An Illustrated Collection of Fairy Tales for Brave Children

Highly detailed, painterly illustrations anchor this collection of seven European and Russian fairy tales, which combines well-known classics, including “Hansel and Gretel” and “Beauty and the Beast,” with lesser-known works such as “The Three Golden Hairs” and “The Spirit in the Bottle.” A straightforward, traditional narrative tone predominates: “There was once a poor couple who had a son. A visiting fortune teller foretold that the baby would always be lucky and would marry the king’s daughter.” Romantic details of an imagined past—flowing tresses, ermine robes, doublets, golden crowns, and mullioned windows—figure prominently in Plumbe’s pictures, which also reflect a more problematic historical vision: all of the protagonists cue as white. Given that, the dark-toned skin and exaggerated features of the ogre in “The Spirit in the Bottle” and Hades in “The Three Golden Hairs” stand out as troubling artistic choices. Back matter includes brief author biographies. Ages 6–12. (Sept.)