Classic Starts®

July 4, 2016
A talented cast of veteran audio narrators brings this classic collection of fairy tales to life. For generations, children have been captivated by the tales set down by the Grimm brothers. Twenty-one classics are represented here. Some, such as “Rapunzel,” “Cinderella,” “Hansel and Gretel,” are well-known, while others such as “The Goose Girl,” “The Six Swans,” and “The Sea Hare” are not. But each story is given star treatment by the eclectic roster of readers. Jim Dale is delightful bringing his vocal talents to bear in the retelling of “Rumpelstiltskin,” giving the story’s namesake a perfectly evil, raspy, wizened voice, and Janis Ian provides a simple but effective reading of the shortest of short stories, “The Riddling Tale.” Scott Brick, Simon Vance, Bahni Turpin, Alfred Molina, and the other readers present these stories of talking animals, wicked stepmothers, evil queens, shoe-making elves, and princes and princesses with professional aplomb. Each brings their own unique storytelling skills to their respective stories, making for a captivating listen. Ages 10–up.

January 1, 2012
These inexpensive condensed versions of eleven Grimms' tales and fifteen Greek myths ("retold from the classic originals") competently delineate plot points. However, the retellings are flat and, especially in the Grimm volume, rather superfluous. Occasional black-and-white illustrations highlight main characters and notable moments from the tales. Discussion questions and a "Note to Parents and Educators" are appended in each volume.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)