Our oral history of the tales of "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty" have certainly changed! This is an excellent source for anyone hoping to find the roots of the fairy tales which we all know and love today. Perrault's prose is surprisingly terse, which may grate with the modern conception of these tales, but he also holds nothing back. Thankfully, Philip and Simborowski include all of his tales, even the dark and disturbing "Donkeyskin," which has been left out of most translations. I have used this book as pleasure reading, but it really shines when I pull it off the shelf for serious essays and presentations. Philip and Simborowski provide helpful anecdotes on Perrault's life and the stories themselves, rounding out a work as complete as Perrault's original.

This is a lovely book with beautiful illustrations of Perrault's classic fairytales. At the end of the book Philip spends at least a page briefly discussing each fairy tale and it's history. If you want more in depth criticism of fairytales, check out his text on Cinderella or works by Zipes or Warner. If you want a beautiful book of fairy tales, this is great.

This edition of the Abbe de Choisy's Memoirs includes four autobiographical fragments, a short story entitled "The Story of the Marquise-Marquis De Banneville," and a brief but interesting essay on transvestism by Jeremy Reed. In the Memoirs, Choisy delights in describing his various adornments, giving detailed descriptions of his dresses, jewelry, hairstyles, and "patches" (beauty spots). He also tells all about his many love affairs with women. These erotic encounters are described with subtlety, but are no less risque for that. Always the exhibitionist, Choisy's philosophy of love and beauty infuses the whole book: that beauty inspires love and that we always love ourselves more than we love others. After reading the Memoirs, it is easy to see that Choisy's short story is his personal erotic fantasy. Reading the Memoirs first will certainly eliminate the element of surprise in the story. I would recommend reading this charming story before the memoirs, for it is the highlight of the book and should be enjoyed to the fullest. Finally, Reed makes some informative comments on the social meaning of transvestism in his afterword and the translator provides a useful cultural context (late seventeenth century France) in his introduction.

A fascinating glimpse into the mind & adventures of a 17th-century French gender-bender. A cleric with a taste for dresses, (innumerable) beauty spots, and young girls dressed as men, Choisy romps and minces his way through his memoirs, seducing young ladies as well as his readers. His short story about the Marquise-Marquis de Banneville is similarly enjoyable, if a tad less dodgy. The twist in the tale is perhaps a bit predictable, but, well, we can't expect anything too gay to be published in 17th century France...

My kids and I really like the GreatHall Productions audiotapes. Jim Weiss is a great narrator. The sound effects and pacing really bring the stories together.

Marcuse's translations are always excellent, and this one is no exception. It is not flawless, but it is excellent nonetheless. I have read this translation several times, checking it against the text from which it was translated. There were no grammatical errors to be corrected. I chose to word some sentences differently, to suit my regional native Spanish, but speaking as a professional translator, this translation is well crafted.
I would have to disagree with the Horn Book review. This translation is well executed. While the reviewers may be experts in children's literature they seem to be lacking a grasp of the Spanish language, even at a children's level. In either language this edition of El gato con botas is well deserving of the Caldecott Honor Book award.

My daughter and my niece love this book/theater. They put on plays, learn the parts. Everyone enjoys it. I would buy dozens and save them for friends, and future little relatives.

Tom Thumb has always been my all-time favorite book when i was younger.

This book tells the traditional story of Sleeping Beauty with magnificent language, accompanied by spectacular illustrations. As in the original, Sleeping Beauty's mother is told that her dream of having a child would finally come true and that she would have a baby girl. The Queen did have the baby girl and her husband was so pleased he threw the biggest and grandest birthday party. He invited all but one person and not inviting her was the result in a terrible spell cast upon his daughter, Briar Rose. The spell was to put her to sleep on her 15th birthday, in which it did, after she touched the spinning wheel. Only a handsome man could wake her from the spell, and many years later that is what one man did. By kissing her, she returned to life and brought the whole castle life back with her. What catches the reader's attention in this particular book is the depth and colors of the illustrations. The position of the text also is very relevant in this story. Each picture is extremely detailed and shows that a great amount of thought was put into completing each page. It is very unique that the placement of the words on each page is located in some form of an opening. The text is placed in open skies, doorways, and blank walls on each page. In the beginning of the book, when the tone is darker, opening words are placed in a smaller and darker area; when Sleeping Beauty is awoken, the tone is much livelier. An example of this transition is relevant on the first two pages of the book, from the time when you are told the Queen could not have children to the time she has given birth to a baby girl. The first picture has dark colors and the trees are scary, close together and representative of a dark tone. With a turn of the page the tone takes a great positive change with open skies, doves, and vibrant colors. The text on both pages is in the middle of the darkness and then in the middle of a window. The position of the text and the illustrations are key factors in determining the over all tone and mood of the story. This book tells such an amazing story with the pictures that words are not even necessary. Children can read this book and better understand because of the colors and detail that each picture possesses. The doves that are used on the page of the birth of Briar Rose and the end of the book symbolize her life and what joy she lived. The colors in general are also used a symbol for joy and sadness, with such powerful colors meaning and representing happy times.

Trina Schart Hyman entranced me with her illustrations of Snow White when I was just a child. This book, with all its wonderful depictions, is equally as rich and magical. I have always loved the way her drawings looked and she was a direct inspiration for me to take up illustration when I got to college. I definitely reccomend it. It is a lovely, well-written tale and anyone, young or old, will love it.

As soon as you see the cover, you will know this is an edition of Sleeping Beauty that you will want. You actually feel the joy of the baby's christening, and the hurt and turmoil of the wicked fairy's curse. The scenes in this book are medeieval looking and it even shows some of the seasons that pass. This might not be the way that you see Sleeping Beauty often depicted. The princess, Briar Rose has long red hair and she wears a knife around her waist, in true medieval princess style. This is definetly a good change for the story. With it's expressive wording and beautiful, unique illustrations, you will want to check out her other books such as Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and some others!!!!

this isnt the best versoin of cinderella i've heard!
but it is all i could find for a school project
if there was any good pictures from the book that i could have down loaded it would get 5 stars

the Book was good but i do wish they showed the picuter of the second ball whith cinderella in her gown

Cinderella lived with her two step-sisters. They gave her the nickname Cinderseat. They were really mean to her and made her do things for them. The king's son was to give a ball and everyone was invited. When the day came Cinderella began to cry and her godmother appeared and made her get a pumpkin, which she turned into a coach. She then turned mice into horses, and a rat into a coachman. Then dressed her in a beautiful dress and glass slippers. When she arrived she danced with the prince, but she had to leave before midnight. She left without telling anyone her name or anything. The next night they went to another ball and she left right before midnight in rags, and left one glass slipper behind. He checked around trying the slipper on everyone. When Cinderella tried it on it fit her perfectly, and the prince realized she was the mysterious girl he had danced with before and they were to be married. I think this is a good story for kids to read, because Cinderella was really nice to her step-sisters who were always so mean to her after everything.

I agree with the first review for this book, "A GOOD SHORT READ". It is better than "The Princess Test" because Rosella doesn't get so lucky with her prince like Laurelei (the heroine of "Princess Test"). I don't think Rosella lets people walk all over her. She's just nice, and has a kind heart. And she DOES stand up for herself in the end. If you like funny, twisted fairy tales, when the bad guys REALLY get what they deserve, read this book.

I found this book much better than the Princess Test. I liked the way the plot was twisted so that the good character gets a punishment and the bad character gets a reward, and then everything works out. I didn't like the way Rosella never stood up for herself, she just let herself be bossed around, she didn't seem to have much of a briain until the end and then all of a sudden she starts standing up for herself, I didn't get how that transformation had occured. I still enjoyed the book and look forward to more books by Levine. Read this book if you have about an hour on your hands with nothing to do.

Do you never read? I think that if you read "The Fairy's Mistake" you'll see reading in a whole new light. For all you people who do read it's also an amazing fantasy book. To find out the gist of the book read on.
In "The Fairy's Mistake" the Fairy Ethelinda rewards one of the Widow Pickering's daughters, Rosella so that whenever she speaks jewels come out. Her twin sister, Myrtle is punished so that whenever she talks slimy bugs, snakes, and spiders come out. When Rosella marries a greedy prince and Myrtle uses her voice to buy things they have to work together to make the prince listen.
I hope that you purchase (or read) this book because the plot and the authors writing style really drew me in. If you like fantasy books this book is a must-have. I hope that you have great sucess with this book. I know I did.