Traditional Literature Review #3- RAPUNZEL

 

Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Zelinsky, Paul O. Rapunzel. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1997. 

ISBN 978-0-525-45607-0

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

Rapunzel begins with a couple who find that they are expecting a child.  The wife is suddenly overwhelmed by a craving for rapunzel, an herb that grows in the walled garden of the sorceress next door.  To help his wife’s cravings, the husband steals rapunzel from this garden, only to be caught in the act by the angry sorceress.  In return for sparing his life she demands that the husband promise her the newborn child, whom she will name Rapunzel.  What follows is the well known story of a long haired girl kept in a tall tower, and a prince who finds her and wins her heart.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Paul Zelinsky retells the story of Rapunzel in a beautifully illustrated picture book. The detailed pictures that depict the characters and the background give the feeling of the Renaissance era. The landscapes, the beautiful tower, the people, and the background marble wall help readers connect to the Renaissance times. Even though the sorceress in this story is an evil character, you get the feeling that she is trying to protect Rapunzel from the outside world. Unbeknownst to the sorceress, Rapunzel meets a prince in the tower and they get married.  The fact that Rapunzel gets pregnant might raise questions from young children. This might start a “where do babies come from?” talk.  Though it will be enjoyed by all age groups of readers, this story may not be appropriate for very young children. This is a well written retelling of the age old fairy tale of Rapunzel.  Like all fairy tales, this story has a happy ending with Rapunzel going back to the kingdom with the prince and the twins and living happily ever after.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Caldecott Medal – 1998

ALA Notable Children’s Books – 1998

School Library Journal Best Book – 1997

From School Library Journal: “An elegant and sophisticated retelling that draws on early French and Italian versions of the tale. Masterful oil paintings capture the Renaissance setting and flesh out the tragic figures.”

From Publisher’s Weekly:  “A breathtaking interpretation gives the fairy tale new art-historical roots, with illustrations that daringly-and effectively-mimic the masters of Italian Renaissance painting.”

5.     CONNECTIONS

Try some read-a-like books such as:

Hansel and Gretel, ISBN: 978-0-525-46152-4

Snow White, ISBN: 978-0-679-82656-9

Talk with children about fairy tales and which ones they might be familiar with.  Talk to them how the stories make them feel (frightened, happy, sad, angry, etc).

Explain to children that sometimes fairy tales include a bad character who does mean things to the other characters in the stories. Have children describe this character in the tales they are familiar with.