Which Fairytale Versions(Books) Do You Love?

[SparklingGemini]

My book-loving DD is finally starting to really, really, really get into fairytales and classic stories, like Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel & Gretel. And I'm just thrilled!

But these stories are not all created equal. You know? Some have awesome illustrations but weak writing. Some have OK illustrations and overly elaborate writing. And some are just perfect.

Which ones do you absolutely love and recommend? My DD has an advanced listening level, if that helps.

I'm looking for the following stories, and then some.
The Elves & the Shoemaker
Rumpelstiltskin
Goldilocks & the Three Bears
Snow White & Rose Red
Rapunzel
The Princess & the Pea
The Little Mermaid(NOT the watered down Disney version, although I love that in its own right.)
Snow White
Cinderella
Little Red Riding Hood
One Thousand and One Nights
The Snow Queen

Bonus points for non-Anglo, ethnic and cultural fairytales, fables & myths(like Elephant Prince: The Story of Ganesh and The Egyptian Cinderella.)
Thanks, thank, THANKS!

[Niamh]

My favorite all-around fairy tale book is one I grabbed at Ross years ago for $4. I expected it to be crap and to donate it to a thrift store, but we've read it so much that it's falling apart. It's Once Upon A Time.

Each of the stories has a different author and a different illustrator. The illustrations range all across the art spectrum - cartoonish, classic, modern, ethnic. It's a beautiful collection. The stories are well told also and they include a nice mix. There are 28 stories and they include classics (all of the ones you listed except for Snow White & Rose Red, Rapunzel, One Thousand and One Nights and The Snow Queen) and ones I'd never heard before (The Nightingale, George and the Dragon, Three Golden Flowers, Vasilissa and the Magic Doll). My favorite is The Wild Swans - beautiful story and stunning artwork. Well worth the full price for the book.

I really like introducing non-traditional fairy tales like you said. I've put some of recommendations on my blog for these kinds of books.Here and here.

[SparklingGemini]

Thanks for your reply! I'm definitely going to check out Once Upon a Time and the other books you listed in your blog.

And....OMG!

This is sooo random and funny but I have to tell you that I read your blogs all.the.time! You have gorgeous kiddos and I envy your farm.

[lolar2]

For the Hans Christian Anderson ones, I think you can probably find faithful translations of the originals more easily. For the others, I don't know if it's available in this country, but when I was a toddler in England my parents got me the Ladybird picture book versions of traditional fairy tales (Princess and the Pea, Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, and some others). I like those.

[hildare]

I am a big fan of one particular illustrator for some of these versions..
Jerry Pinkney-- He's done little red riding hood, the little red hen, the little match girl, and the Nightingale, among others..his illustrations have one bunches of awards, and he won the caldecott this year for the lion and the mouse. he's pretty awesome.
i like cinderella skeleton for the cinderella (can't think of the author)

[Niamh]

Originally Posted by SparklingGemini

I have to tell you that I read your blogs all.the.time! You have gorgeous kiddos and I envy your farm.

Are you serious? You just made my day. I'm surprised when I hear anybody reads my blog! Thanks for the sweet compliments.

[Traci mom23boys]

I love this Little Red Riding Hood.

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Riding-...5496420&sr=1-3

I love this Goldilocks and the Three Bears-I must have read it 100 times!

http://www.amazon.com/Goldilocks-Thr...5496615&sr=1-1

I also love *The Jolly Postman* & *Each, Peach, Pear, Plum*

These stories incorporate fairy tales.

My favorite Fairy Tale anthology is retold & illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa
http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tales-Fa.../dp/1402756984

This was the book I had as a child and have read the stories to my boys hundreds of times. We are a fairy tale loving bunch!

~traci
~traci

[junipermuse]

We have this eleves and the shoemaker and we love it.

http://www.amazon.com/Elves-Shoemake...mm_hrd_title_0

[Aquitane]

One of my faves is The Rough-Faced Girl, which is a Native American version of Cinderella by Rafe Martin. It's excellent.

I also really enjoyed The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women by Katrin Tchana.

[Niamh]

Originally Posted by Aquitane

I also really enjoyed The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women by Katrin Tchana.

Seconded. That is a great book.