Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Exquisite endpapers set the tone for this elegant version of one of the most-loved fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm: a leafless ebony tree stands in stark relief against a sweeping expanse of snow, the whiteness of which is marred by a single drop of blood. Echoing the central image of this classic tale of contrasts (good and evil, innocence and cruelty, youth and age, beauty and ugliness of spirit), Barrett's images unfold in a twilight world of ethereal beauty anchored by telling detail, from the moonlight reflected in the creek by the dwarves' cottage to the evil-looking poison comb the disguised queen offers Snow White. Poole's version of the lovely young princess and her vindictive stepmother remains faithful to the original, and enchants with its unassuming prose. The artwork's overall tone is sophisticated and somewhat remote, placing the book beyond the reach of younger readers, but this is nonetheless a fairy tale in the grand tradition, and an exemplary marriage of illustration and narrative. All ages. (Nov.)
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-- Poole's formal retelling is lyrical and dramatic with a stronger sense of character and setting than is usually found in other versions of the tale. The wicked queen becomes quite vivid in her growing hatred of Snow White. Barrett's watercolors support this elaboration of story, utilizing unusual perspectives and a dark palette to emphasize Snow White's fairness, while underscoring the stepmother's evil. The opening scene--Snow White's mother leaning out of a window, gazing at a drop of blood on the snow--offers an effective juxtaposition of warm, regal interior with an icy wilderness outside. Scenes of the queen consulting her mirror are properly dark and forbidding. Libraries that own versions by Trina Schart Hyman (Joy St./Little, 1979) or Nancy Burkert (Farrar, 1972) may choose to pass on this one, but those with a demand for folk and fairy tales in illustrated editions will find it a satisfying addition. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Kirkus Reviews
Flemish watercolorist Greban's queen may not be "the fairest of them all," but she steals center stage from his waifish Snow White-who is perhaps less beautiful than the (uncredited) translated text suggests. While the queen's frightful, menacing presence is effectively apparent as she transforms herself throughout her doomed quest to destroy Snow White, the princess lacks the trademark "blood red lips," and her small, close-set eyes and sometimes bulbous nose combine in a depiction that, while not ugly, is not exactly lovely either. She does seem naive and innocent, which bolsters a necessary contrast with the queen. Also strong are the illustrator's pictures of the satisfyingly individual seven dwarfs-one bespectacled, some clean-shaven, others bearded, etc. The inclusion of the often-omitted final scene with the queen dancing to her death in red-hot iron shoes (curiously white in the illustration) is deftly and gently handled with a picture that presents her in an awkward, foot-stomping stance that is tantrum-like rather than agonizing or scary. An uneven, though worthwhile, addition to fairy-tale collections. (Picture book/fairy tale. 5-9)
From the Publisher
This is a quote. — Amanda Smith
Amanda Smith
This is a quote.
FEBRUARY 2017 - AudioFile
A resplendent narration and enchanting sound effects make this edition of Grimm's 1812 fairy tale quite irresistible. Georgia Lee Schultz's warm voice is ideal for the portrayal of Snow White, particularly when she talks to her birds. Most impressive is Mary Ellen Herder's Evil Queen; her harsh voice and disturbing cackle are spot-on. First-rate sound effects add atmosphere; for example, when the Evil Queen persuades Snow White to eat the poisoned apple, the crunch is as realistic as the sounds of the birds. When Snow White runs away, she meets the dwarves, whose chirpy voices and offbeat humor add fun. The comforting sound of the Prince brings a happy ending when he weds Snow White, bringing peace to their kingdoms. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
