Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky
Summary - Zelinsky's classic retelling of the story of Rapunzel is beautiful both in text and illustrations. Recounting the tale of the young girl, given to a witch at birth because of the sins of her parents, who grows alone in a tower - separated from family and society remains as powerful today as it did when the Brothers' Grimm recounted it, and when it was created in the oral tradition. Children will revel in how Rapunzel's hair is both the witch's and, eventually, the Prince's means to climb into Rapunzel's tower and anxiously await the reunion of Rapunzel, her Prince, and their children after the witch chases them away after discovering their secret marriage. Staying close to the original story (this version includes a wonderful and informative recount of the history of the tale at the end of the story), Zelinksy maintains all of the power and mystery of the tale for children of every generation.
Impressions - I really enjoyed both the illustrations and the text in this book. Zelinsky's choice to maintain all of the elements of the original oral story (or at least as much as can be known) helps to flesh out all of the elements of the story - the mother's cravings, the father's theft, the childhood with the witch before the tower, the secret marriage and subsequent children, and the Prince's blinding and recovery - as well as retains all of their impact both consciously and unconsciously for the reader. His beautiful illustrations enhance the story experience without drawing away from it in the style choices he used (Italian Renaissance-esque) and help the reader to delve fully into the story. Stylistically, this book is quite engaging for children at any age, but the depth in the text can speak to different ages at a number of different levels. From the basic childhood tenet of being fair in your dealings (the parents giving the witch their daughter because they said they would), the psychological impact to parents who see the destruction that can occur when a parent cannot let a child grow up, and the uplifting experience of discovery and reunion after loss (the Prince and Rapunzel), the story walks through its lessons in as graceful a manner as the illustrations portray Rapunzel.
Reviews - Malcolm Jones, Jr speaks of Zelinsky's Rapunzel as "ravishing" in his Newsweek review (1) as he discusses the new age of children's literature. Additionally, Melissa Howard (2) calls it "lusciously illustrated" and speaks to the grace and power Zelinsky's text in her review, which also calls the book "a valuable addition to the book collections of those who love fairy tales, romance, and fine art." Most of the reviews regarding this book proclaim a sense of wonder for the power of the story and the illustrations and eagerly await more from the multiple Caldecott Award winning Zelinsky.
Use - This is a fabulous picture book for children of any age, from the very young pre-Elementary ages through Middle school. For younger children, even the darker aspects (the witch, the Prince's blindness) are dealt with in such a matter-of-fact manner that there should be little to faze them. For older readers, the illustrations style can aid in discussions of Italian art and the Renaissance, and there are a number of interesting side projects which the book can become the jumping off point for (as described in a number of online education resources).
(1) Jones, Jr., M. (1997, December 01). Spruced up evergreens. Newsweek, 130(22), 76-79.
(2) Howard, M. (2007, May 10). Rapunzel: children's book review. Retrieved from http://picture-books.suite101.com/article.cfm/rapunzel_childrens_book_review
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