cover image In Fairyland: The Finest of Tales by the Brothers Grimm

In Fairyland: The Finest of Tales by the Brothers Grimm

The Brothers Grimm, trans. from the German by David Henry Wilson, illus. by Hans Fischer. NorthSouth, $30 (147p) ISBN 978-0-7358-4339-4

Artwork by iconic Swiss illustrator “Fis” sets this selection of the Grimms’ classic tales apart. Calligraphic lines of ink swirl beneath the table of contents, forming a rotund little fellow energetically chasing some skeptical poultry. Elsewhere, a jumble of line-drawn animals cavort across the page, a hungry spool and sneering shears preside at a table populated by a wide-eyed button, and a single page reveals the whole plot of “Red Riding Hood.” Using various mediums, Fis draws scenes both hilarious and fantastic, animating straight-on, wryly witty tellings of stories including “The Musicians of Bremen” and “Puss in Boots.” Though the text hews true to fairy tale convention (with the usual violence), it offers a sturdy platform for the artwork’s inventive delights, such as a spread showing just how Puss learned to walk in those boots. Ages 4–8. [em](Mar.) [/em]