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Hansel and Gretel
Once upon a time, deep in the dark, green forest there was an exquisite house made of cake and sugar--a house made to lure lost, hungry children. But the witch whose delicious house lured Hansel and his sister, Gretel had forgotten two things about lost children: they can be very clever and very brave.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2008
6 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Rylant
515 books862 followersAn author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.
Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.
from bookrags.com
Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.
from bookrags.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 23, 2009
I really enjoyed this version of Hansel and Gretel. Great self-reliant kids here who love one another and don't give up on themselves. I tend to enjoy Cynthia Rylant and, while this retelling was nothing particularly WOW or original, I still liked her style.
The illustrations really made this book stand out, though! I thought they were great!!! My friend Chandra (thanks for the recommendation!) likened them to Edward Gorey meets Japanonisme. I can definitely see this. They also reminded me a bit of some of the 1920s-style children's illustrations i.e., Elsa Beskow (but spooky!) I don't know that they would be everyone's cup of tea, but I thought they were quite intriguing.
The illustrations really made this book stand out, though! I thought they were great!!! My friend Chandra (thanks for the recommendation!) likened them to Edward Gorey meets Japanonisme. I can definitely see this. They also reminded me a bit of some of the 1920s-style children's illustrations i.e., Elsa Beskow (but spooky!) I don't know that they would be everyone's cup of tea, but I thought they were quite intriguing.
January 15, 2020
Audiobook: 2020
3.5⭐️
3.5⭐️
October 25, 2017
I'm very conflicted about this book.
The things I liked:
1. The art is beautiful. It's stylized, but in a charming, understated way.
2. An effort is made to tell the story in a way that explains the lessons therein.
3. The text isn't oversimplified.
But the bad outweighs the good by about three tons.
1. I didn't remember a wicked stepmother in the original story. Was there always a woman to blame for the children's being lost in the forest??
2. Feminism crawled into this book and promptly died. Gretel cries throughout the whole damn story. Hansel does every clever thing to keep them safe. She only helps when she remembers how he told her to have courage, which is apparently the pinnacle of empowered femininity in this book. I COULD GO ON.
3. This stuff is scary as shit! I know that's mostly on the Grimms but good grief, you could skim over a few things. If I just wanted to read it myself, for the illustrations or whatever, that would be fine. But I wanted to read this to a two-year-old and a three-year-old. Yeah, not happening.
The things I liked:
1. The art is beautiful. It's stylized, but in a charming, understated way.
2. An effort is made to tell the story in a way that explains the lessons therein.
3. The text isn't oversimplified.
But the bad outweighs the good by about three tons.
1. I didn't remember a wicked stepmother in the original story. Was there always a woman to blame for the children's being lost in the forest??
2. Feminism crawled into this book and promptly died. Gretel cries throughout the whole damn story. Hansel does every clever thing to keep them safe. She only helps when she remembers how he told her to have courage, which is apparently the pinnacle of empowered femininity in this book. I COULD GO ON.
3. This stuff is scary as shit! I know that's mostly on the Grimms but good grief, you could skim over a few things. If I just wanted to read it myself, for the illustrations or whatever, that would be fine. But I wanted to read this to a two-year-old and a three-year-old. Yeah, not happening.
November 15, 2018
A straightforward insightful retelling of this famous folktale. I enjoyed reading it to my granddaughter because the story was simple, lacking the embellishments that are popular in the Disney version.
September 11, 2017
Great, unique illustrations in this version of one of the creepier fairy tales. Gretel also plays a bigger, more brave role in this one.
December 2, 2008
Love this retelling! Well done all around.
January 6, 2009
I love the pictures in this and the spookiness of the choice of words.
April 5, 2021
Some people might think that coming of age is just a natural process that happens on its own without going through hardships. However, this is not true; for coming of age to happen, one must go through severe and demanding challenges. The originally unknown author(arrangement: Cynthia Rylant) of "Hansel and Gretel" reveals how Gretel became the leader of the journey who was once the passive, weak girl. Gretel only comes of age when she is isolated from her brother in the wicked witch's house. Up to this point, Hansel has been the one to take the lead and make the decisions. During this challenge, Gretel learns to overcome the hardships and saves her brother at last.
During the beginning of the story, when Hansel and Gretel's parents decide to abandon them in the forest, "Gretel wept bitter tears, and said to Hansel, "now all is over with us."" Hansel has to be the one to comfort her and say, "do not distress yourself; I will soon find a way to help us." When Hansel and Gretel were once again left in the forest, Gretel once again "began to cry and said, "How are we to get out of the forest now?" Hansel once again "comforted her and said, "Just wait a little, until the moon has risen, and then we will soon find the way." Hansel soon "took his little sister by the hand" and led her to safety. For the second time, a famine came; the evil stepmother wanted to abandon the kids, but like before, it's always Hansel to comfort Gretel and lead the journey.
However, this changes when they get to the witch's house, and Gretel is being separated from Hansel, who is being held captive in a cage. Her personality changes and she experiences the coming of age. At first, Gretel cried about the hard work the witch had given her, but a month later, when the witch was going to burn her alive, Gretel managed to trick the witch and burn the evil woman instead. She then became the one to free Hansel, and together they escaped from the witch's house. Who saved them? It's not Hansel, the person who was always saving Gretel along the way, but it's Gretel, the passive, weak girl. Along the process, Gretel learned how to manage her emotions and use her intelligence to kill the wicked witch. Later on in the story, when the children were going to ride the duck, Gretel once again saved Hansel's life by telling him to ride across the lake first, for it's too heavy for both of them to ride at the same time, and they will sink.
The little cat, the pigeon, the snow-white bird, and the duck. They're all white, which symbolizes purity in western civilizations. Hansel and Gretel repeatedly prayed to God to help them during the journey. The story happens in nature, which is often described to be God's way of handling things. Notice when Hansel was throwing the pebbles/crumbs on the floor, he thought he saw a white cat and a white pigeon on the roof, which was actually the sun shining on the chimney, representing God. God is actually present throughout the whole story; he was weaving Hansel and Gretel's life so they would have the happily ever after ending. First, God's little birds ate the crumbs, leaving Hansel and Gretel in the forest, unable to go home. Second, they're led by the snow-white singing bird to the witch's house, where Gretel comes of age, grows as a person, and kills the witch, saving Hansel. Lastly, the white duck then leads the siblings back to the house, exactly when the wicked stepmother dies. The animals in this story are all pure, after all. They made Gretel a better person and gave the family a "and they lived happily after" ending. God's ways of handling things are mysterious yet glorious. We see the snow-white bird as a source of insidious evil; yet, the bird helped Gretel come of age, and during that one month Gretel comes of age, the wicked stepmother dies, just in time for the siblings to return home and live a happy life.
Sometimes, fairy tales can be treated as simple stories with flat characters. However, they were not first made to be fairy tales, but stories adults told each other. When we deeply look at the details of the story, we can find out the true meanings behind the fable and learn the tale's actual moral.
During the beginning of the story, when Hansel and Gretel's parents decide to abandon them in the forest, "Gretel wept bitter tears, and said to Hansel, "now all is over with us."" Hansel has to be the one to comfort her and say, "do not distress yourself; I will soon find a way to help us." When Hansel and Gretel were once again left in the forest, Gretel once again "began to cry and said, "How are we to get out of the forest now?" Hansel once again "comforted her and said, "Just wait a little, until the moon has risen, and then we will soon find the way." Hansel soon "took his little sister by the hand" and led her to safety. For the second time, a famine came; the evil stepmother wanted to abandon the kids, but like before, it's always Hansel to comfort Gretel and lead the journey.
However, this changes when they get to the witch's house, and Gretel is being separated from Hansel, who is being held captive in a cage. Her personality changes and she experiences the coming of age. At first, Gretel cried about the hard work the witch had given her, but a month later, when the witch was going to burn her alive, Gretel managed to trick the witch and burn the evil woman instead. She then became the one to free Hansel, and together they escaped from the witch's house. Who saved them? It's not Hansel, the person who was always saving Gretel along the way, but it's Gretel, the passive, weak girl. Along the process, Gretel learned how to manage her emotions and use her intelligence to kill the wicked witch. Later on in the story, when the children were going to ride the duck, Gretel once again saved Hansel's life by telling him to ride across the lake first, for it's too heavy for both of them to ride at the same time, and they will sink.
The little cat, the pigeon, the snow-white bird, and the duck. They're all white, which symbolizes purity in western civilizations. Hansel and Gretel repeatedly prayed to God to help them during the journey. The story happens in nature, which is often described to be God's way of handling things. Notice when Hansel was throwing the pebbles/crumbs on the floor, he thought he saw a white cat and a white pigeon on the roof, which was actually the sun shining on the chimney, representing God. God is actually present throughout the whole story; he was weaving Hansel and Gretel's life so they would have the happily ever after ending. First, God's little birds ate the crumbs, leaving Hansel and Gretel in the forest, unable to go home. Second, they're led by the snow-white singing bird to the witch's house, where Gretel comes of age, grows as a person, and kills the witch, saving Hansel. Lastly, the white duck then leads the siblings back to the house, exactly when the wicked stepmother dies. The animals in this story are all pure, after all. They made Gretel a better person and gave the family a "and they lived happily after" ending. God's ways of handling things are mysterious yet glorious. We see the snow-white bird as a source of insidious evil; yet, the bird helped Gretel come of age, and during that one month Gretel comes of age, the wicked stepmother dies, just in time for the siblings to return home and live a happy life.
Sometimes, fairy tales can be treated as simple stories with flat characters. However, they were not first made to be fairy tales, but stories adults told each other. When we deeply look at the details of the story, we can find out the true meanings behind the fable and learn the tale's actual moral.
September 5, 2022
From the mindful wording of Cynthia Rylant to the beautiful illustrations by Jen Corace, this picture book version of the classic fairytale "Hansel and Gretel" delivers the strong message that fight and forgiveness can be done by any person no matter their size or age. The moral of the story to not give up on oneself or on someone you love is clear when the children think of their father's happiness first—even after he chose to give up on them and listen to his wife's advice of abandoning them in the forest—and not rage or anger upon their joyful return home with treasures galore. Without much thought, the children chose to forgive their father and love him despite his weaknesses.
Looking at this story from a spiritual point of view, my children and I could see how the father was fearful and succumbed to evil's lies when he was persuaded to leave his children in the forest. We immediately thought of faith over fear even in the hardest of moments. Then the ending of the story also gave us hope because the children immediately forgave their father when they embraced him with love and joy rather than sadness or sorrow. I believe this book can be enjoyed by both secular and non-secular homeschooling families simply for the moral of the story alone, let alone the spiritual message.
Looking at this story through the lens of my college class glasses, I find this reinvention of the classic fairytale by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm a decent retelling. "Contemporary writers often turn to older fairy tales to reinvent them for a new audience" (Hintz and Tribunella, 160). In light of this quote, I chose to look for similarities and differences between only a couple versions of "Hansel and Gretel" and came upon the conclusion that reinventions of older fairytales still bring the reader some sort of message to be perceived. I appreciate that element in each reinvention, and I do believe it is a clever way for children and adults alike to learn from.
Furthermore, just because a story has been deemed "fairytale" does not mean it is only for children. Adults may very much enjoy the story, moral, and even illustrations from these beloved literary classics. Though the messages in many fairytales seem dark and like they are not meant for children, I believe with mindful wording and follow up once the story is finished being read that children will be able to practice critical thinking skills. This thought is the same for adults, too. Have you ever reread a book as an adult that you didn't much comprehend when you were a child? Then in adulthood you reread it and have an "aha" moment and it suddenly becomes a favorite. That is how I feel about the classic fairytale Hansel and Gretel.
Looking at this story from a spiritual point of view, my children and I could see how the father was fearful and succumbed to evil's lies when he was persuaded to leave his children in the forest. We immediately thought of faith over fear even in the hardest of moments. Then the ending of the story also gave us hope because the children immediately forgave their father when they embraced him with love and joy rather than sadness or sorrow. I believe this book can be enjoyed by both secular and non-secular homeschooling families simply for the moral of the story alone, let alone the spiritual message.
Looking at this story through the lens of my college class glasses, I find this reinvention of the classic fairytale by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm a decent retelling. "Contemporary writers often turn to older fairy tales to reinvent them for a new audience" (Hintz and Tribunella, 160). In light of this quote, I chose to look for similarities and differences between only a couple versions of "Hansel and Gretel" and came upon the conclusion that reinventions of older fairytales still bring the reader some sort of message to be perceived. I appreciate that element in each reinvention, and I do believe it is a clever way for children and adults alike to learn from.
Furthermore, just because a story has been deemed "fairytale" does not mean it is only for children. Adults may very much enjoy the story, moral, and even illustrations from these beloved literary classics. Though the messages in many fairytales seem dark and like they are not meant for children, I believe with mindful wording and follow up once the story is finished being read that children will be able to practice critical thinking skills. This thought is the same for adults, too. Have you ever reread a book as an adult that you didn't much comprehend when you were a child? Then in adulthood you reread it and have an "aha" moment and it suddenly becomes a favorite. That is how I feel about the classic fairytale Hansel and Gretel.
April 17, 2023
Hansel and Gretel is one of the historical pieces of juvenile literature, a genre in which text may be changed over the years. A version of this title was included in the first edition of the Grimm Brothers compilation of fairy tales and stories published in 1812. That version went through seven additional editions before the last in 1857. In observance of the two hundredth anniversary of the first edition, Jack Zipes translated and republished "The Complete First Edition [of] The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm." Zipes notes that "Hansel and Gretel" was itself modified by the two Grimms, specifically, "the wicked stepmother is actually a biological mother , and these characters were changed to become stepmothers in 1819 clearly because the Grimms held motherhood sacred." The same change was made in "Little Snow White," hence the reference in the quote to "these characters." Many of the old stories for children have been sanitized to lessen public complaints.
Author Cynthia Rylant prefaces her 2008 version of the classis tale with this statement: "It has been said that guardian spirits watch over and protect small children, and that may be so.
But there are also stories of children who had the courage to protect themselves. Such is the story of Hansel and Gretel."
The story is filled with horrible circumstances: poverty, near starvation of the family of four, the mother's plan to abandon the children in the woods, (SPOILER ALERT if you have forgotten the story), incipient murder and cannibalism by a witch, murder by incineration of the witch by Gretel, take home valuable items from the witch's edible house, live happily ever after, although the mean stepmother has died. Ryland's text varies from the original Grimm version, although it remains grim. The children prayed for God's help in the original, but not here. The children found their way home after crossing a river on a swan's back, something not in the original. Nonetheless, the story follows closely with the 1812 original. The current book is, of course, well illustrated, whereas the original presentation mode was by storytelling.
So, it is interesting to revisit the literature many of us grew up with. On reflection, one wonders if the juvenile collection in the library should be plastered with trigger warnings. Or, is this genre just a toughening up process for a world filled with individual and systemic threats?
Author Neil Gaiman has also written a Hansel and Gretel variant. That is next to review.
Author Cynthia Rylant prefaces her 2008 version of the classis tale with this statement: "It has been said that guardian spirits watch over and protect small children, and that may be so.
But there are also stories of children who had the courage to protect themselves. Such is the story of Hansel and Gretel."
The story is filled with horrible circumstances: poverty, near starvation of the family of four, the mother's plan to abandon the children in the woods, (SPOILER ALERT if you have forgotten the story), incipient murder and cannibalism by a witch, murder by incineration of the witch by Gretel, take home valuable items from the witch's edible house, live happily ever after, although the mean stepmother has died. Ryland's text varies from the original Grimm version, although it remains grim. The children prayed for God's help in the original, but not here. The children found their way home after crossing a river on a swan's back, something not in the original. Nonetheless, the story follows closely with the 1812 original. The current book is, of course, well illustrated, whereas the original presentation mode was by storytelling.
So, it is interesting to revisit the literature many of us grew up with. On reflection, one wonders if the juvenile collection in the library should be plastered with trigger warnings. Or, is this genre just a toughening up process for a world filled with individual and systemic threats?
Author Neil Gaiman has also written a Hansel and Gretel variant. That is next to review.
April 22, 2020
Hansel and Gretel, by: Cynthia Rylant
Fairy Tale
Awards: Newbery award author, Seuss Geisel Award in 2006
Audience: K-5th grade
The main characters in this story are Hansel, the boy and Gretel, the girl who were siblings. They were smart and wise children, they lived with their father and stepmom. Their real mother had passed away and ever since then their father has been a weak man grieving his loved one. Their family was poor and didn’t have a lot of money for food and the stepmom was very ungrateful and bitter because of this. She was able to convince the father to get rid of the children so they will have more food.
Other versions of Hansel and Gretel are very similar to this version. In the other version I read a while ago I remember the children going to a house made out of candy where a mean witch in disguise tries to eat them, but they outsmart the witch and escape.
I would use this book to read to my class as a whole talking about what makes it a fairy tale and what's the difference between real life and something made up for a story.
Fairy Tale
Awards: Newbery award author, Seuss Geisel Award in 2006
Audience: K-5th grade
The main characters in this story are Hansel, the boy and Gretel, the girl who were siblings. They were smart and wise children, they lived with their father and stepmom. Their real mother had passed away and ever since then their father has been a weak man grieving his loved one. Their family was poor and didn’t have a lot of money for food and the stepmom was very ungrateful and bitter because of this. She was able to convince the father to get rid of the children so they will have more food.
Other versions of Hansel and Gretel are very similar to this version. In the other version I read a while ago I remember the children going to a house made out of candy where a mean witch in disguise tries to eat them, but they outsmart the witch and escape.
I would use this book to read to my class as a whole talking about what makes it a fairy tale and what's the difference between real life and something made up for a story.
February 24, 2019
The traditional tale of Hansel and Gretel tells the story of a young boy and young girl who are dropped off in a forest by a step-mother who does not want them in the home. As they wander through the woods, they come across a house made out of sweets. However, this is the home of a witch who tries to eat them. With her smart-thinking, the little girl tricks the witch and shoves her into the oven. The siblings are able to return home to their father and everything ends happily. There are some dark tones, as the children are unwanted in their home and almost killed by a witch, but it's a fun, fiction story. It is appropriate for third graders and up.
November 6, 2018
I have obviously heard of the story of Hansel and Gretel before but guess it must have always been orally because I don't believe that I have read the story before this. I learned a lot more details about the plot line of the story while reading this book which kept it interesting to read. I had always thought that Hansel and Gretel had wandered off and gotten lost in the woods but according to this book that is not actually what happened. I would consider adding this to my future classroom library.
Genre: Traditional literature
Reading level: 3-4
Genre: Traditional literature
Reading level: 3-4
March 13, 2020
Once upon a time, deep in the dark, green forest there was an exquisite house made of cake and sugar--a house made to lure lost, hungry children. But the witch whose delicious house lured Hansel and his sister, Gretel had forgotten two things about lost children: they can be very clever and very brave.
March 25, 2021
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grade Level: K-3
This book was a basic telling of the story of Hansel and Gretel. It could be used in a compare/ contrast unit between different versions of the story. The illustrations were well done. There was a lot of details in the pictures. I think students would enjoy this fairy tale and the happy ending of it.
Grade Level: K-3
This book was a basic telling of the story of Hansel and Gretel. It could be used in a compare/ contrast unit between different versions of the story. The illustrations were well done. There was a lot of details in the pictures. I think students would enjoy this fairy tale and the happy ending of it.
November 24, 2018
I changed the names "Hansel and Gretel" to Adam and Maren, which made this book way more macabre. Not sure if they enjoyed it or not... I'm on the fence. This story has always been so disturbing. Illustrations were okay.
July 3, 2019
I think we're nearing the end of our Hansel and Gretel retelling list. Lu was creeped out by this retelling, which I thought was awfully kind to the father (as they usually are).
(July 2019, library book)
(July 2019, library book)
October 29, 2017
I've never liked the story of Hansel and Gretel. After reading this book, I still don't like it.
February 7, 2018
The classic story retold, along with beautiful illustrations. I liked this version a lot because it had more of fable feel.
I think this is a great book to get kids acquainted with the story.
I think this is a great book to get kids acquainted with the story.
June 10, 2018
Though a through representation of the tale, I did not enjoy the book very much. The illustrations were colorful, but the characters were dull. Not Rylant’s best work.
September 25, 2020
The worst father and evil stepmother try to get rid of their kids in this horrid tale told to children, with the lesson that if you are clever enough to live that you can forgive, I guess.
October 16, 2020
Interesting retelling. The illustrations are some of the best and I especially appreciate the witch looking just like an old woman. My kids are so scared of the witch in other versions.
July 25, 2021
Funny & original!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2021
I'm not sure if I would forgive my father if he did that.
February 5, 2022
Love, love, love this version of the classic.
children-s
February 20, 2023I really enjoyed the resilience the children had. My son wanted to read it back to back.
April 3, 2023
I loved this book as a kid, it used to scare me but in a fun way. The illustrations in this book were not my favorite however, they just weren’t colorful enough in my opinion.
Read
August 15, 2023Another delightful retelling by Cynthia Rylant!
June 19, 2019
I also loved the Paul Zelinsky/Rika Lesser version. The text is very similar, but I think the illustrations in this book are more unique.
November 27, 2017
I really like this version of Hansel and Gretel. I think that it does a really good job of helping others realize that they stand up for themselves and aren't going to just give up. I also really loved the illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews