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Rapunzel

Rapunzel

Retold & Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Overview: In this retelling of the story of Rapunzel, a man and his wife became pregnant with a child. The woman often sat by a small window in their house that overlooked a garden owned by a sorceress. One day the man snuck into the garden to steal some of the rapunzel that grew there because his wife was craving it. After his wife ate it, she wanted some more. So the next day, the man went back to steal some more, but he was caught by the sorceress! When she threatened his life, the man explained his situation and the sorceress said that she would forgive him if the couple gave them their baby once she was born. Out of fright and uncertainty, the man agreed. And so it was that a baby girl was born and the old woman named her "Rapunzel" and cared for her as her own and then eventually kept her in a tower. 
When Rapunzel became older, a Prince discovered that she lived in the tower and climbed up to her by the use of her long hair . The Prince was enthralled by her beauty and they were married on the spot. The Prince visited nightly and the sorceress did not know about him until she found out the Rapunzel was pregnant some time later. She cut off Rapunzel's long hair in rage and sent her to live in the wild country alone. The old woman sat in wait for the Prince to drive and when he did, she threw him off of the tower. He stumbled to the wild country where he found Rapunzel and the twins that she had given birth to.
This is a beautiful and exciting rendition of this classic fairytale. The illustrations are gorgeous and really help the reader understand the story. 4th graders would enjoy reading this tale by themselves.  

Awards: The Caldecott Medel


-The Green Eyed Reader
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