Hansel and Gretel: An Instant #1 NYT Bestselling Fairy Tale Book for Children Ages 6 and Up

A Darkly Enchanting Fairy Tale Reimagined Hansel & Gretel by Stephen King and illustrated by Maurice Sendak is a haunting triumph of storytelling and art. King brings his trademark mastery of suspense and psychological depth to one of the oldest fairy tales, weaving a narrative that is at once chilling and surprisingly tender. His prose dances between menace and wonder, creating a forest that feels alive with shadowy secrets and human fears. The witch’s house—equal parts temptation and terror—is described with a detail that lingers long after the final page. Sendak’s illustrations elevate the story to something unforgettable. Every drawing is alive with texture and atmosphere: crooked trees claw at the sky, the gingerbread house glows with an inviting yet ominous light, and Hansel and Gretel’s wide-eyed bravery shines through the darkness. His artwork balances the grotesque and the beautiful, perfectly matching King’s layered storytelling. What makes this collaboration remarkable is how it respects the intelligence of its readers, both young and old. King doesn’t shy away from the tale’s darker elements, but instead uses them to explore themes of resilience, sibling love, and the courage to face the unknown. Sendak’s art amplifies these emotions, turning each page into an experience of discovery and dread. Final Thoughts This book is more than a retelling—it’s a celebration of what fairy tales are meant to be: thrilling, unsettling, and deeply human. Hansel & Gretel by Stephen King and Maurice Sendak is a must-have for fans of dark fantasy, classic folklore, and exquisite illustration. It’s a story you’ll want to revisit, each reading revealing new shadows and new light.

I've been a fan of King's since Carrie and always like when he gets a little whimsical. His adaptation is a wonderful version of the story, keeping all the old-fashioned touches while updating it a bit. Maurice Sendak's illustrations are all masterpieces in themselves. The book itself is well-bound and illustrated with Rhea's face and the paper is thick. Get it for the Sendak, King, or Grimm collector in your life.

Love this book.

I LOVE THIS I love Stephen King and I love children’s books and somehow in this strange reality they came together. I love that the story still had a nice ending and the illustrations were adorable.

Great book!

I was so excited to receive this book. While I haven't sat down and read the story yet, I skimmed through the book to look at the illustrations. Sadly, the illustrations are very soft (in other words, they look out of focus or were printed poorly). The smaller illustrations in the book have the sharpness that is missing in the larger illustrations. Hopefully they will issue a new printing with sharper images. I've attached photos with details of the larger images and, also, one of the smaller images (which looks much sharper).

This book is amazing! Kudos to Mr. King and Mr. Sendak for partnering on this Classic tale! This was given as a gift to our 24 year-old son who is a collector of Stephen King books. I hope this is not the last Stephen King children’s book that I see! This was wonderful to read, and I can’t wait to give it as a gift. The art by Mr. Sendak is Classic and recognizable. What a great, great children’s work.

I love anything written by Stephen King and any books illustrated by Maurice Sendak. I was thrilled that they collaborated on this book and the dtory/illustrations is great. Very happy with the purchase snd is a great addition to my library collection.

Lovely book

Excelente

Nice book.

Tutto perfetto! Oggetto come descrizione e foto!

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