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Crowned: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora
From the New York Times bestselling duo who brought you Magical Visions of Black Beauty, comes Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora. Filled with visual magic and storytelling wonder, these stories reimagine our favorite and most beloved childhood fairy tales and folktales to encourage creativity, empower imagination, and foster self-esteem.
With a Foreword by Pulitzer Prize winner Salamishah Tillet
Revisit beloved classics, but with a twist, such as The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Red Riding Hood, The Poisoned Apple, and find new favorites with stories created especially for the Anansi and the Three Trials, Aku the Sun Maker, How the Zebra Got Its Stripes, The Legend of Princess Yennenga, and John Henry, the Steel-Drivin' Man.
A gift that will keep giving, CROWNED is a joyous celebration of Black beauty, determination, and imagination and a must-have for children and parents everywhere.
"Once again CreativeSoul Photography captures the beauty, innocence, and magic of black children. This is the book I've been waiting to give my grandchildren. It is a wonder of storytelling and imagery." ― Michael Eric Dyson
With a Foreword by Pulitzer Prize winner Salamishah Tillet
Revisit beloved classics, but with a twist, such as The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Red Riding Hood, The Poisoned Apple, and find new favorites with stories created especially for the Anansi and the Three Trials, Aku the Sun Maker, How the Zebra Got Its Stripes, The Legend of Princess Yennenga, and John Henry, the Steel-Drivin' Man.
A gift that will keep giving, CROWNED is a joyous celebration of Black beauty, determination, and imagination and a must-have for children and parents everywhere.
"Once again CreativeSoul Photography captures the beauty, innocence, and magic of black children. This is the book I've been waiting to give my grandchildren. It is a wonder of storytelling and imagery." ― Michael Eric Dyson
272 pages, Hardcover
Published May 23, 2023
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3103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 29, 2023
A super charming collection of fairytales, both vintage and original creations of the authors. The narrators were fantastic, and though this was geared towards a younger audience, often a little simple for me, it's an important book to have out there! And that cover is amazing.
May 29, 2023
This was wonderfully done.
Included traditional Western cultural fairy tales, retold as well as traditional West African fairy tales also retold.
Included traditional Western cultural fairy tales, retold as well as traditional West African fairy tales also retold.
February 4, 2025
What an absolute joy.
February 15, 2023
Thank you for the free ARC.
This was a very enjoyable read.
I like the way the old fairy tales were written in a new way.
It was also nice to read some tales about children in modern day cities.
All of the stories had a feel good ending with a message.
The photography is wonderful.
I wished there were more full color photos.
One thing I did not care for: it was difficult to read the gray pages with white print.
This was a very enjoyable read.
I like the way the old fairy tales were written in a new way.
It was also nice to read some tales about children in modern day cities.
All of the stories had a feel good ending with a message.
The photography is wonderful.
I wished there were more full color photos.
One thing I did not care for: it was difficult to read the gray pages with white print.
June 4, 2023
I'm not really sure how to rate this book, but I think ultimately I did like it overall. This will be a lengthy review, so here's the short version first. I like the idea of this book, and I loved the stories in the third section which focused on brand new fairy tales not based on prior stories. I love the photographs and the behind the scenes look at the photo shoots. I really like a lot of the morals in the stories. However there is a certain amount of cognitive dissonance when reading the European fairy tale retellings because it's such a hodgepodge of the original stories, Disney's versions, and different morals run through a Cinema Sins view of fairy tales that the stories don't work as retellings. I think it's that the attempt to blend different versions and cultures didn't quite gel together in a coherent manner. The African and African American fairy tales and folk tales are mostly solid with one major flub. The Tale of the Warrior Princess Yennenga feels more like the first thirty minutes of Brave than it does the actual folk heroine's story from what little I could find. I do wish the authors had included the names of the country and nation of origin for these stories and or a further reading page where good translations rather than retellings were listed for those who want to read something closer to the original source material. I also think it would have worked better if instead of the European versions they'd gone with African versions of the fairy tales. They may have different names than the European ones but fall into similar tropes and types as say a Sleeping Beauty or a Cinderella archetype.
Now on to the more in depth review:
The Little Mermaid: good moral about choosing to do good and be selfless even to the point of risking your life to save someone who is being a bully to you, but not at all either the Disney version or the original Hans Christian Anderson version. The costuming and sets are a clear reference to the Disney version as is the wanting to have legs, but the way the sea witch is written is closer to the Anderson version. There is no discussion of souls or any of the other deeper theological questions in the original Little Mermaid and the point about otherness doesn't come across as strongly. The story is in some ways too short and abrupt.
The Poisoned Apple: Snow White retelling: costume references Disney, the flow of the story and detail about dislodged apple though no longer a prince who may be into necrophilia, are from the Brother's Grimm version. A good story, but not entirely sure why the huntsman is changed to an older Dwarf woman who is both the intended killer and now rescuer and mother figure to Ebony. I may be missing something culturally here. The morals about true beauty being about bravery and kindness and love winning the day remain more or less the same. Overall a good story, but somewhat disjointed for someone who is familiar with the Brothers Grimm version.
Goldi, the Girl With the Golden Locs: Goldi Locks and the Three Bears retelling: this one works quite well, and is a very good story about finding contentment in life and sharing what you have, not needing materialistic possessions to be happy, etc. I actually liked this one more than the original version.
Asha, The Little Cinder Girl: A decent reimagining of the French Cinderella with references to both the Rodgers and Hammerstein stage show gown and the various Disney versions. The one downside is that this is one of the stories that suffers from the Cinema Sins need to do cheap armchair analysis of fairy tales not operating on normal human logic. Of course, the shoe would only fit her; it's magic, and in those days shoes were more custom fitted than they are now. So here the Prince immediately follows her, finds her and returns her shoe to her. It feels less whimsical and overly boxed in by normal human logic.
Red Riding Hood: hammers home that rumors may not be true, but completely misses the point of the original fairy tale being about being cautious because not all adults have honest intentions towards children and other vulnerable people. It turns it into not judging a book by its cover in an attempt to rehabilitate wolves. Look I love wolves, and don't think they always need to be the villain. But this felt like a bait and switch and I don't see why this one's moral had to be changed.
The Frog Prince: Costumes reference Disney a bit, follows some iteration of the Brothers Grimm version but without the Princess breaking her promise, having flaws, or being horrid. It's about self-acceptance and loving what makes you different and also similar. I can get why they made the changes. The original version includes the princess horribly physically abusing the frog and that somehow breaking the curse. I do wish the Princess had had some character development or flaws though something to overcome maybe as they do become friends.
Rozi, the Sleeping Beauty: References the Disney version. The Egyptian one is wild, and the Italian one is messed up. Not sure how you'd make either version kid friendly, so probably best they went with Disney. Did feel the need for more Cinema Sins style commentary on true loves kiss. Also Made it so the evil fairy's letter got lost in the mail, not sure why that change was made. It seemed like an attempt to apply human logic to the Fae. Fae don't operate on human logic.
Hansel and Gretel: Costumes are Afrofuturistic Steam Punk dirndl and lederhosen. The changes remove the father's moral culpability, only have them abandoned once, and very quickly escape the witch's hut. This one really didn't work for me at all, also left a peppermint trail instead of stones or breadcrumbs. Not sure how the peppermint trail didn't get eaten up during the night. Stepmother gets thrown out once the father realizes what happened.
Rapunzel: Very weird blend of Disney and Brothers Grimm while getting both completely wrong. Moral is about the magic being in you and not your hair, so you are more than one specific feature about you, good message, also be resilient and resourceful. However, the parents have no moral culpability, Rapunzel is another word for Rampion is either a flower or some sort of herb which in the original version the mother craves while pregnant and convinces the husband to steal from the witch's garden. The witch gets Rapunzel in exchange and raises her in the tower. Here, the witch covets the Rapunzel flower for its magic powers growing in the garden of Rapunzel's family. Rapunzel is kidnapped on her either 12th or 14th birthday. Her hair is magical much like Rapunzel's in the Disney version, and then the tower removes the magic. She climbs out of the tower and goes home where her family love her and reaffirm that she is more than her hair. This one is really tame in comparison to the Brothers Grimm version and never has her meet a prince, which fine, I get why you wouldn't want to adapt the Brothers Grimm version what with the questionable marriage and giving birth to twins on a desert oasis. But it also feels rushed like many of the other stories, lacking a real sense of danger.
None of these stories have a sense of Eucatastrophe or it's poorly executed cousin Deus ex Machina. They feel more sanitized than Disney in many places, and disjointed because they are trying to blend several elements from different cultures together but without fully paying attention to the original cultural contexts or coding in the stories. For example, Hansel and Gretel is quite baffling to me because its origin is most likely in blood libel cases against Jewish midwives during the medieval period who were attempting to use ovens as a proto incubator to help premature babies survive, and this was misunderstood even though sleeping on or near the stove in winter to keep warm was a common practice. A more interesting retelling would have been to remove the witch as a villain and go with misunderstood character rather than have the Big Bad Wolf one be about that.
The second part covers African and African American folk tales. Most of these stories are quite good. As stated in the short review at the top, my one gripe is with the one on Princess Yennenga. I don't understand why they put a stereotypical western princess as dainty trope into her origin story when it wasn't there originally. She was raised as a huntress and warrior and was a great general. From what reading I have done, her acts of rebellion were in response to her father refusing to allow her to marry and have children. Giving her a Merida arc makes no sense. Also not sure why they referenced Banshees, an Irish denizen of the Fae, when describing how she wants to be allowed to run free and wild like her three younger brothers. Of these stories, this was the one which felt westernized and rang as false even before I'd researched it, and I knew nothing about her prior to reading this story. It just didn't match the cadence, tropes, or ways women were written in the other African folk tales and books I had read or heard told.
Part three: brand new stories was my favorite segment. The stories were fun and inventive.
I loved all of the photographs. They felt magical and powerful. I wish the writing and stories had matched the aura of the photographs. Some of the photographs reminded me of the hoax photographs of fairies from the Victorian era. I think the problem is how tied to a Disney and modern audience feel these stories have. They didn't fully feel like fairy tales and were very sanitized. That being said, the stories in and of themselves are fine, even if they do make my head spin at times. The morals taught are good, and I think kids will appreciate it. I do wish there were fewer words per page though. The book isn't especially well designed for library story times.
Now on to the more in depth review:
The Little Mermaid: good moral about choosing to do good and be selfless even to the point of risking your life to save someone who is being a bully to you, but not at all either the Disney version or the original Hans Christian Anderson version. The costuming and sets are a clear reference to the Disney version as is the wanting to have legs, but the way the sea witch is written is closer to the Anderson version. There is no discussion of souls or any of the other deeper theological questions in the original Little Mermaid and the point about otherness doesn't come across as strongly. The story is in some ways too short and abrupt.
The Poisoned Apple: Snow White retelling: costume references Disney, the flow of the story and detail about dislodged apple though no longer a prince who may be into necrophilia, are from the Brother's Grimm version. A good story, but not entirely sure why the huntsman is changed to an older Dwarf woman who is both the intended killer and now rescuer and mother figure to Ebony. I may be missing something culturally here. The morals about true beauty being about bravery and kindness and love winning the day remain more or less the same. Overall a good story, but somewhat disjointed for someone who is familiar with the Brothers Grimm version.
Goldi, the Girl With the Golden Locs: Goldi Locks and the Three Bears retelling: this one works quite well, and is a very good story about finding contentment in life and sharing what you have, not needing materialistic possessions to be happy, etc. I actually liked this one more than the original version.
Asha, The Little Cinder Girl: A decent reimagining of the French Cinderella with references to both the Rodgers and Hammerstein stage show gown and the various Disney versions. The one downside is that this is one of the stories that suffers from the Cinema Sins need to do cheap armchair analysis of fairy tales not operating on normal human logic. Of course, the shoe would only fit her; it's magic, and in those days shoes were more custom fitted than they are now. So here the Prince immediately follows her, finds her and returns her shoe to her. It feels less whimsical and overly boxed in by normal human logic.
Red Riding Hood: hammers home that rumors may not be true, but completely misses the point of the original fairy tale being about being cautious because not all adults have honest intentions towards children and other vulnerable people. It turns it into not judging a book by its cover in an attempt to rehabilitate wolves. Look I love wolves, and don't think they always need to be the villain. But this felt like a bait and switch and I don't see why this one's moral had to be changed.
The Frog Prince: Costumes reference Disney a bit, follows some iteration of the Brothers Grimm version but without the Princess breaking her promise, having flaws, or being horrid. It's about self-acceptance and loving what makes you different and also similar. I can get why they made the changes. The original version includes the princess horribly physically abusing the frog and that somehow breaking the curse. I do wish the Princess had had some character development or flaws though something to overcome maybe as they do become friends.
Rozi, the Sleeping Beauty: References the Disney version. The Egyptian one is wild, and the Italian one is messed up. Not sure how you'd make either version kid friendly, so probably best they went with Disney. Did feel the need for more Cinema Sins style commentary on true loves kiss. Also Made it so the evil fairy's letter got lost in the mail, not sure why that change was made. It seemed like an attempt to apply human logic to the Fae. Fae don't operate on human logic.
Hansel and Gretel: Costumes are Afrofuturistic Steam Punk dirndl and lederhosen. The changes remove the father's moral culpability, only have them abandoned once, and very quickly escape the witch's hut. This one really didn't work for me at all, also left a peppermint trail instead of stones or breadcrumbs. Not sure how the peppermint trail didn't get eaten up during the night. Stepmother gets thrown out once the father realizes what happened.
Rapunzel: Very weird blend of Disney and Brothers Grimm while getting both completely wrong. Moral is about the magic being in you and not your hair, so you are more than one specific feature about you, good message, also be resilient and resourceful. However, the parents have no moral culpability, Rapunzel is another word for Rampion is either a flower or some sort of herb which in the original version the mother craves while pregnant and convinces the husband to steal from the witch's garden. The witch gets Rapunzel in exchange and raises her in the tower. Here, the witch covets the Rapunzel flower for its magic powers growing in the garden of Rapunzel's family. Rapunzel is kidnapped on her either 12th or 14th birthday. Her hair is magical much like Rapunzel's in the Disney version, and then the tower removes the magic. She climbs out of the tower and goes home where her family love her and reaffirm that she is more than her hair. This one is really tame in comparison to the Brothers Grimm version and never has her meet a prince, which fine, I get why you wouldn't want to adapt the Brothers Grimm version what with the questionable marriage and giving birth to twins on a desert oasis. But it also feels rushed like many of the other stories, lacking a real sense of danger.
None of these stories have a sense of Eucatastrophe or it's poorly executed cousin Deus ex Machina. They feel more sanitized than Disney in many places, and disjointed because they are trying to blend several elements from different cultures together but without fully paying attention to the original cultural contexts or coding in the stories. For example, Hansel and Gretel is quite baffling to me because its origin is most likely in blood libel cases against Jewish midwives during the medieval period who were attempting to use ovens as a proto incubator to help premature babies survive, and this was misunderstood even though sleeping on or near the stove in winter to keep warm was a common practice. A more interesting retelling would have been to remove the witch as a villain and go with misunderstood character rather than have the Big Bad Wolf one be about that.
The second part covers African and African American folk tales. Most of these stories are quite good. As stated in the short review at the top, my one gripe is with the one on Princess Yennenga. I don't understand why they put a stereotypical western princess as dainty trope into her origin story when it wasn't there originally. She was raised as a huntress and warrior and was a great general. From what reading I have done, her acts of rebellion were in response to her father refusing to allow her to marry and have children. Giving her a Merida arc makes no sense. Also not sure why they referenced Banshees, an Irish denizen of the Fae, when describing how she wants to be allowed to run free and wild like her three younger brothers. Of these stories, this was the one which felt westernized and rang as false even before I'd researched it, and I knew nothing about her prior to reading this story. It just didn't match the cadence, tropes, or ways women were written in the other African folk tales and books I had read or heard told.
Part three: brand new stories was my favorite segment. The stories were fun and inventive.
I loved all of the photographs. They felt magical and powerful. I wish the writing and stories had matched the aura of the photographs. Some of the photographs reminded me of the hoax photographs of fairies from the Victorian era. I think the problem is how tied to a Disney and modern audience feel these stories have. They didn't fully feel like fairy tales and were very sanitized. That being said, the stories in and of themselves are fine, even if they do make my head spin at times. The morals taught are good, and I think kids will appreciate it. I do wish there were fewer words per page though. The book isn't especially well designed for library story times.
August 9, 2025
4/5
A beautifully crafted selection of photos that center Black children in the accompanying fairy tales.
This book has three sections: classic fairy tales reimagined, African and African American folktales, and new classic tales. The best thing in this book are the incredible pictures. Clearly, the Bethencourt's know their way around a camera and editing software. The writing is very simple, there's some fun rhyming lines in all of the stories, but they're only a few pages long.
I appreciated and understand the idea of centering Black children in the classics, however; not enough was changed to call it a reimagining. The characters got new names but that was the only twist. I really wish there was more depth and cultural celebration, but I understand that would have made the stories a bit longer. The best part was seeing the costumes for each story!
The collection really shines in the last two sections. It was a lot of fun reading the newly imagined tales for a modern child. I don't think folktales ever end, so it was good seeing those. Having read a lot of folktales and scary stories, it's always nice to see what region a tale is from. That's not included in this, nor is there a reference or any other information about the stories they chose. I wish there was, but the selection is a good mix of common and uncommon that will please anyone.
Most of the pictures are placed perfectly, only one or two are distorted by being two pages and the middle gets warped. This book is a fast read so it's worth it for both a little enjoyment and to witness the amazing art.
Overall, I wish the stories had more depth and length, but the pictures make up for it. I enjoyed it and would happily search for more of their work. It's beautiful and we need more of this out in the world! I'm so glad my library has a copy of it, but it's catalogued in ANF so it's probably missing a lot of its target audience as being children. It's leaving the work to the adult to find the book instead of being discovered by curious children. Regardless, check your local library for a copy or request that they purchase one! You won't regret it!
A beautifully crafted selection of photos that center Black children in the accompanying fairy tales.
This book has three sections: classic fairy tales reimagined, African and African American folktales, and new classic tales. The best thing in this book are the incredible pictures. Clearly, the Bethencourt's know their way around a camera and editing software. The writing is very simple, there's some fun rhyming lines in all of the stories, but they're only a few pages long.
I appreciated and understand the idea of centering Black children in the classics, however; not enough was changed to call it a reimagining. The characters got new names but that was the only twist. I really wish there was more depth and cultural celebration, but I understand that would have made the stories a bit longer. The best part was seeing the costumes for each story!
The collection really shines in the last two sections. It was a lot of fun reading the newly imagined tales for a modern child. I don't think folktales ever end, so it was good seeing those. Having read a lot of folktales and scary stories, it's always nice to see what region a tale is from. That's not included in this, nor is there a reference or any other information about the stories they chose. I wish there was, but the selection is a good mix of common and uncommon that will please anyone.
Most of the pictures are placed perfectly, only one or two are distorted by being two pages and the middle gets warped. This book is a fast read so it's worth it for both a little enjoyment and to witness the amazing art.
Overall, I wish the stories had more depth and length, but the pictures make up for it. I enjoyed it and would happily search for more of their work. It's beautiful and we need more of this out in the world! I'm so glad my library has a copy of it, but it's catalogued in ANF so it's probably missing a lot of its target audience as being children. It's leaving the work to the adult to find the book instead of being discovered by curious children. Regardless, check your local library for a copy or request that they purchase one! You won't regret it!
February 13, 2024
Whoa!! I have never seen such beautiful photography before! The photos made the fairy tales come to life and really encapsulated that Black children are beautiful and powerful. The stories were a play on classic fairy tales, African folk tales, and a mix of new ones! The messages were also changed around a bit and in my opinion were more impactful! For instance in Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolf expressed how he felt like everyone misunderstood him and just wanted to hang out with Red and Gran! Instead of Cinderella wearing glass slippers, she had on silver boots! Loved this collection.
December 3, 2023
What a beautiful book and stories😍❤️ I feel so honored to be able to read this book🤭❤️ Think Disney but make it African American🤭😍❤️ I know I'm late on finishing but at least I did🙄😅❤️ the book tells some good lessons. It's what's on the inside that matters❤️ You can do anything that you put your mind to❤️ I'm an adult but I loved this book, reading is basically the only thing keeping me sane these days...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2023
I listened to the audiobook which was magical. I loved the difference in voices. I think I am going to buy a copy of this for my nephew.
February 25, 2024
Libby: Cute little fairytales.
Read by multiple people. #booksin24
Read by multiple people. #booksin24
May 26, 2023
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway.
A beautiful book! The images and costuming accompanying each revamped and each newly created tale....Stunning!
A beautiful book! The images and costuming accompanying each revamped and each newly created tale....Stunning!
May 13, 2023
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
What a beautiful book. I am in awe of some of the artistic and creative choices made with the hair, body art, and wardrobe. How fun to include some of the known and typical “Disney” colours when retelling the stories previously centred otherwise.
I really liked the self-sufficiency of the girls in this anthology. Many of the retellings have been refocused on a princess/gal/lil lady saving herself, rather than being saved by a prince. I would be happy to see any daughter, niece, or sister of mine reading this book.
I do think that seeing the whole book in colour would be phenomenal. The black pages with white font was a little tricky to read.
What a beautiful book. I am in awe of some of the artistic and creative choices made with the hair, body art, and wardrobe. How fun to include some of the known and typical “Disney” colours when retelling the stories previously centred otherwise.
I really liked the self-sufficiency of the girls in this anthology. Many of the retellings have been refocused on a princess/gal/lil lady saving herself, rather than being saved by a prince. I would be happy to see any daughter, niece, or sister of mine reading this book.
I do think that seeing the whole book in colour would be phenomenal. The black pages with white font was a little tricky to read.
April 20, 2023
“Crowned: Magical Folk & Fairy Tales from the Diaspora” by Kahran & Regis Bethencourt ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: fairytale and myth retellings. Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Time: Then and now.
Authors Kahran and Regis Bethencourt created this book with the intention of “foster(ing) and encourage(ing) imagination, equipping young kings and queens with the creativity and ability to overcome any obstacles in their way.” They retell, change up, and create past, present, and future tales from Black culture across the diaspora. They give us a worldview in which all kids are created equal and empowered.
The book is divided into Classic Fairy Tales, African and African-American Folktales, and New Classics.
⭐️In Classic Fairy Tales, a little mermaid realizes where her home really lies, and a princess learns her vitiligo makes her uniquely beautiful.
⭐️In African and African-American Folktales, amidst tales set in Africa, we find the story of John Henry, pictured when he was a young boy.
⭐️In New Classics, we find beautiful skateboard and hip hop kids.
All stories share positive beliefs and powerful messages.
The Bethencourts have written a stunning love letter to Black children that also can and should be enjoyed and cherished by all children around the world. The vivid color photography-it’s just exquisite. The children’s natural beauty shines through, even when dressed in fanciful princess, prince, queen and king regalia.
This is a book to buy and keep for your children and their children, and it’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️ Thank you to St Martin’s Press and authors Kahran and Regis Bethencourt for this early copy. Publishes 5/23/2023.
Authors Kahran and Regis Bethencourt created this book with the intention of “foster(ing) and encourage(ing) imagination, equipping young kings and queens with the creativity and ability to overcome any obstacles in their way.” They retell, change up, and create past, present, and future tales from Black culture across the diaspora. They give us a worldview in which all kids are created equal and empowered.
The book is divided into Classic Fairy Tales, African and African-American Folktales, and New Classics.
⭐️In Classic Fairy Tales, a little mermaid realizes where her home really lies, and a princess learns her vitiligo makes her uniquely beautiful.
⭐️In African and African-American Folktales, amidst tales set in Africa, we find the story of John Henry, pictured when he was a young boy.
⭐️In New Classics, we find beautiful skateboard and hip hop kids.
All stories share positive beliefs and powerful messages.
The Bethencourts have written a stunning love letter to Black children that also can and should be enjoyed and cherished by all children around the world. The vivid color photography-it’s just exquisite. The children’s natural beauty shines through, even when dressed in fanciful princess, prince, queen and king regalia.
This is a book to buy and keep for your children and their children, and it’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️ Thank you to St Martin’s Press and authors Kahran and Regis Bethencourt for this early copy. Publishes 5/23/2023.
April 28, 2023
This book is delightful - the photographs are big and colorful, and really the focus of the book. Costumes are beautiful - and in some well known stories use traditional colors from popular fairy tales as well as African styling. The book contains popular American/European tales as well as traditional African stories. I definitely enjoyed this and would recommend.
April 21, 2023
I won an advanced reading copy from Goodreads giveaway.
I just finished reading this and it was a very lovely book, I enjoyed each story and I think I like the reimagines book ones better than the Disney ones to be honest. Also love the beautiful pictures in this books. Only thing that I disliked was the white letters on the black pages was a bit hard to read but other wise really enjoyed this book.
Would totally recommend everyone including adults to read this book!!
I just finished reading this and it was a very lovely book, I enjoyed each story and I think I like the reimagines book ones better than the Disney ones to be honest. Also love the beautiful pictures in this books. Only thing that I disliked was the white letters on the black pages was a bit hard to read but other wise really enjoyed this book.
Would totally recommend everyone including adults to read this book!!
April 14, 2023
***I received an arc, ahead of release, through the publishers [St Martins Press] influencer program***
Absolutely stunning book filled with timeless tales, both familiar and new to me, and gorgeous photography. Whether you buy it for the stories, photography, or combination you will not be disappointed.
Each story is told so beautifully told...and honestly I preferred these versions over the original Grimm fairytales and the Disney remakes. The art enhances the storytelling and the storytelling enhances the beautiful art.
Absolutely stunning book filled with timeless tales, both familiar and new to me, and gorgeous photography. Whether you buy it for the stories, photography, or combination you will not be disappointed.
Each story is told so beautifully told...and honestly I preferred these versions over the original Grimm fairytales and the Disney remakes. The art enhances the storytelling and the storytelling enhances the beautiful art.
March 6, 2023
This book is gorgeous! I'm so glad I am able to add it to my collection of fairytales.
I received an ARC via a Goodreads giveaway.
I received an ARC via a Goodreads giveaway.
May 27, 2023
CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora
by Kahran Bethencourt & Regis Bethencourt
<3 This is the second book in the series of these beautiful created portraits but in a collection of children stories created by the Mr. & Mrs. of this #HotLanta photo studio. The stories were reimagined and recreated with the flavor of the Black Diaspora. The folklore, culture and adornments were uniquely cultural and I could not get enough of this story telling delivered by some very talented voice artists. I seen the book version and the characters were depicted perfectly in these portraits. The wind chimes, African Drums, Steel Pans in the back drop of the narration will make this a keepsake for generations to come. So Well Done! <3
#NetGalley
CROWNED by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt is a book designed to foster and encourage imagination, equipping young kings and queens with the creativity and ability to overcome any obstacles in their way.
Filled with stunning photography, these magical tales of the diaspora bring to life past, present, and future visions of Black culture to create a society where all kids are created equal and feel empowered to move in the world as their true authentic self.
Included in the collection:
The Poisoned Apple
Asha the Little Cinder Girl
The Little Mermaid
Sleeping Beauty
Hansel and Gretel
Little Red Riding Hood
Anasi and the Three Trials
Aku The Sun Maker
How the Zebra Got His Stripes
The Legend of Princess Yennenga
John Henry, the Steel Driving Man
The Cloud Princess
And more!
This collection is a must-have for children and parents everywhere and is a joyous celebration of Black beauty and imagination.
by Kahran Bethencourt & Regis Bethencourt
<3 This is the second book in the series of these beautiful created portraits but in a collection of children stories created by the Mr. & Mrs. of this #HotLanta photo studio. The stories were reimagined and recreated with the flavor of the Black Diaspora. The folklore, culture and adornments were uniquely cultural and I could not get enough of this story telling delivered by some very talented voice artists. I seen the book version and the characters were depicted perfectly in these portraits. The wind chimes, African Drums, Steel Pans in the back drop of the narration will make this a keepsake for generations to come. So Well Done! <3
#NetGalley
CROWNED by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt is a book designed to foster and encourage imagination, equipping young kings and queens with the creativity and ability to overcome any obstacles in their way.
Filled with stunning photography, these magical tales of the diaspora bring to life past, present, and future visions of Black culture to create a society where all kids are created equal and feel empowered to move in the world as their true authentic self.
Included in the collection:
The Poisoned Apple
Asha the Little Cinder Girl
The Little Mermaid
Sleeping Beauty
Hansel and Gretel
Little Red Riding Hood
Anasi and the Three Trials
Aku The Sun Maker
How the Zebra Got His Stripes
The Legend of Princess Yennenga
John Henry, the Steel Driving Man
The Cloud Princess
And more!
This collection is a must-have for children and parents everywhere and is a joyous celebration of Black beauty and imagination.
May 17, 2023
What was your favorite fairy tale or story as a child?
I have always loved Cinderella retellings, especially ones with a more feminist lens. Ella Enchanted became my favorite book in elementary school, and I still reread it to this day! I loved that Ella was smart, kind, and adventurous and the prince didn’t fall in love with just a pretty face.
Every child deserves to have heroes to look up to, which is why I immediately requested a copy of Crowned from St. Martin’s Press! Crowned is a collection of folk and fairy tales reimagined. The collection is in three parts: Classic (Western) fairy tales, African and African American Folktales, and New Classics. Along with the reimagined tales, there is exquisite photography featuring Black children.
So far, I’ve read The Poisoned Apple, and loved that Ebony Black was taught to fight for herself, and her kind heart was just as important as her fierce spirit. I look forward to reading more of these stories!
From Goodreads:
CROWNED by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt is a book designed to foster and encourage imagination, equipping young kings and queens with the creativity and ability to overcome any obstacles in their way.
Filled with stunning photography, these magical tales of the diaspora bring to life past, present, and future visions of Black culture to create a society where all kids are created equal and feel empowered to move in the world as their true authentic self.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Creative Soul Photo for my review copy! All opinions are my own.
I have always loved Cinderella retellings, especially ones with a more feminist lens. Ella Enchanted became my favorite book in elementary school, and I still reread it to this day! I loved that Ella was smart, kind, and adventurous and the prince didn’t fall in love with just a pretty face.
Every child deserves to have heroes to look up to, which is why I immediately requested a copy of Crowned from St. Martin’s Press! Crowned is a collection of folk and fairy tales reimagined. The collection is in three parts: Classic (Western) fairy tales, African and African American Folktales, and New Classics. Along with the reimagined tales, there is exquisite photography featuring Black children.
So far, I’ve read The Poisoned Apple, and loved that Ebony Black was taught to fight for herself, and her kind heart was just as important as her fierce spirit. I look forward to reading more of these stories!
From Goodreads:
CROWNED by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt is a book designed to foster and encourage imagination, equipping young kings and queens with the creativity and ability to overcome any obstacles in their way.
Filled with stunning photography, these magical tales of the diaspora bring to life past, present, and future visions of Black culture to create a society where all kids are created equal and feel empowered to move in the world as their true authentic self.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Creative Soul Photo for my review copy! All opinions are my own.
July 21, 2023
My official rating: 6 out of 10
First of all, I am not the target audience for this book and I fully acknowledge that. I also listened to it and I kind of feel like I missed some things by not getting to admire the imagery in the images held within the covers of the physical book and kind of makes me sad.
This book is a collection of fairy tales retold and modernized to better represent the black population in today's world. That means that many of the stories are reimagined to take place within a black community with black characters at the center of the story and I kind of loved it. While I absolutely loved the representation, that's not something I can really talk much about, as I'm not a member of the black culture in any way shape or form but I can talk about the fairy tales that I grew up with and how fun it was to hear a different version of it full of inspiration, empowerment and not just advocating but modeling self worth, which I think are universal concepts we can all relate to and should be talking about with our daughters.
Honestly, as naive as this may make me sound, I was surprised by how much changed when the cultural background changed.
This is a book that I think should be available to to every girl, but especially those it was written for, those who don't get to see themselves as the black princess and conquer the world with love, grace, empowerment and self worth nearly enough because not enough of our girls feel like the the strong, amazing, worthy, smart princesses that they are.
First of all, I am not the target audience for this book and I fully acknowledge that. I also listened to it and I kind of feel like I missed some things by not getting to admire the imagery in the images held within the covers of the physical book and kind of makes me sad.
This book is a collection of fairy tales retold and modernized to better represent the black population in today's world. That means that many of the stories are reimagined to take place within a black community with black characters at the center of the story and I kind of loved it. While I absolutely loved the representation, that's not something I can really talk much about, as I'm not a member of the black culture in any way shape or form but I can talk about the fairy tales that I grew up with and how fun it was to hear a different version of it full of inspiration, empowerment and not just advocating but modeling self worth, which I think are universal concepts we can all relate to and should be talking about with our daughters.
Honestly, as naive as this may make me sound, I was surprised by how much changed when the cultural background changed.
This is a book that I think should be available to to every girl, but especially those it was written for, those who don't get to see themselves as the black princess and conquer the world with love, grace, empowerment and self worth nearly enough because not enough of our girls feel like the the strong, amazing, worthy, smart princesses that they are.
July 28, 2023
CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora
This was an awesome book to read. It was quite enjoyable. I loved the narrators; they helped bring out the stories even more. I loved that they used both adult and children's narrators. One of the narrators sounded as if he was a narrator for Disney movies. He was so good that the book felt like you were in a theater watching a movie. This book can hold its own in a print version as well because the stories are so good, and I would love to see the illustrations. Kids will absolutely love this book.
I had so many favorite stories from the retelling of Little Red Robin-hood to the retelling of African and African American folktales which I had heard for the first time, and they were great stories, every bit as good as the traditional fairytales.
I think these stories are a great way to introduce kids to new concepts and stories. I also like that there are lessons to be leaned throughout these stories. I love when there are teachable moments that teach kids values like sharing and being kind instead of stories that are just about superficiality.
I would definitely recommend this book and would love to see it in school libraries. It offers so much!
This was an awesome book to read. It was quite enjoyable. I loved the narrators; they helped bring out the stories even more. I loved that they used both adult and children's narrators. One of the narrators sounded as if he was a narrator for Disney movies. He was so good that the book felt like you were in a theater watching a movie. This book can hold its own in a print version as well because the stories are so good, and I would love to see the illustrations. Kids will absolutely love this book.
I had so many favorite stories from the retelling of Little Red Robin-hood to the retelling of African and African American folktales which I had heard for the first time, and they were great stories, every bit as good as the traditional fairytales.
I think these stories are a great way to introduce kids to new concepts and stories. I also like that there are lessons to be leaned throughout these stories. I love when there are teachable moments that teach kids values like sharing and being kind instead of stories that are just about superficiality.
I would definitely recommend this book and would love to see it in school libraries. It offers so much!
November 6, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up.
I liked the art more than the retellings of the fairytales, but it was an enjoyable read and great to see more inclusive fairytales.
It’s worth picking up this book to look through all of the gorgeous photographs. The clothing is intricate and colorful and absolutely stunning; the designer blended together the traditional fairytale costume elements with modern and traditional elements of clothing in Black culture, which so perfectly captures the spirit of the book.
The actual writing was the sticking point for me. The writing style wasn’t particularly appealing to me, and I found some of the changes to the stories to be a bit too saccharine. There seemed to be a conscious effort to give the protagonists happy endings, which I understand the value in doing. However, some of the grittiness that’s typically found in fairytales was missing in these reimaginings. It felt like in the effort to not make the characters suffer, the authors also removed all of the interesting conflict from the stories, leaving them feeling a bit hollow. A younger audience might not have the same opinion though, and I imagine this book would be a wonderful addition to young children’s libraries.
I liked the art more than the retellings of the fairytales, but it was an enjoyable read and great to see more inclusive fairytales.
It’s worth picking up this book to look through all of the gorgeous photographs. The clothing is intricate and colorful and absolutely stunning; the designer blended together the traditional fairytale costume elements with modern and traditional elements of clothing in Black culture, which so perfectly captures the spirit of the book.
The actual writing was the sticking point for me. The writing style wasn’t particularly appealing to me, and I found some of the changes to the stories to be a bit too saccharine. There seemed to be a conscious effort to give the protagonists happy endings, which I understand the value in doing. However, some of the grittiness that’s typically found in fairytales was missing in these reimaginings. It felt like in the effort to not make the characters suffer, the authors also removed all of the interesting conflict from the stories, leaving them feeling a bit hollow. A younger audience might not have the same opinion though, and I imagine this book would be a wonderful addition to young children’s libraries.
December 20, 2023
Another fabulous coffee-table-style photography book of fabulously styled black children by the Bethencourts. This time, they accompany fairy tales: both reimagined old ones and new ones. There's even a fairy tale based in the fantastical land of New York. I enjoyed the retellings of the old favorites, as many times they correct the weaknesses of the old. Rapunzel waiting helplessly for a rescue? Nope, she climbs out herself. Ebony Black (ie, "Snow White") and the prince become friends *before* he rescues her from the stepmother's poisoned apple. The stories emphasize the values of kindness, bravery, friendship, and sharing with others. The intense photography with fantastical costumes and makeup also reminded me of Natasha Tarpley's "The Me I Choose to be", and now I see that the Bethencourts did the photography for that as well. It isn't categorized as a children's book, but I could see this becoming a family heirloom handed down through generations of awestruck kids paging through the amazing photos.
May 2, 2024
Fairy and folk tales are an integral part of our childhoods—we hear them from relatives, teachers, maybe even library story times. We see them in films and books, hear them in music, and learn life lessons from them: stranger danger, inner strength, self-confidence. Similarly, we return to them as adults, seeking them in new forms, perhaps passing them along to future generations. Whether Disney or Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen or traditional tales, these stories are recycled and remade to adapt and suit the world(s) that need them.
Crowned by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt exemplifies this, but also re-imagines the possibilities of a retelling. The internationally famous forces behind CreativeSoul Photography and named Canon Explorers of Light, the Bethencourts empower BIPOC children through their photography and visual storytelling, seeking to highlight beauty both within and without: specializing in child and lifestyle photography, they not only celebrate elements of Blackness such as hair and skin tone, they also bring out their subjects’ personalities through their images.
In this collection of new and (re-)imagined stories, the Bethencourts combine European lore (ex. Cinderella and Snow White) with traditional African and African American folk and fairy tales, as well as a collection of new stories for our modern urban age. The stories maintain their traditional core, but are tweaked and rewritten to connect with readers—especially Black readers—growing up in the digital age. The stories are short and quick to read, more Disney in tone than the Brothers Grimm, and emphasize lessons of strength, kindness, wisdom, and community. They highlight beauty in all its forms, from leg braces to baldness to albinism, and encourage both strong, capable girls and gentle, empathetic boys.
Most stunning of all is the photography itself—visually lush, with vibrant color and captivating collage composition, the Bethencourts incorporate both the innate traits of their models and traditional motifs from cultures all over the African continent. The costumes combine the modern and ubiquitous with the fantastical, while the hairstyles and makeup meld tradition with the chic and speculative—if spec fic genres were hairstyles, this book would have them all—truly a (Black) cosplayer’s dream! I would recommend this book for the images alone, but the visuals and text are what ties everything together. (Also, the experience of the creative process looks like so much fun, at least going by the behind-the-scenes photos at the end of the book.)
Readers who are interested in more Black short story collections may enjoy Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renée Thomas, et al. and How Long 'Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin. For more retellings of Black Diaspora folktales, see Jerry Pinkney and Virginia Hamilton. For more Black authors of spec fic, try P. Djèlí Clark, N.K. Jemisin, and Octavia E. Butler.
Crowned by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt exemplifies this, but also re-imagines the possibilities of a retelling. The internationally famous forces behind CreativeSoul Photography and named Canon Explorers of Light, the Bethencourts empower BIPOC children through their photography and visual storytelling, seeking to highlight beauty both within and without: specializing in child and lifestyle photography, they not only celebrate elements of Blackness such as hair and skin tone, they also bring out their subjects’ personalities through their images.
In this collection of new and (re-)imagined stories, the Bethencourts combine European lore (ex. Cinderella and Snow White) with traditional African and African American folk and fairy tales, as well as a collection of new stories for our modern urban age. The stories maintain their traditional core, but are tweaked and rewritten to connect with readers—especially Black readers—growing up in the digital age. The stories are short and quick to read, more Disney in tone than the Brothers Grimm, and emphasize lessons of strength, kindness, wisdom, and community. They highlight beauty in all its forms, from leg braces to baldness to albinism, and encourage both strong, capable girls and gentle, empathetic boys.
Most stunning of all is the photography itself—visually lush, with vibrant color and captivating collage composition, the Bethencourts incorporate both the innate traits of their models and traditional motifs from cultures all over the African continent. The costumes combine the modern and ubiquitous with the fantastical, while the hairstyles and makeup meld tradition with the chic and speculative—if spec fic genres were hairstyles, this book would have them all—truly a (Black) cosplayer’s dream! I would recommend this book for the images alone, but the visuals and text are what ties everything together. (Also, the experience of the creative process looks like so much fun, at least going by the behind-the-scenes photos at the end of the book.)
Readers who are interested in more Black short story collections may enjoy Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renée Thomas, et al. and How Long 'Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin. For more retellings of Black Diaspora folktales, see Jerry Pinkney and Virginia Hamilton. For more Black authors of spec fic, try P. Djèlí Clark, N.K. Jemisin, and Octavia E. Butler.
February 17, 2025
“The ability to imagine things pervades our entire existence. It influences everything we do, think about, and create.”
This was a stellar collection of fairytales. Every traditional tale has been updated and I loved the combination of European stories, African stories, and new tales. The new twists incorporate a lovely diversity, including some disability rep; some much needed balancing of gender representation; and just solid community values in general.
The photography is g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s and so beautifully interpreted to complement the stories. They were impressive while reading the ebook on my phone—I can’t imagine how lovely it would be to luxuriate in these photos in a print book.
“Where magic failed, kindness prevailed.”
“You will shine down from the heavens and show that no one is ever too young or too humble to create a spark. And, that the smallest glimmer of hope can banish the darkness in our heart.”
“With your great gift what will you do to make the world a better place?”
“Our differences amplify our strengths, they do not detract.”
This was a stellar collection of fairytales. Every traditional tale has been updated and I loved the combination of European stories, African stories, and new tales. The new twists incorporate a lovely diversity, including some disability rep; some much needed balancing of gender representation; and just solid community values in general.
The photography is g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s and so beautifully interpreted to complement the stories. They were impressive while reading the ebook on my phone—I can’t imagine how lovely it would be to luxuriate in these photos in a print book.
“Where magic failed, kindness prevailed.”
“You will shine down from the heavens and show that no one is ever too young or too humble to create a spark. And, that the smallest glimmer of hope can banish the darkness in our heart.”
“With your great gift what will you do to make the world a better place?”
“Our differences amplify our strengths, they do not detract.”
June 13, 2023
I devoured this book. It is filled with visual magic and storytelling wonder, capturing the reader's imagination from beginning to end.
The collection not only revisits beloved classics but also introduces new favorites. The familiar tales, such as "The Little Mermaid," "Sleeping Beauty," "Hansel and Gretel," "Red Riding Hood," and "The Poisoned Apple," are given a twist that breathes new life into them. These revisions encourage creativity and empower young readers to see themselves in the stories they love.
crowned is a delightful and empowering collection. It encourages creativity, fosters self-esteem, and invites readers into a world of magic and wonder. The storytelling and visuals come together to create an immersive experience that will captivate both children and adults alike. This book is truly a must-have for anyone seeking diverse and inclusive literature that celebrates imagination and the power of storytelling.
The collection not only revisits beloved classics but also introduces new favorites. The familiar tales, such as "The Little Mermaid," "Sleeping Beauty," "Hansel and Gretel," "Red Riding Hood," and "The Poisoned Apple," are given a twist that breathes new life into them. These revisions encourage creativity and empower young readers to see themselves in the stories they love.
crowned is a delightful and empowering collection. It encourages creativity, fosters self-esteem, and invites readers into a world of magic and wonder. The storytelling and visuals come together to create an immersive experience that will captivate both children and adults alike. This book is truly a must-have for anyone seeking diverse and inclusive literature that celebrates imagination and the power of storytelling.
February 18, 2023
I received notification I won a galley of this work in early February and received it on 10 February. A few beautiful color plates are in the front of the galley. I'm sure when the book is published in its finished form it will have a lot more. There are three sections. The first has rewritten folk tales from the Brothers Grimm, Disneyfied (can I use it as a word) with African characters. Folktales of African and African American cultures are re-told in the second section. In the last section are new stories of the authors. Each of the tales is short and I can visualize older siblings reading to younger ones, parents reading to their kids, and kids reading the stories themselves. Each story ends on a positive note with what is essentially a moral. I hope ALL kids get a chance to read this book when it goes on sale in June.
August 30, 2024
Nice photos even though they are not my style. Recently I couldn't remember if John Henry was a folktale or figment of my imagination so that was nice to get confirmation on. I like the stories but I feel like there more to be desired since the voice is not for me and some of the stories have confusing pacing. I like the middle section of ancestorial stories rather than another series of reimagined Disney. The last section was interesting but not enough to keep my interest. I found myself skim reading this more than anything, and not just because I was looking for a folktale to use for my art class assignment.
My mom loves this book though and gives it to as many of our family members who have kids or friends. I am glad there is a place for Black stories and tales to be shared.
My mom loves this book though and gives it to as many of our family members who have kids or friends. I am glad there is a place for Black stories and tales to be shared.
April 25, 2023
*** Goodreads giveaway *** I was so excited to receive this book from a GoodReads giveaway! The pictures throughout the books (especially the ones in color) are absolutely STUNNING! I also loved the contrast in the book pages. The stories were delightful and charming, and they had such an inclusive/new-age spin to them. I fully enjoyed each retelling of classics, new stories, and a new light on fairy tales. Thank you so much for the book, and I can not wait to read more by the author and in this genre!
June 7, 2023
Short retellings of classic European, African, Caribbean, and African American stories as well new stories of magic and wonder.
The illustrations are rich and gorgeous, though there were a couple of stories that were too digitally manipulated for my tastes. That's cuz I'm old and crabby, though. No kid is going to mind Photoshopped critters and computerized backgrounds in their fairy tale illustrations.
You can listen to The Little Mermaid adaptation on the publisher's website.
The illustrations are rich and gorgeous, though there were a couple of stories that were too digitally manipulated for my tastes. That's cuz I'm old and crabby, though. No kid is going to mind Photoshopped critters and computerized backgrounds in their fairy tale illustrations.
You can listen to The Little Mermaid adaptation on the publisher's website.
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