Rapunzel and the Evil Witch

Tales for Once & Ever #3

by Jonathan Pageau, Heather Pollington (Illustrator)

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair…

From the mind of Jonathan Pageau and a storytelling tradition older than the Brothers Grimm comes Rapunzel and the Evil Witch. This numinous retelling of a beloved classic allows modern readers to reclaim the beauty of this well-beloved fairy tale through insightful storytelling and iconic illustrations. Like all great fairy tales, Rapunzel and the Evil Witch is written to be enjoyed by children, but contains hidden treasures for readers of all ages.

The book is designed and illustrated with a magical richness by Heather Pollington. Her work on some of the world's most beloved fantasy and fairytale movie franchises has made her an expert in hiding deep meaning within beautiful details.

Rapunzel and the Evil Witch is the third volume of a series of eight fairy tale books called Tales for Once & Ever, written by Jonathan Pageau. Together, these stories weave an enchanting tapestry of well-known characters and narratives, ushering modern readers into a fairy tale world worthy of our great heritage.

Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this 5 stars solely for the moment when my daughter figured out the stories in the series are connected being a top parent moment of my life.

[Jeremy]

Here Pageau and Pollington discuss the book, and here's Pageau discussing Rapunzel in terms of double symbolism and Adam and Eve.

[Connor Leoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the collection so far.

This is a raw reaction here, but golly, I loved it. All things considered, I’m not familiar with Rapunzel save the fact that she has long hair, but magnificent job crafting a coming of age story for both girls & boys. I loved this

[Geno C. Foral · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mesmerizing and beautifully crafted tale of Rapunzel. The author and artist are improving on their craft in retelling our inherited myths. Unfortunately, they get a little sidetracked in trying to weave their books together, shoehorning the previous books into the narrative of the next. While this sometimes adds to the story, often, it detracts.

I love these stories: their craftsmanship is paired with deep respect and wondrous ambition. I hope the team can reduce their need to interlock each beat. The MCU brought that gimmick to us our culture nearly 20 years ago. It cannot come at the cost of telling good stories.

[Ruben Buijs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not see this book coming, though I thought I knew the story. Pageau breaths new life into this great love story. This series is already a brilliant collection and I am wishing Pageau and Pollington loads of sales!!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! I love how Jonathan Pageau interweaves these stories together into a fairy tale kingdom of sorts. Highly recommend readers read his stories in order, so you can enjoy the world building. I can't wait to read his next one!

[Will Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is gonna sound like people fake quoting their kids but Lottie was actually asking me all kinds of questions not the least of which being "what's beauty?"

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the series so far. I love the art and the retelling was delightful.

[Alexa Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite one 🥰 I loved how all the stories began weaving together. So so good. The illustrations are also gorgeous.