A humorous retelling of the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, told from the witch's point of view--who rescues the children from their wicked stepmother, and teaches them food art.

An Opera Score composed by Engelbert Humperdinck.

The first Grimm tale illustrated by 1998 Caldecott medalist Paul O. Zelinsky is once again available in hardcover. Originally published in 1984, Zelinsky's paintings for Hansel and Gretel are as compelling as his later work and will captivate readers with their mysterious beauty, emotional power, and brilliant originality. Each spread brings to life a world as rich and real as our own—detailed, colorful, sensual—yet filled with the unearthly shadowed magic of the Hansel and Gretel folktale. Whether portraying the fear and anguish of children abandoned by their parents, the delicious sumptuousness of a candy house, or the joy of being reunited with one's family, the artist captures the subtle nuances of emotion and the tactile quality of the physical world with exquisite accuracy and elegance.The hauntingly spare retelling of this perennial favorite by the poet Rika Lesser perfectly complements the vivid storytelling of Zelinsky's artwork. Once again this gifted artist gives us a unique interpretation of a beloved fairy tale, allowing us to both see it anew and rediscover its eternal truths.

How much do you really know about the story of Hansel and Gretel? Was the witch that bad, or was she just sick of kids eating her out of house and home? Did Hansel and Gretel leave a trail of breadcrumbs, or did they leave space beacons behind as they explored the galaxy in their spaceship? Find your way through three different versions of the classic fairy tale. In this story, YOU CHOOSE how it ends. Will you find your happily ever after?

Retells the classic Grimm fairy tale of the children who encounter a witch in the forest, together with three similar tales from Russia, Italy, and the Philippines.