Sleeping Beauty

May 15, 2017
This version of the oft-told story opens with a fusty philosophical frontispiece: "Many see Time as a friend, and many see Time as a foe. But for a sleeping beauty, Time was a promise."With no source information or attribution to Perrault, the clear, readable, but unadorned text generally follows the first part of the French version, up to the awakening of Sleeping Beauty (a kiss on the hand here but just the end of the enchantment in the original). A few other details vary: the princess finds the old woman spinning in a little cottage rather than in a castle upper room, and here the girl's parents ask to be put to sleep along with all the courtiers. (In the original they leave the castle.) Rylant's name is a draw, but the text is not distinguished. The painterly, digital illustrations have a modern Disney-esque feeling but are not actively linked to the 1959 movie or Maleficent. The seven invited fairies have different skin tones. Described as old by Perrault, the eighth, uninvited fairy, responsible for the curse, has angry features some may read as Asian (there is no "good" Asian fairy) and looks just a bit older than the others, who resemble cute young teens. The princess and her parents are white, and the prince is also pale-complexioned. This adequate but unnecessary new version could be left sleeping on the shelf. (Picture book/fairy tale. 5-8)

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July 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Rylant's retelling features many hallmarks of the traditional tale but grounds itself firmly for a primary grade audience. Royal parents of a longed-for child invite seven fairy godmothers to bestow blessings on the baby princess. But an embittered eighth fairy has been forgotten, and she is easily offended. When the unexpected guest shows up, she must make do with a brass teapot rather than one specially crafted of "rose pearl and royal silver." As revenge, the "angry fairy" curses the baby: in 15 years the young girl will prick her finger on a spindle and "fall into a neverending sleep." Luckily, one good fairy, who remained hidden, uses her gift to lessen the curse: the princess will sleep for 100 years before being "awakened by love." Throughout the book, Rylant ruminates on the theme of time: "There are times in life when you can do nothing but wait. This will be such a time." Notably, the young prince awakens Sleeping Beauty by kissing her hand, not her lips, in a very G-rated fashion. McGuire's illustrations enchant with vibrant colors and cherubic faces. She effectively portrays the eighth fairy as wicked but not overly scary. VERDICT An unoriginal but sweet presentation of a classic story with illustrations sure to wow any young princess fan. A fine selection for large fairy-tale collections.-Maria O'Toole, Carroll Manor Elementary School, Adamstown, MD

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