Chinese version of Goldilocks. the tiny, red-haired, bundle of spaz that is Heidi.
Some were adaptations of the whole story, some were brief summaries of the story, and some were adaptations of excerpts of the original story. All in all, a beautiful and creative collection.
But then I found myself flipping through all the others, each in such a unique art style and adaptation. Especially liked- the colorful, geometric version of Time Machine. the simplistic, Chinese version of Goldilocks. the tiny, red-haired, bundle of spaz that is Heidi.
Some were adaptations of the whole story, some were brief summaries of the story, and some were adaptations of excerpts of the original story. All in all, a beautiful and creative collection.
November 30, 2014
The Graphic Canon of Children's Literature is gorgeous. Editor Russ Kick had gathered an astonishing array of talent to create graphic versions of a range of children's stories, everything from "Little Red Riding Hood" to The Time Machine, several of Edward Lear's poems, old children's rhymes, and the Harry Potter series are also included among other splendors.
There's an amazing variety of art and story styles here.
Do consider the age of the child! The rest of the review with more detail is up on FangirlNation
There's an amazing variety of art and story styles here.
Do consider the age of the child! The rest of the review with more detail is up on FangirlNation
January 18, 2015
The Graphic Canon anthologies are always worth reading. Russ Kick has a real talent for putting these together. This one in particular contains some spectacular work--Maëlle Doliveaux' cut paper renditions of four fables by Jean de la Fontaine, for instance. Admittedly, some of these will probably make sense only if you're familiar with the originals, but still a wonderful book, well worth your time.
done-not-finishing
June 11, 2022Meh. Wasn't as useful for our zoom format as I'd hoped, and the ages it is aiming for seems older - YA rather than my 6 to 16s. . . .
April 30, 2020
Although this is a compilation of children's stories, it is definitely aimed at adults. Expect to revisit the dark origin-tales of beloved favourites. (You'll never look at Red Riding Hood or Pinocchio quite the same way again).
This is a graphic canon and the illustrations matter as much as the stories themselves. My personal favourite was the FireBird (featured on the cover) featuring beautiful, origami-like illustrations by Lesley Barnes. A short intro gave an overview to the story, which was entirely told in pictures.
Many of the stories were told in new ways; for instance, the illustrator of the Wizard of Oz took on all the stories set in Oz, telling each one in a single, full colour page. Then there was the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which the illustrator R Sikoryak decided to do in the style of Bil Keane's Sunday newspaper comic, the Family Circus. Former assistant editor at Marvel Comics Lance Tooks transplanted the classic tales from Aesop's Fables to contemporary Russia; the Lion in Love is now set in the 'hood', the Fox and the Grapes in a nightclub, and the town mouse seems to be a Russian drug lord. 20,000 Leagues under the sea becomes a nod to glam-rock/80s punk.
You'll find everything from rude nursery schoolrhymes to Tolstoy's children's stories, Harry Potter and Anne Frank in this anthology, each one illustrated in an entirely different style. The intro will often give you a historical overview of how the stories evolved over time, or why the illustrator chose to take a new spin on a classic. I do wish that some of the anthology's nods to diversity (like the Peruvian fairytale the Shepherdess and the Condor) were more fleshed out; the better to preserve them. Also, South Asia has its own tradition of folk tales, and it would have been nice to see some of those represented (there was a heavy emphasis on British and American stories).
This is a book to be savoured for its gorgeous or disturbing illustrations, and the little snippets of information about the story's origins, which sometimes hint at why the stories were created in the first place. It's also a nice book to own - yes, you could read it as an e-book, but the effect of the beautiful illustrations would not be the same.
Definitely a fun read. Recommend!
This is a graphic canon and the illustrations matter as much as the stories themselves. My personal favourite was the FireBird (featured on the cover) featuring beautiful, origami-like illustrations by Lesley Barnes. A short intro gave an overview to the story, which was entirely told in pictures.
Many of the stories were told in new ways; for instance, the illustrator of the Wizard of Oz took on all the stories set in Oz, telling each one in a single, full colour page. Then there was the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which the illustrator R Sikoryak decided to do in the style of Bil Keane's Sunday newspaper comic, the Family Circus. Former assistant editor at Marvel Comics Lance Tooks transplanted the classic tales from Aesop's Fables to contemporary Russia; the Lion in Love is now set in the 'hood', the Fox and the Grapes in a nightclub, and the town mouse seems to be a Russian drug lord. 20,000 Leagues under the sea becomes a nod to glam-rock/80s punk.
You'll find everything from rude nursery schoolrhymes to Tolstoy's children's stories, Harry Potter and Anne Frank in this anthology, each one illustrated in an entirely different style. The intro will often give you a historical overview of how the stories evolved over time, or why the illustrator chose to take a new spin on a classic. I do wish that some of the anthology's nods to diversity (like the Peruvian fairytale the Shepherdess and the Condor) were more fleshed out; the better to preserve them. Also, South Asia has its own tradition of folk tales, and it would have been nice to see some of those represented (there was a heavy emphasis on British and American stories).
This is a book to be savoured for its gorgeous or disturbing illustrations, and the little snippets of information about the story's origins, which sometimes hint at why the stories were created in the first place. It's also a nice book to own - yes, you could read it as an e-book, but the effect of the beautiful illustrations would not be the same.
Definitely a fun read. Recommend!
November 4, 2016
Such a beautiful book...definitely not for young kids as there are some pretty gruesome scenes/interpretations. My favourite was the one for the "Firebird", but I've always been partial to this story.
Others of note:
-"Little Red Riding Hood" with art by David Tripp -- stark and eerie
-"The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" with art by Sanya Glisic -- really like the art style)
-"Goldilocks and the Three Bears" with art by Billy Nunez -- love that the story was transplanted to 16th century China!
-"Advice to Little Girls" with art by Frank M. Hansen -- because it's funny!
-"Alice in Wonderland" with art by Vicki Nerino -- because it's the first time I've ever seen Alice portrayed this way...love it!
-"20'000 Leagues Under the Sea" with art by Sandy Jimenez -- love that parts were played by famous musicians
Others of note:
-"Little Red Riding Hood" with art by David Tripp -- stark and eerie
-"The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" with art by Sanya Glisic -- really like the art style)
-"Goldilocks and the Three Bears" with art by Billy Nunez -- love that the story was transplanted to 16th century China!
-"Advice to Little Girls" with art by Frank M. Hansen -- because it's funny!
-"Alice in Wonderland" with art by Vicki Nerino -- because it's the first time I've ever seen Alice portrayed this way...love it!
-"20'000 Leagues Under the Sea" with art by Sandy Jimenez -- love that parts were played by famous musicians
September 2, 2020
NOT FOR CHILDREN. The title of Children's Literature is misleading although the term Graphic is appropriate. The canon includes graphic images of bare breasts, pubic hear and portrays gang gun violence/ threats, and that was only one of Aesop's fables. I am also not sure why The Velveteen Rabbit now includes the derriere of a green monster. While the images may be considered beautiful by some, I consider them to be an abomination to the excellent literature that they represent. Leave this book on the shelf and go read the originals.
July 11, 2017
A beautiful collection of dozens of classic children's stories rendered in graphic novel format by some of today's top illustrators and comics artists. I enjoyed paging through the variety of artistic styles here, though being a non-creative type could make neither heads nor tails of a few of the more abstract illustrations and would not have known which tale I was reading had I not studiously read each introduction prior to its work. Recommended.
May 6, 2022
I do not love all of the art, but I love some of it. I do not love all of the retelling, I did love some of it. I do love the depth of creativity, the coolness of humans.
Rating: pg-13 for some nudity, violence(red riding hood! Creepy)
Recommend: art students interested in graphic novel styles and options. An amazing array, display of options and ideas.
Rating: pg-13 for some nudity, violence(red riding hood! Creepy)
Recommend: art students interested in graphic novel styles and options. An amazing array, display of options and ideas.
November 11, 2016
I actually bought this for myself, because I'm interested in the history of children's literature; a quick and fascinating way to learn about it. I'm sure my 13 year old grandson will appreciate it too.
December 20, 2022
There are some excellent editions in this. It should be noted that some of the entries are just scenes from the book.
The cover illustration is from "The Firebird" which was gorgeous. Also good was the Nutcracker and Goldlilocks.
The cover illustration is from "The Firebird" which was gorgeous. Also good was the Nutcracker and Goldlilocks.
March 12, 2018
Interesting variety.
May 7, 2018
A good reminder how grotesque most kids stories originally were.
October 16, 2018
Astonishing, shocking, and rich with secrets — in short, everything one could wish for from an anthology of graphic stories.
January 25, 2019
Loved it!
March 1, 2023
As with all anthologies, some were gems and others not as successful. I did appreciate all of the Oz books summarized in single page strips.
August 10, 2024
Looked at all the pages, read some stories here and there. Enjoyed most Bremen Town musicians; the compilation summaries of the Oz books and Harry Potter series were fun to look at as well.
August 15, 2021
Interesting mix of styles and interpretations. Please note that while the base material is children's literature, some of the adaptations use are not for children.
June 5, 2016
This was so much fun to read!
As with the other volumes of the graphic canon, Russ Kick’s thoughtful commentary on each piece provided me with tons of insight into all the works of children’s literature that are considered classics. What I found interesting was that the blurry line between adult and children’s lit always existed; many of these classics started as adult stories. Children’s novels have always been complex with complicated themes and immoral characters; cautionary and informative tales.
The second thing I found interesting was that censorship has been happening since the days of the Grimm brothers, with tales being edited and toned down to suit younger audiences. Over time, gorier parts get removed and long stories abridged. While I do not believe in sheltering children, there are some things that young children don’t need to know about – but it’s a hard line to draw. I take no issue with giving simpler versions of novels to children – so long as it is not sanitized to the point where the message is lost. Life involves pain and loss and sacrifice and it’s important that children experience this.
Which bring me to my next point – Disney. Kick’s disdain for Disney is something I completely agree with. Not only did Disney completely sanitize all the fairy tales for children, they also created versions of the characters that remain engraved in the collective consciousness, preventing us from imagining these stories in a different way. Literature is meant to be interpreted in different ways – not not reduced to a single image.
Thankfully, the graphic adaptations that fill this volume each showcase the respective work of literature in a new light – a way that makes sense, but hasn’t been done before. Though I didn’t like every artist’s style, I was able to appreciate their re-imaginings of the classics and each pushed me to look at these classic novels in a whole new way.
In a lot of ways, this volume was a lot more fun then the other ones because, a) it’s kids lit after all, and b) it was wonderful to return to some childhood favourites. I also knew way more of the stories than in the other three volumes which made following along a lot more satisfying.
Recommended to lovers of graphic novels, children’s lit, or those who are interested in getting some interesting commentary and new angles on classics.
As with the other volumes of the graphic canon, Russ Kick’s thoughtful commentary on each piece provided me with tons of insight into all the works of children’s literature that are considered classics. What I found interesting was that the blurry line between adult and children’s lit always existed; many of these classics started as adult stories. Children’s novels have always been complex with complicated themes and immoral characters; cautionary and informative tales.
The second thing I found interesting was that censorship has been happening since the days of the Grimm brothers, with tales being edited and toned down to suit younger audiences. Over time, gorier parts get removed and long stories abridged. While I do not believe in sheltering children, there are some things that young children don’t need to know about – but it’s a hard line to draw. I take no issue with giving simpler versions of novels to children – so long as it is not sanitized to the point where the message is lost. Life involves pain and loss and sacrifice and it’s important that children experience this.
Which bring me to my next point – Disney. Kick’s disdain for Disney is something I completely agree with. Not only did Disney completely sanitize all the fairy tales for children, they also created versions of the characters that remain engraved in the collective consciousness, preventing us from imagining these stories in a different way. Literature is meant to be interpreted in different ways – not not reduced to a single image.
Thankfully, the graphic adaptations that fill this volume each showcase the respective work of literature in a new light – a way that makes sense, but hasn’t been done before. Though I didn’t like every artist’s style, I was able to appreciate their re-imaginings of the classics and each pushed me to look at these classic novels in a whole new way.
In a lot of ways, this volume was a lot more fun then the other ones because, a) it’s kids lit after all, and b) it was wonderful to return to some childhood favourites. I also knew way more of the stories than in the other three volumes which made following along a lot more satisfying.
Recommended to lovers of graphic novels, children’s lit, or those who are interested in getting some interesting commentary and new angles on classics.
January 30, 2015
The Graphic Canon of Children’s Literature, edited by Russ Kick, is part of a series of presentations of various artists’ takes on classic works of literature. Covering everything from Aesop’s fables to one-page overviews of each book in the Harry Potter series, each artist brings to life a unique perspective of a work ranging from delicate impressionistic watercolors to intricate collage to intentionally crude comic strips.
The editor prefaces each work by introducing the story, its history, notes about the author, and things to look for from the artist. This overview is very helpful for those uninitiated in these very diverse childrens stories, and usually has something new for those who are familiar with the work. Some of them are powerful and beautiful such as Sanya Gilsic’s illustration of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Several are clever reimaginings, like Lance Tooks’ interpretation of Aesop’s the City Mouse and the Country Mouse as a Russian gangster and his bumpkin cousin. Many are straightforward illustrations that add flavor to some old favorites; Andrea Tsurumis illustration of the re-taking of Toad Hall from Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows is a great way to enjoy one of my favorite stories.
Some of the art left me cold; I don’t enjoy cramped and crabbed comic art, and some of the selections were obliquely trying to push boundaries. One does not expect to go a museum and enjoy every piece equally, but I found overall the art to be almost always thoughtful and meaningful if not delightful.
It should be noted that the stories in this compilation are of children’s literature, but frequently would not be deemed appropriate for innocents by today’s standards. Often older, less gentle versions of stories are selected and many of the artists have sharpened the adult edges that they found there. I should think that this book would be a great enjoyment for fairy tale enthusiasts and graphic art fans, a cross-roads that I am happy to inhabit. I will be looking for other titles in this series for new ways to look at familiar stories.
The editor prefaces each work by introducing the story, its history, notes about the author, and things to look for from the artist. This overview is very helpful for those uninitiated in these very diverse childrens stories, and usually has something new for those who are familiar with the work. Some of them are powerful and beautiful such as Sanya Gilsic’s illustration of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Several are clever reimaginings, like Lance Tooks’ interpretation of Aesop’s the City Mouse and the Country Mouse as a Russian gangster and his bumpkin cousin. Many are straightforward illustrations that add flavor to some old favorites; Andrea Tsurumis illustration of the re-taking of Toad Hall from Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows is a great way to enjoy one of my favorite stories.
Some of the art left me cold; I don’t enjoy cramped and crabbed comic art, and some of the selections were obliquely trying to push boundaries. One does not expect to go a museum and enjoy every piece equally, but I found overall the art to be almost always thoughtful and meaningful if not delightful.
It should be noted that the stories in this compilation are of children’s literature, but frequently would not be deemed appropriate for innocents by today’s standards. Often older, less gentle versions of stories are selected and many of the artists have sharpened the adult edges that they found there. I should think that this book would be a great enjoyment for fairy tale enthusiasts and graphic art fans, a cross-roads that I am happy to inhabit. I will be looking for other titles in this series for new ways to look at familiar stories.
January 9, 2015
Graphic retellings and reimaginings of fairytales, fables, and classic works of children's literature. I really liked the way familiar stories read with a fresh twist (i.e. thinking especially of the treatment of Alice in Wonderland and Little Red Riding Hood, even the Harry Potter and Oz series).
There's a nice balance here, and stories are collected from around the world and across time (Aesops fables to Hans Christian Anderson, Brothers Grimm and Harry Potter). An introduction preceding each tale helps clue readers into relevant info regarding the author, story, and the artist's approach to the artwork included in this volume.
Highly recommended for adult fans of children's literature and graphic novels.
There's a nice balance here, and stories are collected from around the world and across time (Aesops fables to Hans Christian Anderson, Brothers Grimm and Harry Potter). An introduction preceding each tale helps clue readers into relevant info regarding the author, story, and the artist's approach to the artwork included in this volume.
Highly recommended for adult fans of children's literature and graphic novels.
December 19, 2014
Just read, and what a delight to look into a subject I loved as a child a hundred years or so ago. Why is the comic coming back into popularity as the librarian's selection of the year? Simply the format and the type, pictures and wild crazy narratives that young people delight in. Sort of takes the edge off of school and family demands and lets the reader escape.
I always like criticism and insight into the world of reading. After too many graduate courses on the professors' selection of what should be purchased for the school library, this old age look back is wonderful and freeing.
I always like criticism and insight into the world of reading. After too many graduate courses on the professors' selection of what should be purchased for the school library, this old age look back is wonderful and freeing.
June 27, 2023
A great idea in theory. Obviously any anthology will have some you like and some you don't. I felt like some of these artists weren't really comic book artists and just wanted to show off their art without really telling the story.
Some of these were not created with children in mind; I wouldn't want kids picking them up. But then others, like the one-page summaries of the Oz books and Harry Potter books, were really good.
I'm glad I read it and glad I have it, but it's probably only for children's lit enthusiasts and academics.
Some of these were not created with children in mind; I wouldn't want kids picking them up. But then others, like the one-page summaries of the Oz books and Harry Potter books, were really good.
I'm glad I read it and glad I have it, but it's probably only for children's lit enthusiasts and academics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews