Rapunzel (Picture Puffin Books) Paperback – Picture Book, October 14, 2002

This book is a favorite at our house. We’ve been reading it for years, and my now seven year old knows it pretty much by heart. This follows older retellings, with a more complex “Witch” and characters more interesting and open than tangled. The illustrations draw me in, they are beautifully painted. The make up free expressions on Rapunzel and the prince tell an open ended story, neither the kids and I can get enough of. Actual art relevant to the story, and a more earnest dealing with human and fairy tale dilemmas.It beats Disney any day (though that is hardly a difficult task).

Beautiful art, good quality book, excellent retelling of the story.

It can be hard to find fairy tales for young children that haven't been put through the Disney machine and altered beyond recognition; the authentic versions are often old and lack colorful illustrations. Paul O. Zelinsky's "Rapunzel" is absolutely gorgeous, and stays true to the original story. This does lead to one awkward moment, however, when Rapunzel's dress is no longer fitting properly and her wicked stepmother realizes that she has been spending time with a man. My 7-year-old son was lost, obviously not able to make the connection between the prince's visits and Rapunzel's expanding waistline! Most kids will need it explained that Rapunzel is going to have a baby. Other than that small hiccup, this book is a beautiful way to share the authentic story of Rapunzel with young children. A book that should be in every child's bookshelf.

Paul Zelinsky has brought the traditional Rapunzel, popularized by the Brothers Grimm, to life in gorgeous oil paintings. His writing is careful and gripping, and his stylized visual interpretation of the story is stunningly beautiful. The evil of the witch, the despair of bereaved parents, the innocence of the shut-up girl, and the new love of the young married couple all help to communicate the complex emotional themes of this timeless story.Like many other traditional fairy tales, this one contains some violence which may be troubling to sensitive children, and it may not be appropriate for very young readers.

The art in this book is simply beautiful, very stylized as you can see from the cover, and intricate. The story follows the classic story of Rapunzel. I bought it as a part of a series of purchases of beautifully illustrated children's books to read to my highly verbal 3 1/2 year old. The story is the perfect length, but the some of the pictures are capturing such drama that it's really a bit too much. For example, when the old witch swoops down on the young husband, her face is really rather scary. Which of course makes sense, but not for a sensitive child. Also, the story doesn't shy away from the original where the prince who climbs up actually really terrifies Rapunzel, who has never seen a man before. Again, the illustration shows her terror, and I didn't really want to try to explain it to my child. So, yes, it's a beautiful book and very "classic" as it follows the story, but too intense for younger readers.

We have purchased so many Zelinsky fairy tale books simply because of the illustrations. We wanted to avoid the Disney fairy tale versions and purchase something a bit more artistic and imaginative. My daughter adores the pictures and admires each and every detail. Regarding the text, we typically opt to summarize or edit out parts of the fairy tales we think are not age appropriate.

this book brought me happines when i asked for it atn the library and i really didi't want to take it back to the libaray igot really attached to that book and been looking for it for Y.E. A. R. S AND I FINALLY HAVE IT FOR MY OWN!!! THANK YOU IT'S A REALLY GOOD READ, SO TO ME IT WAS WORTH BUYING!!!

THis is a beautiful book, and a childhood favorite. I just got a copy for my little sister, and it arrived in perfect condition.