398.2

The Snow Queen, illustrated by P.J. Lynch.

I think that I have finally reached the conclusion of that portion of my Hans Christian Andersen project devoted to The Snow Queen, and after eleven different picture-book retellings, it's about time! How glad I am that this edition, adapted by Caroline Peachey and illustrated by P.J. Lynch, is the final one to be read, rather than the insipid version done by Mary Engelbreit, as I can conclude this mini-investigation on the right note!

With a narrative that is mostly faithful to the original, retaining its seven-chapter format, Peachey's text reads well and keeps the reader's attention. The fairy-tales told by the flowers in the old witch's garden are omitted, which seems to be a rather common decision, for those abridging this tale, but otherwise this seems to be an accurate and faithful translation. The illustrations by P.J. Lynch - who also worked on Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier - are gorgeous, capturing the wild enchantment of the tale. I particularly liked his full two-page spreads, of the Snow Queen hovering over the town, of Gerda in the enchanted flower garden, and of her journey under the vast Northern Lights. Not quite the equal of Vladyslav Yerko's edition, I would rank this with Angela Barrett's version, which is high praise indeed! Well worth the time of any reader with a love of this particular tale, or an appreciation of beautiful fairy-tale art. ( )