Elves and the Shoemaker -Nop/123

One of the Brothers Grimm's most appealing stories, The Elves and the Shoemaker tells the story of an honest shoemaker and his wife who fall on hard times. They are rescued from poverty by a pair of elves who fashion elegant shoes while the shoemaker sleeps. Watts's retelling is workmanlike but her pictures are exceptional. Whereas many illustrators have depicted the shoemaker and his wife as an older, childless couple, Watts casts a handsome young man and his comely bride in the starring roles and provides them with a pair of lovely children. Their humble dwelling exudes the warmth of simple but honest living, which in turn underscores the story's themes of homely virtue and marital union. (5-8)