The Provensen Book of Fairy Tales Hardcover – October 12, 1971

This book is beautifully illustrated and it tells classic fairy tales in an interesting and imaginative way. I first found this book at our library where sought out the non-Disneyfied versions of these stories, to help broaden and deepen my child's understanding of their timeless nature. My family fell in love with this book! The authors call this a collection of "literary" fairy tales, because they are so carefully written. The illustrations are intensely colorful and an integral part of the experience of each story. I wish books like this were still being made today.

I had this book when I was very young, and over the years, it somehow got lost. I always remembered it and I was thrilled when I found a copy of it here. It was an old library book but it was in fine condition. So very happy.

This is a great book by the amazing Provensons, who have done such great work for children and their parents. Included are fun re-tellings of some classic fairy tales. And these new words are paired with marvelous paintings that sparkle with humor and color. I only wish there were more drawings. The book I received was in fine condition. No complaints.

The Provensens are masterful illustrators. The Intro specifies that these are literary tales, not folk tales, which is interesting. And the book is well written, hallelujah.

My father gave me this book for Christmas more than 40 years ago. It is my all time favorite fairy tale book. The story of The Forest Bride is particularly wonderful. I recommend this for all ages.

everything

This too was and continues to be my favorite book from my childhood. As a mother I read these literary fairy tales many times to my 12 year old daughter and am now reading them again to my four year old daughter. That the illustrations are a bit "odd" (as one reviewer commented) is what, for me, adds to the special beauty of these clever and often incredibly moving stories. The Lost Half Hour, The Three Wishes, The Rabbit Prince, etc. - they are all wonderful tales. And the Provensens brilliantly close with Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince, which I still weep during each and every time I read it after 45 years. Best fairy tale book ever!

I am 33 years old as of this writing and I remember this as by far my favorite fairy tale book as a child. My favorite story in the book was The Happy Prince, by Oscar Wilde - the ending was bittersweet and always made me cry but it was a beautiful testiment to friendship and the importance of kindness.There is also a wonderfully "girl power" version of The Prince and The Goosegirl. The prince wanted to possess the beautiful goosegirl but she just wanted to be loved - not owned.I searched out this book because my husband and I are planning to adopt and I could not imagine a better book for a child to learn the importance and magic of books.

It was given to an expectant mother for her soon to be born child Most likely a boy Our girls really enjoyed it but one took it to Manilla for her own children I was so happy to get it