cover image The Fairy-Tale Princess: Seven Classic Stories from the Enchanted Forest

The Fairy-Tale Princess: Seven Classic Stories from the Enchanted Forest

Wendy Jones, illus. by Su Blackwell. Thames & Hudson, $19.95 (96p) ISBN 978-0-500-65006-6

Blackwell’s scene-stealing three-dimensional paper sculptures, crafted from vintage book pages, are the centerpiece of this album of seven condensed fairy tales, retold by Jones in simple yet evocative language. Cinderella’s coach is led by six white paper horses, and her fairy godmother’s poufy skirts glow like a paper lantern. The opening scene in “The Frog Prince” unfolds on the pages of an open book, trees, mushrooms, and a well springing up from its pages. In addition to lending texture and pattern, the text used in Blackwell’s artwork connects to the stories in clever ways: the words “never touch a spinning-wheel” appear ominously on the side of one such wheel as the princess reaches for it in “Sleeping Beauty.” All ages. (Oct.)