Not for children or for casual readers. Interesting for teens, poets & other writers, scholars, fans of [a:Jack Zipes|41878|Jack Zipes|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg], professors of literature.

From the back of the book:
Gwen Strauss met Anthony Browne at conference in Massachusetts. Both were at the time exploring the nature of the fairy tale; she as a poet, and he as an artist. From their conversation and subsequent collaboration grew this volume of verse... in which both the text and the pictures will provoke readers into taking a fresh look for themselves at the many layers of meaning to be found within well-known tales."

Well ain't that politic?

I will admit I liked the Rumplestiltzkin poem. Remember how disturbing it is to think the miller would simply hand over his daughter to the king? Ok, so if she became the queen she'd be better-fed & clothed, but still, as Srauss points out, this was nothing like a love-match. So it's only natural the girl is willing to promise the king's child to the droll and helpful little man. But:

"I didn't know then how a baby
can have nothing to do with the father
when it falls asleep in your arms
smelling of sweet-sour milk."" ( )

The author has taken 12 well known fairy tales (Cinderella, Snow White ...)and given them back in verse. Each is accompanied by a black & white pencil or pen & ink drawing.

These are poems about different fairy tales, often told from the perspective of someone who usually doesn't tell each tale. There's a lot of focus on flesh, but not much new perspective to each tale. I wanted her to take the implications of the tales a bit farther. ( )