Rumpelstiltskin
retold by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Carson Ellis
Scholastic Orchard Books

In this retelling of the classic fairy tale, Mac Barnett uses a modern chatty stye. and understated humour. ‘Her father , a poor miller, was a nice enough guy, but he had a big mouth. He told wild stories and bragged all the time. Here, I’ll give you an example.’

One morning, said miller was on his way into town to sell his wares when he encountered the king coming the opposite way. The two got talking and in an endeavour to impress the king, Tom (as he introduces himself to the king) tells a big lie, claiming that his daughter can spin straw into gold. Unsurprisingly the king wants to meet the girl and then comes the classic tale about demands to use the spinning wheel and spin the straw she’s given into gold; if not she’ll have her head chopped off. (How can any woman be stupid enough to marry so cruel a person, one wonders)

Three times this happens, with the girl doing a deal with the little man who conveniently appears on each occasion. On the third night the king promises to make the girl his queen. And in true classic style she becomes a queen, bears him a son and in her joy, forgets that she’s promised this child to the straw spinner. However her happy life is about to be disrupted for back comes the little man and seeing the queen’s tears makes one more deal. The name guessing starts the next morning after the queen has collected a long list of names. Failure ensues twice and a thoroughly distraught queen decides to take a walk in the dark forest with her little one.

On the way back she hears the vital information she seeks and on day three, well, you know what happens. Thank goodness her highness enjoys walking in the woods.

Carson Ellis’s painterly gouache illustrations, inspired by 18th century fairy tale art and portraiture of the Renaissance era are a great complement to the telling, while the black and white illustrations resemble wood-block prints.

Doubtless both old stagers and youngsters will enjoy this, though for different reasons and the latter will likely demand re-reads.