Hansel and Gretel Standard Edition
(Toon Graphics)

Master storyteller Gaiman (The Graveyard Book) plumbs the dark depths of Hansel and Gretel, imagining the pair's mother scheming to abandon them ("Two dead are better than four dead," she tells their father. "That is mathematics, and it is logic") and reveling in the witch's cruelty. "Today, when the oven is hot enough, we will roast your brother," she announces to Gretel. "But do not be sad. I will give you his bones to chew, little one." Italian illustrator Mattotti contributes elegant b&w ink spreads that alternate with spreads of text. His artistry flows from the movement of his brush and the play of light and shadow. The witch's house, tiled with baroque decorations and topped with a graceful tower, is unexpectedly beautiful; light pours through the barley sugar windows. The absence of color is a foil for Gaiman's panoply of words: "gloves and hats of travelers, and coins of cold and of silver, a string of pearls, chains of gold and chains of silver." Gaiman makes the story's horrors feel very real and very human, and Mattotti's artwork is genuinely chilling. Ages 7-10. (Oct.)

Gr 4 Up--In 1812, the Brothers Grimm published the story of "Hansel and Gretel," about a brother and sister who must survive abandonment by their parents and being captured by a hungry witch. In 2007, Mattotti created compelling black-and-white artwork for the fairy tale. This exhibit inspired Gaiman to write his own version, and Mattotti's images and Gaiman's text are combined in this book. While not in the traditional graphic novel format, this illustrated short story alternates between images and words, allowing for full spreads of the artist's drawings, punctuated by intermittent spreads of text. There is no question that Gaiman is an incredibly gifted wordsmith, and his retelling hearkens back to the Grimms's original narrative. The most inspirational part of this book is Mattotti's artwork. Pitch-black India ink is used to great effect, creating dark and terrifying landscapes that threaten to envelop the tiny figures of the children. An extensive note on the history of the tale's origins is included as back matter. Mattotti's amazing work will inspire a new generation of readers, and this volume will give chills. The oversize deluxe edition features a die-cut cover.--Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library