THREE STARRED REVIEWS!
* "If this isn't the definitive edition of Hansel and Gretel, it's absolutely necessary . . . The swirling lines look as though they might start moving if seen at just the right moment. The pictures have inspired Gaiman to write some of his most beautiful sentencesThe Grimm version is as frightening as a bedtime story gets, but this version will scare people in new ways, and some of those people may need to start drawing right away." Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* Master storyteller Gaiman plumbs the dark depths of Hansel and Gretel... Italian illustrator Mattotti contributes elegant b&w ink spreads that alternate with spreads of text. His artistry flows from the movement of his brush and the play of light and shadow. Publishers Weekly, starred review
* Newbery Medalwinner Neil Gaiman retells Hansel and Gretel as a story of parents plotting a murder by neglect, with full-spread India ink compositions by Lorenzo Mattotti as dark and terrifying as his forest setting. ... Gaiman's text is a study in minimalism, yet he includes every salient detail... A perfectly frightful treat.Shelf Awareness, starred review
Mattotti masterfully and subtly uses negative space so each image isnt immediately noticeable, like the most menacing game of hide-and-seek, and the abrupt oscillation between the clean, white pages of words and the silent, chilling dusky pictures is striking... Gaimans fans and lovers of visual storytelling will devour this eerie version of a classic. Booklist
There is no question that Gaiman is an incredibly gifted wordsmith, and his retelling harkens back to the Grimmss original narrative. The most inspirational part of this book is Mattottis artwork. Pitch-black India ink is used to great effect, creating dark and terrifying landscapes that threaten to envelop the tiny figures of the children. An extensive note on the history of the tales origins is included as back matter. School Library Journal
I love Gaimans and Mattottis Hansel & Gretel. The writing is rich. ("They went so deep into the old forest that the sunlight was stained green by the leaves.") And the art is striking. I have never seen a more chill-inducing rendition of the witch's gingerbread cottage. I swear it looks like there's a skull atop it. Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
"Mattottis arresting and frightening illustrations fill each two-page spread with thick black brushstrokes, the children appearing as tiny, indistinct figures, often in the books corners or near the seam. This visual depiction of the evil surrounding them creates a mounting sense of dread, which prevails even after the children defeat the witch and return. Home, Gaiman and Mattotti suggest, is never really safe from the world outside." Youth Services Book Review
