SurLaLune Fairy Tales Blog

Goldilocks in US Politics

2012-01-28T10:16:00.000-06:00

I am not going to get political here on the blog--we need a few places to escape campaigns, don't we? But I was amused by this headline and the news that the GOP candidates have been invoking Goldilocks recently.

From Mitt Romney Upbeat After Strong Debate, Compares Newt Gingrich To 'Goldilocks':

"Speaker Gingrich said the debate before last night -- that the crowd wasn't allowed to cheer, and so he couldn't do so well because the crowd was too quiet," said Romney, referring to the NBC News debate where the audience was asked to hold its applause. "Then last night, he said the crowd was too loud. It's like Goldilocks. This porridge is too hot, this porridge is too cold."

But Romney's not alone, from the same article:

Former Sen. Rick Santorum also recently invoked Goldilocks, saying Gingrich was "hot, radioactive" and Romney was "cold, timid" -- but he was "just right."

Okay, candidates. How about Sleeping Beauty next? That one should be easy! Emperor's New Clothes and Cinderella are way too easy. Extra points and my vote if you can invoke Bluebeard or Robber Bridegroom! Or Twelve Dancing Princesses--now that would be amazing.

TV: Castle and Little Red Riding Hood

2012-01-28T10:06:00.000-06:00

Castle, the ABC series, is drawing some inspiration from fairy tales for the 17th episode of its 4th season with an episode titled, "Once Upon a Crime." From Castle Scoop: Sarah Jane Morris Gets Involved In a Fairy Grimm Episode:

ABC’s Castle will kinda-sorta — but not really — crossover with the network’s freshman hit Once Upon a Time when Sarah Jane Morris guest-stars in a fairytale-flavored installment later this winter.

In this season’s 17th episode — titled, natch, “Once Upon a Crime” — Morris will play Leslie Morgan, a woman whose sister, Amy, was found dead in Central Park. The peculiar details of this quite unhappy ending? Amy was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and the victim of an apparent wolf attack.

It looks like this will most likely air in the US on February 27th unless that timeslot gets preempted for something else and it gets bumped a week or two.

The series previously had a Goldilocks inspiration in its second season in the episode titled, "The Third Man." It was cleverly done so I am hoping this one is as witty, but I doubt it will be as subtle.

France Month: Cendrillon by Charles Perrault and illustrated by Charlotte Gastaut

2012-01-28T09:29:00.000-06:00

I already shared Charlotte Gastaut's Princess and the Pea today with links to her site and blog. So I will let her Cendrillon speak for itself.

France Month: La princesse au petit pois by Hans Christian Andersen and illustrated by Charlotte Gastaut

2012-01-28T09:10:00.000-06:00

La princesse au petit pois by Hans Christian Andersen and illustrated by Charlotte Gastaut is another Princess and the Pea, of course. Gastaut has illustrated many fairy tales and I have already featured Les fées by Charles Perrault and illustrated by Charlotte Gastaut. She has many more books, but alas I could not find good images for many of them although I am also sharing her Cinderella in a separate post today. There is a hidden page on her under construction website to see some unlabeled images and she has a blog where she occasionally shares more including some murals. I like her clean style.

Book description:

« Il était une fois un prince qui voulait se marier. Hélas aucune des jeunes filles qu on lui présentait ne trouvait grâce à ses yeux. Un soir, par un terrible orage, une jeune fille frappa à la porte du château. S'agissait-il, enfin, de la princesse tant recherchée ? » Trop d'enfants aujourd hui ne connaissent plus les contes classiques. Ces contes qui, pourtant, aident à grandir, enrichissent l imaginaire de milles et une créatures, fées, princesses ou dragons et apportent à la vie une moral pleine d humour où les méchants sont punis et les plus petits récompensés. Des contes qui donnent envie d apprendre à lire et de plus tard raconter, transmettre l histoire à ses enfants ! Pour faciliter l accès à cette formidable richesse de la littérature jeunesse, voilà une collection à petit prix, avec des histoires magnifiquement illustrées et surtout des textes, adaptés aux enfants, qui ont su garder l'impertinence, l ambiance et les tournures si particulières des contes de fées...

Scottish Ballet: Sleeping Beauty

2012-01-27T11:46:00.001-06:00

This time I have video of a current ballet: The Scottish Ballet's production of Sleeping Beauty. This one is filled with vibrant, bright colors and looks like fun. Too bad I am more than an ocean away... The production is touring Scotland, so it is more accessible if you are there.

This is one of my favorite ballets thanks to the music, I admit. I was raised on Nutcracker (or I raised myself on it and drove the parental units crazy wearing out recordings of it as a preteen) so Tchaikovsky will always be important to me. There's also a gallery on their site of images, but I don't have time to import them here today. It looks like a gorgeous production.

There is also video of a webcast they did backstage of a performance. This is a tech savvy ballet company!

Scottish Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty 2011 - Trailer from Scottish Ballet on Vimeo.

France Month: Les trois petits cochons by Sylvie Bessard (Auteur), Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur)

2012-01-27T05:00:00.010-06:00

Les trois petits cochons by Sylvie Bessard (Auteur), Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur)

Book description:

Il était une fois trois petits cochons qui voulaient construire leurs maisons. Le premier construisit sa maison avec de la paille, le deuxième avec du bois, et le troisième avec des briques. Les deux frères du troisième petit cochon se moquèrent de lui, mais, quand le loup vint à souffler sur leurs maisons pour les faire voler en éclats, ils furent bien contents d’aller trouver refuge dans la maison de briques...

Mirror, Mirror (2012): New International Trailer and a Featurette

2012-01-27T01:38:00.000-06:00

That's the new 2-minute international trailer for Mirror, Mirror (2012). And I just realized we are only 7 weeks away from release since it is out on March 16th. Wow. I am expecting the media coverage to start boosting soon and I will try to share a good amount of it here.

I am trying to decide how much Snow White discussion to have on the blog. I discussed a lot when I released Sleeping Beauties: Sleeping Beauty and Snow White Tales From Around the World. But there is always more.

And while we are here, a new featurette, too.

Bargain Book: Today Only: A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz

2012-01-26T10:55:00.000-06:00

A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz is the Amazon Deal of the Day today for $.99. The price will go back up at midnight PST. Schlitz wrote the Newbery Medal winner, Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village.

Book description:

Maud Flynn is known at the orphanage for her impertinence. So when the charming Miss Hyacinth chooses her to take home, the girl is pleased but baffled, until she learns of her new role: helping to stage elaborate séances for bereaved patrons. As Maud is drawn deeper into the deception, playing the "secret child," she is torn between her need to please and her growing conscience. It takes a shocking betrayal to make clear just how heartless her so-called guardians are. Filled with fascinating details of turn-of-the-century spiritualism and page-turning suspense, this novel from Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz features a feisty heroine whom readers will not soon forget.

No, this isn't directly folklore related, but is on the slant with the subject matter--and cool title--and so I thought it crossed over well in interests for many of you dear readers.

New Book: Hans My Hedgehog: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm by Kate Coombs and John Nickle

2012-01-26T05:02:00.036-06:00

Hans My Hedgehog: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm by Kate Coombs (Adapter), Brothers Grimm (Author), John Nickle (Illustrator) was released this past Tuesday.

I haven't seen copy in person, but I'm always thrilled with a new picture book featuring one of the less popular fairy tales. Hans My Hedgehog is a sentimental favorite of many fairy tale fans and hopefully this book will also introduce the tale to a new audience.

Book description:

A classic tale of love and acceptance from the Brothers Grimm is beautifully rendered in this magical retelling.Hans is an unusual boy. Born a hedgehog from the waist up, he knows what it’s like to truly be an outcast. Even his amazing fiddle playing can’t help him fit in. So Hans flees to the forest with his herd of loyal pigs and only his music to keep him company. But then a most unusual thing happens: When Hans crosses paths with two kings with two lovely daughters, his luck starts to change. Will this lonely soul find true love after all?

This lively and lyrical retelling of the classic Grimm’s tale, paired with lush, detailed illustrations, reminds us of the power of music, the importance of belonging, and the transformative effect of love.

The reviews for the book so far are great--Kirkus starred it--and there is an interview with Kate Coombs at The Enchanted Inkpot this week, too. Most of the interview is about Coombs work as an author, but she answered a few questions about fairy tales, too. Here's an excerpt:

I don't see as many picture book fairy tales these days. Why is that?

Hans My Hedgehog is kind of an anomaly because very few picture book retellings of fairy tales are being published right now, after a heyday that took place 20 or so years ago. Many parents want their children to jump into reading chapter books right out of kindergarten. They seem to think that picture books are babyish. This is unfortunate because picture books for children in grades 1-3 can make a wonderful bridge and hook kids into wanting to read more.

Could you talk a little about fairy tale retellings for middle grade and young adult readers?

Even as the picture book fairy tale is showing signs of becoming extinct, novelizations for MG/YA are really taking off. So at least we aren't losing the stories altogether! I would even say that the 1990s and this new century have brought a golden age of fairy tale retellings for older children. For example, consider the incredible variety of Cinderella retellings: you get Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, which famously imagines an explanation for Cinderella's passiveness; you get a lesbian Cinderella tale in Malinda Lo's Ash; and you get a cyborg Cinderella in Marissa Meyer's new book, Cinder. I love seeing what different authors do with the same story bones. The retelling movement is starting to reach beyond European tales more frequently, I am happy to say. Grace Lin's book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, draws on Chinese folklore, and Jasmine Richard's The Book of Wonders uses Scheherazade and Sinbad to create something new. I can't wait to see what happens next.

What advice do you have for someone planning on doing an MG/YA retelling?

The retellings are coming fast and furiously, so as an author, you have to be careful what you choose to retell. A few years ago, I had just about finished a novelization of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," a story I chose because no one had done much with it, when someone else beat me to the punch. Since then, another half dozen versions have come out! I won't even tell you the story I'm tinkering with now. Suffice it to say, it's a lesser known fairy tale.

Whatever you decide to retell, you should work on giving your version a unique spin, the way Meyer did with Cinder, the way Jane Yolen did recently in her Appalachian Snow White retelling, Snow in Summer. It isn't enough to retell a story: you have to make it your own. That's really what Gail Carson Levine did with the Cinderella story. That and her fine characterization are what keep Ella Enchanted in print.

I'm hoping this fairy tale popularity will inspire publishers to give us some new beautiful fairy tale picture books. I have a lot of more obscure but interesting ones on my wishlist actually after working on all of these SurLaLune compilations and translating a few. There are some great Cinderellas out there as well as Beauty and the Beast and Snow White.

New Book: Stranger Magic: Charmed States and the Arabian Nights by Marina Warner

2012-01-26T05:01:00.000-06:00

Marina Warner has a new book out this year, Stranger Magic: Charmed States and the Arabian Nights, which has already been released in the UK but won't be available in the US until March. But the press is hot on it in the UK, so I wanted to share today. If you are in the UK, you can have joy now and order the book right away. In the US, you can order the book from the UK now or wait until March. I'm waiting to spare my budget, of course, but I must admit I prefer the UK cover (the one on the left). What about you?

Book description (UK edition):

From the Inside Flap

Magic is not simply a matter of the occult arts, but a whole way of thinking, of dreaming the impossible. As such it has tremendous force in opening the mind to new realms of achievement: imagination precedes the fact. It used to be associated with wisdom, understanding the powers of nature, and with technical ingenuity that could let men do things they had never dreamed of before.

The supreme fiction of this magical thinking is The Arabian Nights, with its flying carpets, hidden treasure and sudden revelations. Translated into French and English in the early days of the Enlightenment, this became a best-seller among intellectuals, when it was still thought of in the Arab world as a mere collection of folk tales. For thinkers of the West the book's strangeness opened visions of transformation: dreams of flight,speaking objects, virtual money, and the power of the word to bring about change.Its tales create a poetic image of the impossible, a parable of secret knowledge and power. Above all they have the fascination of the strange - the belief that true knowledge lies elsewhere, in a mysterious realm of wonder.

As part of her exploration into the prophetic enchantments of the Nights Marina Warner retells some of the most wonderful and lesser known stories. She explores the figure of the dark magician or magus, from Solomon to the wicked uncle in Aladdin; the complex vitality of the jinn, or genies; animal metamorphoses and flying carpets.Her narrative reveals that magical thinking, as conveyed by these stories, governs many aspects of experience, even now.In this respect, the east and west have been in fruitful dialogue. Writers and artists in every medium have found themselves by adopting Oriental disguise. With startling originality and impeccable research, this ground-breaking book shows how magic, in the deepest sense, helped to create the modern world, and how profoundly it is still inscribed in the way we think today.

About the Author

Marina Warner spent her early years in Cairo, and was educated at a convent in Berkshire, and then in Brussels and London, before studying modern languages at Oxford. She is an internationally acclaimed cultural historian, critic, novelist and short story writer. From her early books on the Virgin Mary and Joan of Arc, to her bestselling studies of fairy tales and folk stories, From the Beast to the Blonde and No Go the Bogeyman, her work has explored different figures in myth and fairy tale and the art and literature they have inspired. She lectures widely in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, and is currently Professor in the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies, University of Essex. She was appointed CBE in 2008.

And from Stranger Magic by Marina Warner: review: Sameer Rahim revels in 1,001 tales that last a lifetime, reading Marina Warner's Stranger Magic: Charmed States and the Arabian Nights, the first few paragraphs to whet your interest:

The earliest translations of The Arabian Nights appeared around the same time as the Enlightenment philosopher David Hume began debunking Biblical miracles from the “ignorant and barbarous nations” of the East. As the West became more rationalist, Nights-fever caught on among countless artists for whom the tales were an outlet for all sorts of fantasies, both magical and sexual.

Mozart was given a copy by his Italian landlady and picked up themes for his oriental opera The Abduction from the Seraglio; Coleridge read the tales with a “strange mixture of obscure dread and intense desire”, the same feelings he evokes in “Kubla Khan”; and Dickens’s homage to the Nights can be found in A Christmas Carol, when Scrooge tries to trap the Ghost of Christmas Past with a candle extinguisher, like the Fisherman coaxing the Genie back into his magic lamp.

Marina Warner’s Stranger Magic ranges widely, and somewhat wildly, from the earliest Western interpretations to Hollywood films such as The Thief of Baghdad. She takes 15 of her favourite tales and spins a knowledgeable but rather haphazard cultural history.

Warner does not read Arabic and shows little interest in the linguistic texture of the tales – how, for example, any attempt to imitate the rhymed, repetitive prose leads to monstrosities like Richard Burton’s Victorian version, but how turning it into neat English does not reflect its oral origins. She also makes a point of denying their Arab-ness: The Nights, she writes, “has no known author or named authors, no settled shape or length, no fixed table of contents, no definite birthplace or linguistic origin”. But while the stories are certainly universal, they are also firmly rooted in the medieval Islamic world.

France Month: Raiponce illustrated by Princess Camcam

2012-01-26T05:00:00.009-06:00

Minicontes classiques : Raiponce par Anne Royer (Auteur), D'après les Frères Grimm (Auteur), Princesse Camcam (Illustrations) is the first Rapunzel I've featured for France month. Yes, the tale is German but there are some early French Rapunzels around, too. (There's a few in my Rapunzel and Other Maiden in the Tower Tales From Around the World). However, the tale isn't well-represented in French picture books beyond the blitz of Disney tie-ins. This book is illustrated by Princess Camcam who also illustrated the brunette Cinderella I shared a few weeks ago.

Book description:

« Il était une fois un homme et une femme qui attendaient leur premier enfant. Derrière leur maison, il y avait un jardin où poussaient de magnifiques fleurs. Quand la femme les aperçut, elle ne voulut rien manger d autre que ces fleurs nommées raiponce. Or ce jardin appartenait à une redoutable magicienne... » Trop d'enfants aujourd'hui ne connaissent plus les contes classiques. Ces contes qui, pourtant, aident à grandir, enrichissent l imaginaire de milles et une créatures, fées, princesses ou dragons et apportent à la vie une morale pleine d'humour où les méchants sont punis et les plus petits récompensés. Des contes qui donnent envie d'apprendre à lire et plus tard de raconter, transmettre l'histoire à ses enfants ! Pour faciliter l'accès à cette formidable richesse de la littérature jeunesse, voilà une collection à petit prix, avec des histoires magnifiquement illustrées et surtout des textes, adaptés aux enfants, qui ont su garder l impertinence, l ambiance et les tournures si particulières des contes de fées...

Hollywood Report: ABC's 'Beauty and the Beast' Ordered to Pilot

2012-01-25T05:02:00.014-06:00

From Hollywood Report: ABC's 'Beauty and the Beast' Ordered to Pilot:

ABC is making it a pair of Beauty and the Beast reboots this pilot season.

The female-skewing network is moving forward with its reimagining of the classic fairy tale set in a mythical, dangerous world where a beautiful and tough princess discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast.

Human Target scribe Jonathan E. Steinberg (Jericho) will pen the project with Gary Fleder (Life Unexpected) and Mary Beth Basile (October Road) attached to executive produce the ABC Studios project through their Mojo Films shingle.

ABC's Beauty and the Beast update comes as the network has found success with freshman fairy tale Once Upon a Time, the dual universe drama revolving around Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her long-lost daughter (Jennifer Morrison).

But will Gaston be forced upon us? Shudder. It's ABC/Disney. It could happen. Just saying. Although I am enjoying Once Upon a Time. I'm just more attached to Beauty and her Beast so I get worried.

Now that Snow White trend really is ending but the fairy tale one isn't!

And isn't everyone excited to know that my Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World will be out later this year?

CW Picks Up Beauty and the Beast

2012-01-25T05:01:00.020-06:00

I'm a little behind on this! From The CW Orders Pilots for Green Arrow Series, Sex and the City Prequel, Beauty and the Beast Redo:

The CW on Wednesday doled out pilot orders for three buzzy projects: Arrow, The Carrie Diaries and Beauty and the Beast.

Beauty and the Beast, meanwhile, is loosely based on the 1980s sudser starring Linda Hamilton, but adding a modern-day procedural twist.

From Hollywood Reporter:

The CW's Beauty and the Beast, meanwhile, is one of two projects mining the famed story this development season. The network's project is based on the 1980s CBS drama that starred Ron Perlman as Vincent (aka the Beast) and Linda Hamilton as Catherine (the Beauty).

Set up at CBS Television Studios, it's described as a modern-day romantic love story with a procedural twist. Felicity's Jennifer Levin and Brothers and Sisters' Sherri Cooper are attached to pen the project and executive produce alongside Paul Witt, C. Anthony Thomas, Ron Koslow and Bill Haber.

Now I loved the first few seasons of this show back when it aired. I was a teen eager for anything Beauty and the Beast and this worked well for me then. I have not rewatched in years but scenes and imagery are very vivid for me, even some plots. I am intrigued. And I am sure we won't be getting Gaston in this iteration. Thank goodness.

And at least this means the Snow White domination may be ending...

But the fairy tale trend isn't!

France Month: Le Petit Chaperon rouge par Jean Claverie

2012-01-25T05:00:00.038-06:00

Le Petit Chaperon rouge par Jean Claverie is a fun take on Little Red Riding Hood. I'll let the illustrations speak for themselves. This is in at least a second edition so it has been a popular interpretation. Claverie is also a popular illustrator. I really would love to see the entire book...

France Month: Les six frères cygnes par Elsa Oriol (Illustrateur)

2012-01-24T05:00:00.015-06:00

Les six frères cygnes par Wilhelm Grimm (Auteur), Jacob Grimm (Auteur), Elsa Oriol (Illustrateur) is better known as The Six Swans to us in English. I was thrilled to find so many illustrations from this book to share for it is a beloved tale, not often seen illustrated in picture books.

Book description:

La fratrie des frères Grimm se composait de cinq garçons et d'une fille, très importante dans l'histoire familiale, C'est pourquoi Les six frères cygnes occupent une place particulière parmi les contes que les frères Grimm ont fixés par écrit. Nous sommes ici d'emblée au cœur de toutes les tensions: la famille éclatée, recomposée, est source d'épreuves, de rivalités, de désirs, d'interdits, de transgressions et c'est seulement en surmontant ces épreuves que la fratrie parviendra à dénouer les fils du sortilège
et à construire enfin son destin.

Picture Book: Me and You by Anthony Browne

2012-01-23T10:13:00.000-06:00

While I have Goldilocks on everyone's brain today, I wanted to share a somewhat recent release (2010) that I missed until I few weeks ago and have been saving until Goldilocks was on my mind. The book is Me and You by Anthony Browne as author and illustrator who has offered us interesting fairy tale visions in the past.

Book description:

A small bear goes for a stroll in the park with his parents, leaving their bowls of porridge cooling on the kitchen table. Meanwhile, a girl with golden hair is hopelessly lost in a big, frightening city when she comes across a house with the door left invitingly open. Inside are three bowls of porridge in the kitchen, three chairs in the living room, and three comfortable-looking beds upstairs, and no one seems to be home . . .

For me, it's hard to see Goldilocks in a fresh way, but this book definitely puts a different twist on a the tale and makes it a different story. Goldilocks is not the brat she is in so many versions, think James Marshall's version in particular which I also adore.

France Month: Boucle d'or et les trois ours illustrated by Marion Billet

2012-01-23T09:54:00.000-06:00

Boucle d'or et les trois ours illustrated by Marion Billet is more of a play book than a book, but it is cute so I had to share it as part of France Month. It has pop-up book qualities and it has joined my personal wishlist.

France Month: Boucle d'or et les trois ours illustrated by Vanessa Hié

2012-01-23T09:41:00.000-06:00

Boucle d'or et les trois ours illustrated by Vanessa Hié has been published in two editions with two different authors credited for the text. The book on the left is in print while the one on the right is out of print. Either way, I found these illustrations witty and fun. I couldn't find internal imagery from the in-print edition which would be interesting since it is a different shape and must use the illustrations differently.

But the pompon hair on Goldilocks emphasizes her youth and sells the story to me.

$10 off Ebook Textbook Extended Through 1/23

2012-01-22T13:19:00.000-06:00

I posted about Amazon's $10 off the purchase or rental of an ebook textbook late in December but wanted to repost since the offer has been reopened and extended to tomorrow night if you didn't use it before. I did so I don't qualify for it again this year--I bought the Princess Peacock collection of Chinese folklore pictured above since I already owned the titles that I recommend the most. And my library of Chinese folklore is rather slim in comparison to other areas in my collection.

You can read about the deal here and enter the promo code into your account--remember you have to enter the code before you buy or rent a book--and here are links to textbook searches for Fairy Tales and Folklore since they can be tricky to generate if you're no on the right page. "If you received a confirmation that your code has been entered successfully, your $10 credit is now in your account and will remain there until it has been applied towards the purchase or rental of eligible Kindle e-textbooks or until it expires at 11:59 p.m PST on January 23, 2012."

There are other subject areas where you can find textbooks for under$10, so you'd get it for free. But this is a folklore blog, so that's what I am featuring here.

Once Upon a Time: Sneak Peek Episode 10: 7:15 AM

2012-01-22T05:01:00.009-06:00

Above is a sneak peek of tonight's new episode of Once Upon a Time on ABC. This one is titled "7:15 AM" which is rather intriguing.

Episode description:

ONCE UPON A TIME - "7:15 A.M." - Mary Margaret and David continue to grapple with their unrequited love, and Emma and Regina grow suspicious over a mysterious new stranger in town. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Snow White yearns to ease her breaking heart as Prince Charming's wedding to King Midas's daughter approaches, on "Once Upon a Time," SUNDAY, JANUARY 22 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/JACK ROWAND) GINNIFER GOODWIN, ALAN DALE

Another peek:

France Month: Les fées par Anne Royer (Auteur), D'après Charles Perrault (Auteur), Élodie Coudray (Illustrations)

2012-01-22T05:00:00.011-06:00

Les fées par Anne Royer (Auteur), D'après Charles Perrault (Auteur), Élodie Coudray (Illustrations) is another picture book of The Fairies/Diamonds and Toads by Charles Perrault. I admit this one always fascinates me since I consider it a challenge to make it look attractive for someone to regurgitating anything, be it diamonds or toads.

Book description:

« Il était une fois une mère qui n'avait d'yeux que pour celle de ses filles qui lui ressemblait. Elle maltraitait la seconde, qu'elle envoyait souvent puiser de l'eau à la source lointaine. Un jour, la pauvre enfant aida une vieille femme à se désaltérer. En remerciement, elle reçut un présent... » Trop d'enfants aujourd'hui ne connaissent plus les contes classiques. Ces contes qui, pourtant, aident à grandir, enrichissent l imaginaire de mille et une créatures, fées, princesses ou dragons et apportent à la vie une morale pleine d'humour où les méchants sont punis et les plus petits récompensés. Des contes qui donnent envie d'apprendre à lire et plus tard de raconter, transmettre l'histoire à ses enfants ! Pour faciliter l accès à cette formidable richesse de la littérature jeunesse, voilà une collection à petit prix, avec des histoires magnifiquement illustrées et surtout des textes, adaptés aux plus jeunes, qui ont su garder l'impertinence, l'ambiance et les tournures si particulières des contes de fées...

France Month: Le Petit Chaperon rouge illustrated by Maud Riemann

2012-01-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

Le Petit Chaperon rouge illustrated by Maud Riemann has some unexpected images for Little Red Riding Hood, offering unusual scenes and colors, especially the abundance of blue instead of green and an elusive red.

Bargain Book: The Thief (Attolia) by Megan Whalen Turner

2012-01-20T11:56:00.000-06:00

The Thief (Attolia) by Megan Whalen Turner is temporarily marked down to $1.99 in ebook format.

When this series first became available for my Kindle, I bought the entire set immediately despite owning multiple copies of all the titles in paper editions--extras for lending, you understand. I adore this series. Love. If it had been around when I was a teen, it would have been on my ultimate list along with Madeleine L'Engle, Robin McKinley, L. M. Montgomery, etc.--you get the drift.

So if you have never read this book and its series, do so soon. My favorite is actually King of Attolia, but they are all wonderfully amazing and you are best off starting at the beginning.

And for $1.99 you are supporting Turner and getting a deal over a used book price.

And it was a Newbery Honor Book. So I am not alone in my enthusiasm.

More than one friend who has followed this recommendation regularly asks me if Turner has a new book coming soon. And more than one has described book depression after finishing the series. You know, that elated/depressed manic feeling when you finish a book you loved and enjoyed because nothing else you read for a while will be as good, perhaps even disappointing, until the memory fades a little.

Sherlock and Hansel and Gretel

2012-01-20T09:35:00.001-06:00

Sherlock, Series Two just finished airing in the UK although it won't air in the US until May. My John is a huge fan of the series and can hardly wait for it so I am tempted to order it from the UK for his birthday. Yes, we own a Region 2 reading DVD player although most computers handle them, too. Sometimes we can't stand to wait or miss shows that don't get released here for a long time. I, in other words, am a BBC junkie. We're also Sherlock junkies and our first trip to London included time at 221B Baker Street.

But why am I posting about it here? Well, SurLaLune reader Aliza from the UK emailed me to let me know that the third episode features a Hansel and Gretel subplot. It was intriguing, so I thought I would share to inspire those who can catch it in rerun or anticipate watching it in May or whenever it appears in your area.

From Aliza:

Concerning fairy tale retellings, a British TV Modern remake of Sherlock Holmes from BBC 1 named "Sherlock" has used the fairy- tale theme in it's latest episode.

The last of six hour and a half episodes named "The Reichenbach Fall" that was released this Sunday somehow managed to add Hansel and Gretel into the plot.

James Moriarty, Sherlock's nemesis starts by warning Sherlock ominously that "every fairy tale needs an old fashioned villain."

Later, two children go missing and Sherlock finds a "Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales" Book left in their nursery by Moriarty. From different clues he devises that the children are hidden in an abandoned candy factory.

Moriarty took the two children and gave then lots of candy and sweets, but as Sherlock discovers, the wrappers are coated with mercury.

Because of this, the more candy the children eat, the more poison enters their bodies and the quicker they die.

I found the idea and the mixing of the tale in the show very interesting. I wonder if the show was following the currant trend of bringing fairy tales into everything or doing for their own personal reasons.

The show as a whole is also worth a look at. Even though Sherlock Holmes is no fairy tale, the show takes the old and well known story to a new angle by placing the characters in a modern setting.

Here is more information about the show and the episode if you are interested:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01b2vl4

Hope this information was somewhat useful,

Aliza

Thanks for sharing, Aliza. I probably wouldn't have known about this until May!

New Grimm Episode Tonight: "Of Mouse and Man"

2012-01-20T09:22:00.000-06:00

Above is a sneak peek for tonight's episode, "Of Mouse and Man" (TV-14). "When a man is found dead in a dumpster, the investigation leads to a sly snake and a timid mouse."

And, no, I am not sure which fairy tale is the inspiration this time. I have speculations, but the pre-press isn't helpful enough to be sure. The last several weeks have been much easier to know and have even outright stated in their preview materials.

In my online world, many of you readers here seem to be equally divided between Grimm and OUAT on ABC. In my real world, no one watches Grimm but just about everyone is telling me about their love for OUAT but that Grimm is too, well, grim, especially if they know about my connection to fairy tales.

And for those of you who are Monroe fans (the best character on the show by far, the one who is keeping me the most interested, I admit), there is a Best Monroe quotes section on NBC. I think they could kill off almost any character and no one would care except about Monroe. He'd probably spur a letter campaign.

France Month: Le Petit Chaperon Rouge by Marion Duval (Auteur), Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur)

2012-01-20T05:00:00.023-06:00

Le Petit Chaperon Rouge by Marion Duval (Auteur), Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur) is today's book from France, a Little Red Riding Hood. This is another book in the series, La Forêt des contes, from Milans Editions. I've featured Cendrillon and Goldilocks from it on the last two Fridays. Again, the same author but another illustrator is here.

You know what I like best about these? Body image. Yep. Not what you expected me to say, but I found LRRH's figure to be refreshingly not too slim. She looks like a child, imagine that. A young one, at that. And, funnily enough, the wolf looks underfed and thus hungry. I would love to see more of the illustrations for this one just to study the choices the illustrator made.

Book description:

Il était une fois une petite fille qu’on appelait le petit chaperon rouge. Un jour, sa maman lui dit : « Va voir comment se porte ta mère-grand. Porte-lui une galette et ce petit pot de beurre ». Pour aller voir sa grand-mère, le petit chaperon rouge doit traverser la forêt. Et dans la forêt il y a… le loup…

Legend of The Snowmaiden by Anatolyi Aleksandrovich Kamorin

2012-01-19T09:05:00.000-06:00

The Snow Maiden

Another Snow Maiden/Snow Child post for today. These are plates with illustrations of the tale. I found images for these eight plates at The Plate Lady's website where they are also for sale. After exploring her site and some others, I realized I really need to do a plate series of posts on SurLaLune. It's been on the long list forever, but it's been moved to my short list.

Legend of The Snowmaiden

by Anatolyi Aleksandrovich Kamorin
7.75" Diameter

Kholui Art Studios

The Snow Maiden and Her Parents

Judgment of Tsar Berendey

Song of Love

A Dance of Friendship

Lel's Serenade

The Snow Maiden Love's Finale

The Snow Maiden With Spring & Winter

Matryoshka Snow Maiden

2012-01-19T08:44:00.000-06:00

While I had the Snow Child/Snow Maiden on our brains today, I thought I would share these Snow Maiden Fairy Tale Doll 5pc./6". There's not many books of the tale available in English, but the tale is well-loved and represented in Russia and other parts of Europe.

Product description:

The Snow Maiden is the heroine of various legends. In one story, a childless couple make a girl of snow who, to their delight, becomes animated. Only she will melt if she falls in love. Indeed, her heart begins to warm her when she meets Lel', the shepherd boy. Some say she melted of love, but one legend contends her parents sent her to the North Pole to help Father Frost deliver presents, and therefore she could at least visit once a year. Our Snow Maiden Fairy Tale doll beautifully illustrates the legend

And, yes, it is on my brain because Eowyn Ivey's book is newly released here in the US:

Bargain eBook: American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition by Neil Gaiman

2012-01-19T08:31:00.000-06:00

American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition by Neil Gaiman is temporarily marked down to $1.99 on Amazon in ebook edition.

Book description:

First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic—an intellectual and artistic benchmark from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction, Neil Gaiman. Now discover the mystery and magic of American Gods in this tenth anniversary edition. Newly updated and expanded with the author’s preferred text, this commemorative volume is a true celebration of a modern masterpiece by the one, the only, Neil Gaiman.

A storm is coming . . .

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday’s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined—it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.

Relevant and prescient, American Gods has been lauded for its brilliant synthesis of “mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose” (Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World) and as a modern phantasmagoria that “distills the essence of America” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). It is, quite simply, an outstanding work of literary imagination that will endure for generations.

New Book: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

2012-01-19T05:01:00.027-06:00

The Snow Child: A Novel (US) or The Snow Child (UK) by Eowyn Ivey is slated for a February 1st release but it is already shipping from Amazon and other booksellers.

I haven't read the book, don't own a copy, so I can't review it, but what charms me about it so far is that it draws inspiration from a fairy tale that is not well-known, but it is beloved by many fairy tale readers. For this reason, although Ivey is American, the book has been released earlier in foreign languages and is being well-received in many countries. You can see a collection of covers on her site.

I didn't see any discussion of the fairy tale origins--that doesn't mean they don't exist--so I thought I would share links to a Russian snow child tale available on SurLaLune at The Little Daughter of the Snow. If you read it, you will recognize the book described here.

This tale shouldn't be confused with The Snow Child ATU Type 1362 which deals more with a wife's questionable loyalty to her husband. This tale is much more bittersweet in which a couple longs for a child together and create one out of snow. It is a bittersweet tale, especially for the childless.
Book description:

A bewitching tale of heartbreak and hope set in 1920s Alaska.

Jack and Mabel have staked everything on making a fresh start for themselves in a homestead 'at the world's edge' in the raw Alaskan wilderness. But as the days grow shorter, Jack is losing his battle to clear the land, and Mabel can no longer contain her grief for the baby she lost many years before.

The evening the first snow falls, their mood unaccountably changes. In a moment of tenderness, the pair are surprised to find themselves building a snowman - or rather a snow girl - together. The next morning, all trace of her has disappeared, and Jack can't quite shake the notion that he glimpsed a small figure - a child? - running through the spruce trees in the dawn light. And how to explain the little but very human tracks Mabel finds at the edge of their property?

Written with the clarity and vividness of the Russian fairytale from which it takes its inspiration, The Snow Child is an instant classic - the story of a couple who take a child into their hearts, all the while knowing they can never truly call her their own.

You can read an exceprt at BiblioFiles. It also has a charming book trailer, one of my favorites in a while:

France Month: Les fées by Charles Perrault and illustrated by Charlotte Gastaut

2012-01-19T05:00:00.011-06:00

Les fées by Charles Perrault and illustrated by Charlotte Gastaut is today's picture book. I love France Month because we get imagery for tales that are less popular with publishers in English. The Fairies is better known to us as Diamonds and Toads in its many varieties. I couldn't find many images for this book, but I am providing close-ups of the spreads I did find.

Book description:

Il était une fois une veuve qui avait deux filles. L'aînée était le portrait de sa mère pour la méchanceté et la cruauté. Au contraire, la plus jeune des soeurs n'était que douceur, gentillesse et grâce. La mère adorait sa fille aînée et était très dure avec la cadette. Mais une bonne fée, qui passait par là, décida de punir cette injustice...

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

2012-01-18T05:01:00.002-06:00

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston was released in September 2010 but I only recently became aware of it. This one uses the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood in an unusual way. The hardcover copy is bargain priced right now, too, for less than the paperback or ebook. This one definitely appeal to those looking for gritty fairy tale inspired books.

This is another case in which you get to play pick your favorite cover, the hardcover on the left or the paperback on the right? I pick the paperback myself. It's less generic and conveys the story a little better.

Book description:

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

His son, that's who.

Ever since his father's arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.

Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City: a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone-and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner.

Can Henry solve the mystery of his family's sinister past? Or, like his father before him, is he destined for life as a big bad wolf?

France Month: La Belle et la Bête illustrated by Delphine Bodet

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-06:00

La Belle et la Bête illustrated by Delphine Bodet is today's offering. There aren't as many French picture books of this tale as one might hope. This is one of the newest offerings published in 2011. I gathered most of these illustrations from Bodet's own website where she also had some nonpublished images for Princess and the Pea which I have put in another post for today.

Now for the illustrations:

France Month: Princesse au petit pois illustrated by Delphine Bodet

2012-01-18T04:59:00.000-06:00

I have a French book post of La Belle et la Bête illustrated by Delphine Bodet also scheduled for today but wanted to share Bodet's unpublished illustrations for Princess and the Pea featured in her website's portfolio. I'm always a fan of this tale and images of the stacked mattresses. Bodet has fun with them, too.

France Month: Boucle d'or et les trois ours by Gerda Muller

2012-01-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

Boucles d'Or et les trois ours illustrated by Gerda Muller is actually available in many languages including English, French and German (Im Bärenhaus) but the illustrations I have to share are with French text, so I am counting this one as a French Month entry. But I can offer descriptions in English, so everyone wins, right? The English and French editions are still in print, the English being the most recent while the German is out of print.

Book description:

When Goldilocks goes to collect flowers in the wood she gets lost and stumbles upon a pretty house in a clearing. She looks inside and sees a table with three chairs: a big chair, a medium chair and a little chair, and in front of each chair is a steaming bowl of porridge. The porridge smells so good, and Goldilocks is so hungry, that she opens the door and walks inside. But this house belongs to three bears: a big daddy bear, a medium mummy bear and a little baby bear -- and they'll be back soon. This is a beautiful interpretation of a classic story. Gerda Muller's timeless, intricate illustrations offer wonderful extra detail for children to enjoy. From the very first page, she includes big, medium and little versions of birds, squirrels, mice, plates, umbrellas, slippers, and more. Children and parents will notice new things each time.

About the Author

Gerda Muller was born in 1926 in Naarden, Holland. She attended the Fine Arts School of Amsterdam and later on, Ecole Estienne of Paris. She illustrated over 120 books for children and worked with many publishers. Her books have been translated in many languages. She is the illustrator of four board books for younger children, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and Where Do They Go When It Rains? (all Floris Books).

I do love the detailing in these.

Bargain and Free eBooks for Today

2012-01-17T09:57:00.000-06:00

Dangerous Angels with Bonus Materials by Francesca Lia Block is temporarily free.

Book description:

For a limited time, the collection of Francesca Lia Block’s Weetzie Bat books, Dangerous Angels, is available with a special sneak peek of Pink Smog, a new prequel to Weetzie Bat, and excerpts to the lush paranormal romances Pretty Dead and The Frenzy.

Evernight with Bonus Materials by Claudia Gray is free in this edition which doesn't have a cover image at the moment. That's the paperback image and link above.

Book description:

For a limited time, Claudia Gray’s star-crossed paranormal romance Evernight is available with a special sneak peek of Balthazar, the upcoming Evernight companion novel, and excerpts of the rest of the Evernight series, including Stargazer, Hourglass, and Afterlife.

Cloaked with Bonus Materials by Alex Flinn is 99 cents. (I've featured this one previously, but there was no cover image before.)

Entwined by Heather Dixon is still 99 cents, too, but I expect its price will raise soon so if you haven't jumped on it, do so soon.

Fairy Tale Imagery at Pottery Barn Kids

2012-01-17T09:33:00.000-06:00

Pottery Barn Kids has a new bedding theme which includes fairy tale imagery, primarily Frog Prince, called simply Grace which isn't very helpful in showing that it is fairy tale related I captured some images to share here. I always enjoy non-character licensed fairy tale stuff for kids, so this is fun. I may have to get a pillowcase or two at some point.

Description for the sheets:

Capturing the enchantment fairy tales are made of, our cotton percale sheeting features pretty princesses, royal castles and magical frogs rendered in soft watercolor style over a pink ground.

And for the duvet cover:

From pretty princesses to royal castles, our embroidered cotton duvet cover evokes the characters and stories kids love to dream about. The fun fairy-tale scene is rendered with running stitches and fill stitches, then trimmed in pink cotton cording.

France Month: More by Miss Clara

2012-01-16T08:00:00.014-06:00

"Miss Clara is a French artist with a great following among readers of fairy tales. Her illustrations start with tiny and intricately detailed paper maquettes of princesses, elves, wolves and enchanted scenes which she photographs and completes digitally." I discovered her through her books, but she has a blog--occasionally updated--from which I gathered many of today's images of her work.

I'll just let her work speak for itself. I pulled fairy tale images from her blog, but there is an abundance of other things that will delight your eyes if you visit her blog, many romantic, but not fairy tale oriented beyond a sense of whimsy.

France Month: Le bal des douze princesses by Miss Clara

2012-01-16T07:00:00.010-06:00

Le bal des douze princesses illustrated by Miss Clara is her most recent release. A beloved tale, rarely illustrated and well-illustrated, too. This is on my wish list! I hope for an English edition someday... Really. This would be in my top 10 of wanting an English edition right now.

Book description:

Il était une fois 12 princesses, dont personne ne savait ce qu'elles faisaient la nuit venue.
On ne retrouvait que leurs escarpins tout usés chaque matin. Le roi promit la main d'une de ses filles à qui percerait le secret. Mais les princesses étaient si rusées que tous les princes échouèrent. Seul un soldat parvient à les suivre à travers une porte secrète qui les mène chaque soir dans un jardin merveilleux où elles dansent avec 12 beaux princes.

France Month: La Reine des Glaces illustrated by Miss Clara

2012-01-16T06:00:00.019-06:00

La Reine des Glaces by Hans Christian Andersen and illustrated by Miss Clara is an extra for today. I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. And, yes, this is Snow Queen if you were unsure. In the US, Barefoot Books has a Snow Queen title with illustrations by Miss Clara but I am not sure how many of them correspond to the French picture book.

Miss Clara is a French artist with a great following among readers of fairy tales. Her illustrations start with tiny and intricately detailed paper maquettes of princesses, elves, wolves and enchanted scenes which she photographs and completes digitally.

Book description:

Il existe dans une île tout au nord du monde une Sorceresse aux terrifiants pouvoirs. Son palais est un glacier entouré de banquise, elle souffle l'avalanche et la grêle, elle commande au blizzard. On l'appelle La Reine des Glaces...

France Month: Peau d'âne illustrated by Miss Clara

2012-01-16T05:00:00.014-06:00

Peau d'âne by Charles Perrault and illustrated by Miss Clara is today's France Month post. But there will be more. Because as I looked for illustrations to share, I fell in love with Miss Clara's work. It's mixed media with sculpture, photography and all sorts of magic. She has illustrated several fairy tale titles and I will give a few of them their own posts today, starting with Donkeyskin.

Book description:

La reine mourante a fait promettre au roi de ne prendre pour nouvelle épouse qu'une femme plus belle qu'elle. Le mari éploré, après de vaines recherches, est forcé de se rendre à l'évidence : seule sa fille est capable de rivaliser avec autant de charmes. La princesse n'a bientôt plus d'autre choix que de s'évader de chez elle, vêtue d'une peau d'âne...

ABC's Once Upon a Time: Episode 9 Tonight: True North

2012-01-15T05:01:00.012-06:00

Tonight we get a new episode of ABC's "Once Upon a Time." It's the long anticipated Hansel and Gretel episode titled, "True North."

Looks like fun to me!

France Month: Dame Hiver by Nathalie Novi (Illustrateur)

2012-01-15T05:00:00.017-06:00

Dame Hiver: Un conte des frères Grimm by Jacob Grimm (Auteur), Wilhelm Grimm (Auteur), Nathalie Novi (Illustrations), François Mathieu (Traduction) is better known as Mother Holle in English. It is a variant in the Kind and Unkind Girls motif, or Diamonds and Toads. We rarely see this one as a picture book and it is one of my favorite of the less popular but still known tales.

Book description:

Un conte original et peu connu des frères Grimm (Dame Holle), qui offre un univers d'une rare densité poétique. Une jeune fille tombe dans un puits et découvre l'univers étrange de Dame Hiver à l'édredon magique… Nathalie Novi s'empare avec émotion de ce récit : elle y ajoute ses couleurs et sa part de rêve.

France Month: Boucle d'or et les Trois Ours by Rascal

2012-01-14T09:35:00.000-06:00

Boucle d'or et les Trois Ours by Rascal is a picture book without texte with black and white illustrations. So in this one Goldilocks can have any color hair you imagine...

Book description:

Ce conte très célèbre est ici proposé dans une version sans texte. Simplement en noir et blanc. C'est le langage visuel, simple et original, qui permet aux enfants de reconstituer les histoires... ou bien de les inventer.

Grimm Tonight: Game Ogre (Episode 8)

2012-01-13T08:34:00.001-06:00

Now isn't it rather fitting that Grimm returns from hiatus tonight on Friday the 13th? Yes, it is. Tonight's episode is "Game Ogre" (TV-14):

A string of brutal murders lead Nick and Hank to a man who recently escaped prison.

And this promo tells us right away that Jack and the Beanstalk is the inspiration. Should be interesting...

And an extended preview:

Top Chef Texas: Fit for an Evil Queen

2012-01-13T08:28:00.000-06:00

Okay, now here's a reality show using fairy tales that I actually watch. Yes, John and I enjoy watching Top Chef together so this upcoming Wednesday's episode on 1/18/2012 will be a little more fun for us with the theme.

Here's the episode description from the Bravo website:

This week’s Quickfire is all about awareness in the kitchen. The chefs will have 30 minutes to create a dish of their choosing, but this is no ordinary Quickfire. Once time begins, various ingredients will start to come into the kitchen via a train. The chefs must select ingredients coming into the kitchen via train and create a dish incorporating the best of these ingredients. For the elimination challenge, the chefs embody evil on the plate and serve a gothic feast fit for a queen. This dish should demonstrate various cooking techniques, textures and flavors, but more importantly, the diners should visually see the “evil” components on the dish. Actress Charlize Theron, who plays the Evil Queen in the film Snow White & The Huntsman guest judges, along with Emeril Lagasse, head judge Tom Colicchio, and host Padma Lakshmi.

Interesting challenge. And more evidence that the promotional work and competition between the two Snow White movies is going to be fierce in upcoming months. This movie isn't even out for four more months.

Here are two more promos being show on tv put on YouTube by others, not great quality but with more previewing than the one above:

France Month: Boucle d'Or et les trois ours by Mélanie Combes (Illustrateur), Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur)

2012-01-13T05:00:00.014-06:00

Boucle d'Or et les trois ours by Mélanie Combes (Illustrateur), Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur) is a Goldilocks offering in the same line of fairy tale books as last week's brunette Cinderella. This one has the same author but a different illustrator however. It's a fine version of the story, especially for its intended audience of young children, but nothing spectacular either.

Book description:

Une nouvelle collection de grands contes classiquespour les 4-7 ans! Un conte de toujours, des personnages merveilleux, des illustrations pour rêver et une fin comme vous ne l’avez jamais vue… Bienvenue dans la forêt des contes. Il était une fois une jeune fille un peu trop curieuse. Lors d’une promenade, Boucle d’or découvre une maison cachée dans la forêt.

Moscow Festival Ballet and Sleeping Beauty

2012-01-12T05:01:00.001-06:00

Because I can never resist pictures of a fairy tale brought to life in a ballet, I will share these images and the news about the performance. From Moscow Festival Ballet To Bring 'Sleeping Beauty' To Life:

The fairytale "Sleeping Beauty" will come to life with Tchaikovsky's score by the Moscow Festival Ballet at the McCallum Theatre on Monday, Feb. 6.

The performance is set for 8 p.m. at the Palm Desert Theatre, according to theater spokeswoman Cate Ervin.

In Sleeping Beauty, a baby princess, condemned at her christening by an evil fairy to prick her finger and die on her 16th birthday, is saved by the gift of the good Lilac Fairy who declares that the princess will only sleep until awakened by the kiss of a prince.

The fairytale, replete with a king and queen, fairies both good and evil, a beautiful princess and a handsome prince, is presented with magical stage effects and courtly splendor.

The Moscow Festival Ballet has toured extensively throughout the United States and will tour North America for four months in 2012.

So they may be coming to a theatre near you, too. Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite of the fairy tale ballets. And who doesn't love Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Waltz? Even Disney used it although he added words...

From the theatre site:

The spectacular fairy tale, set to Tchaikovsky's classic score, is brought to life by the renowned Russian National Ballet. Under the direction of legendary principal dancer Sergei Radchenko, the famed company performs the magical masterpiece with grace and beauty. This production performed to recorded music.

France Month: La princesse au petit pois by Delphine Grenier (Illustrations)

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

La princesse au petit pois by Delphine Grenier (Illustrations) is Princess and the Pea with some unusual illustrations.

Book description:

Il y avait une fois un prince qui voulait épouser une princesse, mais une princesse véritable. Il fit donc le tour du monde pour en trouver une, et, à la vérité, les princesses ne manquaient pas ; mais il ne pouvait jamais s’assurer si c’étaient de véritables princesses ; toujours quelque chose en elles lui paraissait suspect. En conséquence, il revint bien affligé de n’avoir pas trouvé ce qu’il désirait jusqu'a ce qu'une étrange princesse frappe à la porte de son château...

UK: Celebrity Big Brother Fairy Tale Challenge

2012-01-12T04:59:00.023-06:00

First off, I must issue my disclaimer. I have only seen part of a Big Brother episode once when I was visiting someone and had little control over my environment. If you love it, no judgment here. This is just to explain that I understand the concept of the show but have very, very limited firsthand experience.

But in my endeavours to show where fairy tales appear in pop culture (as where as everywhere else) I would feel remiss if I didn't mention that the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother had a fairy tale challenge this week. After all, it has had a lot of coverage this week, too, in entertainment news. I have no comments. I haven't viewed. I am rather ignorant, but still fascinated. Here goes:

From STV:

Most celebrities live a life that seems like a fairytale for us ‘normal’ people - but this week the contestants on Celebrity Big Brother have been challenged to do it for real, in order to be successful in their shopping task.

The stars – who include axed X Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza, actress Natalie Cassidy, WAG Natasha Giggs and Loose Women’s Denise Welch – must work together if they want to get their hands on money for the house budget.

They have been tasked to carry out various tasks while playing the roles of much-loved fairytale characters including Pinocchio, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood and Geppetto. These include rescuing Rapunzel from the tower that imprisons her, and protecting the house from the Big Bad Wolf.

From UnrealityTV:

For this week’s shopping task, the Big Brother house and housemates have been transformed into a fairytale.

Yesterday, the housemates took part in the following challenges:

Rapunzel and The Prince – PASSED
The Prince (Gareth) managed to rescue Rapunzel (Georgia) from the tower by successfully climbing a near-horizontal ladder without falling into the deathly swamp.

Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf – FAILED
Red Riding Hood (Natalie) and the Big Bad Wolf (Nicola) failed their challenge because they didn’t manage to complete it in the 60 second time limit. The budget is taken down to 500 gold coins (£500).

The Three Little Pigs – ONGOING
The Three Little Pigs have so far managed to keep their straw house up and will continue to be tested throughout the day.

Beauty and the Beast – FAILED
In the diary room, The Beast (Andrew) had to rate how attractive he was against his fellow housemates. In the living area, Beauty (Kristina) had to decide how The Beast would rate himself against them. As Beauty had less than 10 correct matches, they failed and lost a further 100 gold coins taking the shopping budget down to £400.

Goldilocks and the Three Little Bears – FAILED
This morning, Goldilocks (Karissa) and the Three Bears (Denise) faced an eating challenge in the diary room. Presented with three bowls of horrid porridge in the diary room – cow’s urine porridge, spicy porridge and fishy porridge – Goldilocks had to decide which bowl was best for her and eat it. The Three Bears then had to eat the remaining two bowls. As Goldilocks failed to eat a complete bowl and the Three bears failed to eat two complete bowls, they failed the task and lost a further 100 gold coins.

I blockquoted quited a bit, but these were some of the best descriptions, scary as they may be, as I could find.

Wow. Fairy tales are really taking over. Are you ready? I am! Although maybe perhaps not for this...

The images came from In Pictures: Celebrity Big Brother 2012's fairy tale task!

Once Upon a Time Ratings

2012-01-11T17:16:00.001-06:00

From Fairytale return: ABC's 'Once Upon a Time' soars:

On a night that was dominated by the end of the Denver Broncos-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game, ABC’s new fairytale drama “Once Upon a Time” delivered its best rating in weeks.

“Time” bucked up to a 3.7 adults 18-49 rating in the 8 p.m. timeslot, according to Nielsen overnights, the show’s top outing since averaging a 3.8 on Nov. 13 and 28 percent better than the show’s last original episode on Dec. 11.

It’s possible “Time” picked up some new viewers from last Sunday’s four-episode marathon, or people who usually DVR the show may have tuned in live for its first new episode of the new year.

“Time” was the top scripted series of the night on broadcast, though not the top show overall. That honor went to what will apparently be a hugely rated Broncos-Steelers matchup.

Into the Woods Coming to the Silver Screen

2012-01-11T17:10:00.000-06:00

I've been wondering about this one for a while, such an obvious choice and Hollywood finally agreed. Yes, from my post header you can see that the Broadway musical hit, Into the Woods, is going to get a movie treatment. Yes, there is a DVD of the Broadway performance, but that's not nearly the same is it?

From 'Chicago' Director Rob Marshall Tackles Fairy Tales with 'Into the Woods' at Hollywood.com:

The man behind the Academy Award-winning Chicago and minor dud Nine has signed on to shepherd a feature version of Stephen Sondheim's classic Broadway show Into the Woods for his Pirates family, Disney. Marshall began cooking the idea up a year ago when he was working with mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer on On Stranger Tides and the adaptation couldn't make more sense in the current landscape. After Tim Burton's blockbuster Alice in Wonderland, fairy tales are all the craze, with ABC's Once Upon a Time and NBC's Grimm bringing in solid ratings and Snow White and the Huntsman, OZ: The Great and Powerful and Maleficent all prepping for release in the next two years. Into the Woods, which melds a series of fairy tale characters and stories, including Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Cinederella, is a perfect fit.

It's unclear if Into the Woods will be Marshall's next project—he's currently working on a remake of The Thin Man with Johnny Depp, plus a possible fifth entry in the Pirates saga—but without he pressure of the current fad, we may see the musical sooner than later.

And what? Thin Man? Oh noes! I love Thin Man. I adore Thin Man. I am very worried about The Thin Man now. William Powell and Myrna Loy cannot be replicated. We own and watch the box set regularly.

But that isn't pertinent to SurLaLune, is it? Now is your chance to think up your dream cast for a film version of Into the Woods. Who would you want to play who? Of course, we would love to see Bernadette Peters reprise along with some others. I enjoyed Vanessa Williams when I saw her in Los Angeles. But I am not really attached to any current stars. What about you?

France Month: La barbe bleue ou conte de l'oiseau d'Ourdi

2012-01-11T05:00:00.004-06:00

La barbe bleue ou conte de l'oiseau d'Ourdi with Auteur : Jean-Jacques Fdida & Illustrations : Claude Cachin is a Bluebeard, another fairly common site in France and virtually not to be found in the US. The illustrations are pretty and Bluebeard is sufficiently villainous to make this an interesting rendition.

Book description:

Barbe Bleue est une histoire terriblement sensuelle, effrayante et passionnante. Jean-Jacques Fdida entend bien nous le rappeler ! De nombreuses versions de Barbe Bleue sont publiées chaque année. Mais celle-ci devrait marquer les esprits grâce à l’écriture incomparable de Jean-Jacques Fdida et à sa liberté de ton. Fidèle à l’esprit de la collection, le conteur fait réapparaître des motifs aujourd’hui oubliés : l’épingle qui pique Barbe Bleue et la trace sur le mouchoir, censée attester son humanité ; le splendide château tenu par des mains invisibles ; la ruse de l’héroïne qui se métamorphose en oiseau ; la poupée à tête de mort qui leurre Barbe Bleue. Oubliés les frères, les parents qui sauvaient la jeune épousée ! Ici, l’héroïne s’en sort par ses propres moyens en se déguisant en oiseau d’Ourdi, laissant le mari écumant de rage. Si elle nous révèle la faiblesse, voire la complicité de la fille séduite à l’égard de l’éternel séducteur, elle rend également justice à l’ingéniosité féminine, à la force et au courage de la jeune femme. Un conte d’avertissement, certes, mais dans lequel les femmes retombent sur leurs pieds et se sortent du pétrin où l’attrait des richesses et des séductions faciles les ont entraînées.

Bargain Books by Alex Flinn

2012-01-10T05:02:00.017-06:00

Cloaked with Bonus Materials by Alex Flinn is available for 99 cents as a special preorder. It is the full book, released last year, and Flinn's most recent fairy tale exploration. She kicks off a new series soon--Bewitching (The Kendra Chronicles)--which is why this book is being offered at a deal price to promote the new one.

Unfortunately, the bargain edition currenly doesn't have a cover image, so I am using the regular ebook link for the image but it is priced $9.99 so beware of clicking on it. Be sure to click on this link--Cloaked with Bonus Materials by Alex Flinn--to find the bargain priced one.

Flinn also has a new novella--Beastly: Lindy's Diary--a companion to her Beastly (the one made into the movie), which also doesn't have a cover yet. It is $3.99.

Book description for Cloaked:

I'm not your average hero. I actually wasn't your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

It all started with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn't a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I've ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Everglades.

Don't believe me? I didn't believe it either. But you'll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got cloaked.

Book description for Beastly: Lindy's Diary:

See the #1 New York Times bestselling story Beastly through Lindy's eyes! This is her diary, kept while living in captivity with the beast. Lindy's Diary captures all the romance and edgy mystery of the original!

Diary,

I am locked away . . . with no one to confide in but you . . . and him. His fur, those claws—they caught me off guard at first, but now I'm noticing something else about him—something deeper. It's the look in his eye. It tells me he's got a secret to keep. That's okay—I've got one, too. I think I'm falling in love with him. . . .

Lindy

Free eBook: Don't Know Much About Mythology by Kenneth C. Davis

2012-01-10T05:01:00.001-06:00

Don't Know Much About Mythology by Kenneth C. Davis is currently free in ebook format, for a short time only. Publishers Weekly gave this one a starred review so it is worth picking up for FREE, I think. I'm not sure how long the discount will last, so snap it up quick! I did since I didn't own it and hope to have time to peruse it someday....

Book description:

The latest installment in the New York Times bestselling Don't Know Much About® series -- a magical journey into the timeless world of mythologyIt has been fifteen years since Kenneth C. Davis first dazzled audiences with his instant classic Don't Know Much About® History, vividly bringing the past to life and proving that Americans don't hate history, they just hate the dull, textbook version they were fed in school. With humor, wit, and a knack for storytelling, Davis has been bringing readers of all ages up to speed on history, geography, and science ever since. Now, in the classic traditions of Edith Hamilton and Joseph Campbell, he turns his talents to the world of myth.Where do we come from? Why do stars shine and the seasons change? What is evil? Since the beginning of time, people have answered such questions by crafting imaginative stories that have served as religion, science, philosophy, and popular literature. In his irreverent and popular question-and-answer style, Davis introduces and explains the great myths of the world, as well as the works of literature that have made them famous. In a single volume, he tackles Mesopotamia's Gilgamesh, the first hero in world mythology; Achilles and the Trojan War; Stonehenge and the Druids; Thor, the Nordic god of thunder; Chinese oracle bones; the use of peyote in ancient Native American rites; and the dramatic life and times of the man who would be Buddha.Ever familiar and instructive, Davis shows why the ancient tales of gods and heroes -- from Mount Olympus to Machu Picchu, from ancient Rome to the icy land of the Norse -- continue to speak to us today, in our movies, art, language, and music. For mythology novices and buffs alike, and for anyone who loves a good story, Don't Know Much About® Mythology is a lively and insightful look into the greatest stories ever told.

France Month: Le petit chaperon rouge ou la petite fille aux habits de fer blanc

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

Le petit chaperon rouge ou la petite fille aux habits de fer blanc by Jean-Jacques Fdida (Auteur), Jean-Louis Lejonc (Illustrations) Here is a Little Red Riding Hiding promoted as a version that predates Perrault. The details are not in the description, but the illustrations are certainly provocative.

I found some of the extra images I borrowed here at this blog.

Book description:

Quel chemin vas-tu prendre ? Le chemin des aiguilles ou le chemin des épingles ? L’éternelle histoire d’une fille à la croisée des chemins… Loin des versions édulcorées diffusées depuis Perrault, voici un petit chaperon rouge authentique et savoureux. Les motifs disparus au fil du temps, le cannibalisme et l'art de la sédutcion, sont réintroduits par l'auteur, désireux de réstituer la force du conte d'avant Perrault. Dans une langue savoureuse et musicale, empruntant au vieux français, on relit cette histoire de toujours avec un plaisir mêlé d'étonnment. Une édition inédite et raffinée, sublimée par les images mystérieuses de Régis Lejonc. Avec une préface de Bernadette Bricout.

France Month: Peau d'Ane by Charles Perrault (Auteur), Anne Romby (Illustrateur & Auteur)

2012-01-09T05:00:00.018-06:00

Peau d'Ane by Charles Perrault (Auteur), Anne Romby (Illustrateur & Auteur) is the picture book I bought for myself when I traveled to France in 2008. I bought the book in a little children's toy store in Arles, actually, near where Van Gogh lived and painted for a while. So I look at this book and have fond memories, including carrying it around for the rest of the day as we tried to explore Arles but were frustrated almost every stop by site closures.

Needless to say, this is one of my favorite illustrated versions of the tale which is why I bought it and carried it around southern France for a day. There are at least twice as many illustrations as you will see here, but this is enough to give you a grand taste of the book as well as see some of my favorites.

These scans of the images are not my own, but came from another site, a children's book illustration blog.

Book description:

Pour échapper à son père qui a décidé de l’épouser, une jeune princesse se sauve et devient « Peau d’Âne », une pauvre servante. La reprise du très célèbre conte qui retrouve une nouvelle jeunesse grâce à de superbes illustrations.

Grimm Legacies 2012: Tentative Schedule

2012-01-08T05:02:00.010-06:00

Grimm Legacies, the fairy tale symposium at Harvard next month, has posted its tentative schedule which I am posting below. If you look closely, you will see that I am on the schedule. Yes, I am attending and I am presenting, eschewing the relative anonymity of an audience member,* after accepting Maria Tatar's kind invitation. She has also allotted an hour for my presentation so if you plan to attend and have any input into what you would like to hear, please let me know. For now, I plan for my focus to be on SurLaLune as well as fairy tales in a technological world. The Grimms, too, will be mentioned more than once.

Of course, the other presenters are a great draw and my own reason for attending. I want to hear their presentations! So without further ado, here's the list to tempt you:

This is a draft schedule of the event. It is still subject to change.

Friday, February 3rd:

4:00 – 5:00 pm
Heidi Heiner of SurLaLune: Workshop

6:00 – 7:30 pm
Jack Zipes, Keynote Speaker
“Two Hundred Years after Once Upon a Time: The Legacy of the Brothers Grimm and their Tales in Germany”

Saturday, February 4th:

9:00 - 9:30 am – Welcome

9:30 - 11:15 am - INTO THE WOODS

Cara Zimmerman
“Henry Darger, Adolf Wolfli, and Tales of Violence in Outsider Art”

David Rice
“When the Forest Becomes the Woods: The Horror Effect in the Grimms; Hansel and Gretel and Beyond”

Megan Leroy
“Domestic Adaptations: Anne Sexton’s Transformations and the Grimms’ Tales”

Katie Orenstein

11:30 - 1:00 pm - UNDER THE KNIFE

Valerie Gribben
“Medicine and Märchen”

Ariane Mandell
“Empowered by Tears: Weeping in Grimm’s Fairy Tales”

Perri Klass
“Grimm and the Experts: Psychiatrists, Pediatricians, and Pundits”

1:00 - 1:45 pm - Lunch

1:45 - 2:15 pm – Presentation

2:15 - 3:45 pm - AMONG THE BEASTS

Ruth Lingford

David Elmer
“The Metamorphosis of a Folktale: 'Beauty and the Beast' in Apuleius' Metamorphoses."

Jerry Griswold
“The Many Conclusions of ‘Beauty and the Beast’”

4:00 - 5:45 pm - THROUGH THE MAGIC MIRROR

John Cech
“The Grimms, Sendak, and the Zeitgeist”

Michael Hearn
"Increasing the Happiness of Children: George Cruikshank Illustrates the Brothers Grimm"

Kate Bernheimer
"The Grimm Art of Fairy-Tale Editorship"

Claudia Schwabe
“Between Socialism and Snow White: GDR Fairy Tales”

5:45 - 6:30 pm - Wrap Up

*Truthfully, I find so many of you know me when I do get to attend these events, that anonymity doesn't really happen anyway! Name tags remove the mystery. And I wear hats. I do it to myself. So please do introduce yourself, chat with me, and we will all revel in this fairy tale weekend!

ABC's Once Upon a Time Returns Tonight

2012-01-08T05:01:00.017-06:00

It's January 8th and the midseason hiatus for ABC's Upon a Time ends tonight. Above is a clip of the first 8 minutes of the new episode which has been blitzing in the media coverage along with many, many spoilers. Spoilers that ultimately say we are going to learn more about the characters in upcoming episodes. (I am really tempted to type "Duh" here, but would that be aging myself as well as too snarky? Excuse me, I've been sick for two weeks with three ailments and I am snarky right now!)

I debated sharing some of the articles, but I decided not to. They are everywhere on the web and some of them may even be true. For now, I intend to keep watching the show, enjoying the ride along the way. Overall, I am enjoying when the writers use the non-Disney versions of characters which seems to give them all more depth.

However, I obviously couldn't resist the tantalizing images that have also been creeping up everywhere for some future episodes. See what I mean though about the characters? Aren't Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel much more compelling than the Halloweenish Cinderella we were treated to a few months ago? That costume was horrible...

And I can't praise ABC highly enough for really backing this show. The publicity is fierce. The marathon of episodes last weekend was a rarity on the big networks and even the support materials are growing, yes, in the name of marketing and commerce, but that is what it's all about anyway. If we get to be entertained along the way, it's a solid product.

(Forgive the snarkiness. Don't doubt I will be watching OUAT tonight or tomorrow at the latest. I admit Downton Abbey 2 may take precedence since I have a date to watch that with family tonight.)

France Month: La belle au bois dormant par Charles Perrault (Auteur), Olivier Desvaux (Illustrateur)

2012-01-08T05:00:00.012-06:00

La belle au bois dormant par Charles Perrault (Auteur), Olivier Desvaux (Illustrateur) is a beautiful book with the much longer Perrault version of the story after the kiss--I almost bought this one when I was in France last year, but settled for a Beauty and the Beast instead which I have yet to share. I always have to buy one or two fairy tale related mementos, usually books, when I visit France.

Book description:

Ce grand classique des contes de fées est présenté ici dans sa version longue. Les aventures de la belle ne s’arrêtent pas au baiser du prince charmant qui la libère de son sommeil enchanté : après son mariage, elle va devoir affronter la mère du prince, une ogresse féroce qui ne rêve que d’avaler sa bru et ses petits-enfants…

'Maleficent’ Finds a Director

2012-01-07T17:38:00.000-06:00

I hadn't noticed much news about this one recently, but hadn't forgotten. Apparently it is still under consideration. Excerpted from ‘Maleficent’ Finds a Director in Production Designer and VFX Supervisor Robert Stromberg by Angie Han:

Over the past two years, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty retelling Maleficent has attracted the attention of several high-profile directors. Tim Burton was the first one attached to the project, back when it was first announced, and Darren Aronofsky, David O. Russell, and Guillermo del Toro are among the other names who’ve been rumored or who have expressed interest in the film.

The man who’s actually landed the job, however, is somewhat lesser known. Disney has tapped visual effects supervisor and production designer Robert Stromberg to helm the film, which will mark his directorial debut.

Scripted by Alice in Wonderland scribe Linda Woolverton, Maleficent follows the Sleeping Beauty tale from the villainess’ point of view. [Angelina Jolie] has been attached to star as the self-titled “Mistress of All Evil” since 2010. Maleficent falls neatly into the revisionist fairy tale trend that’s hot in Hollywood at the moment, along with such movies as Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror, Mirror, and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.

France Month: Tristan et Iseult by Anne Jonas (Auteur) Anna et Elena Balbusso (Illustrateurs)

2012-01-07T05:00:00.017-06:00

Tristan et Iseult by Anne Jonas (Auteur) Anna et Elena Balbusso (Illustrateurs). So, no, this is more folklore and legend than fairy tale, but we don't have many Tristan and Iseult picture books in English, so this one in French caught my fancy.

Book description:

Une des plus grandes histoires d’amour de tous les temps portée par les illustrations originales d’Anna et Elena Balbusso et la spécifi cité éditoriale des albums classiques Milan (mise en pages élégante, papier de qualité, etc.). Un texte de la tradition orale qui, retranscrit par différents auteurs dans le courant du XIIe siècle, annonce la naissance du roman moderne. Une très grande aventure, composée d’errance, de guerres, de loyauté, de jalousies, de culpabilité, de tolérance et d’AMOUR FOU!

New Book: Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists

2012-01-06T05:01:00.028-06:00

Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists made the NYPL's Children's Books 2011: Graphic Novels list. There weren't many other fairy tale or folklore related books on any of their lists this year, other than Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu which I think ended up the most recommended fairy tale retelling in the end of the year lists. It certainly appeared on quite a few of them. Perhaps Disney should look to it for their Snow Queen interpretations.

But back to why we have this post:

Which reminded me that I hadn't featured the book on SurLaLune yet.

I am a Nursery Rhyme fan and I admit a soft spot for Hickory Dickory Dock, so the illustrations for it sold me on the book. But I have more to share which I will let speak for themselves along with the usual publisher description and such.

Book Description:

First Second is very proud to present Nursery Rhyme Comics. Featuring fifty classic nursery rhymes illustrated and interpreted in comics form by fifty of today’s preeminent cartoonists and illustrators, this is a groundbreaking new entry in the canon of nursery rhymes treasuries.

From New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast’s “There Was a Crooked Man” to Bad Kitty author Nick Bruel’s “Three Little Kittens” to First Second’s own Gene Yang’s “Pat-a-Cake,” this is a collection that will put a grin on your face from page one and keep it there.

Each rhyme is one to three pages long, and simply paneled and lettered to ensure that the experience is completely accessible for the youngest of readers. Chock full of engaging full-color artwork and favorite characters (Jack and Jill! Old Mother Hubbard! The Owl and the Pussycat!), this collection will be treasured by children for years to come.

Nursery Rhyme Comics cartoonists:

Nick Abadzis; Andrew Arnold; Kate Beaton; Vera Brosgol; Nick Bruel; Scott Campbell; Lilli Carre; Roz Chast; JP Coovert; Jordan Crane; Rebecca Dart; Eleanor Davis; Vanessa Davis; Theo Ellsworth; Matt Forsythe; Jules Feiffer; Bob Flynn; Alexis Frederick-Frost; Ben Hatke; Gilbert Hernandez; Jaime Hernandez; Lucy Knisley; David Macaulay; Mark Martin; Patrick McDonnell; Mike Mignola; Tony Millionaire; Tao Nyeu; George O’Connor; Mo Oh; Eric Orchard; Laura Park; Cyril Pedrosa; Lark Pien; Aaron Renier; Dave Roman; Marc Rosenthal; Stan Sakai; Richard Sala; Mark Siegel; James Sturm; Raina Telgemeier; Craig Thompson; Richard Thompson; Sara Varon; Jen Wang; Drew Weing; Gahan Wilson; Gene Luen Yang; Stephanie Yue; and an introduction by Leonard Marcus.

France Month: Cendrillon by Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur), Princesse Camcam (Auteur)

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

Cendrillon by Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur), Princesse Camcam (Auteur) looks rathering generic from the outside which is emphasized when one realizes this is part of series from the publisher. But then one looks at the interior and sees some charming illustrations with--wait for it!--a BRUNETTE Cinderella. I'm in love. So, tell me, is it slightly jarring for you to see the traditional Cinderella story with a dark-haired beauty? I'm used to non-white Cinderellas, but not non-white and non-blonde. I feel like I stepped into the wrong fairy tale.

Book description:

Une nouvelle collection de grands contes classiquespour les 4-7 ans! Un conte de toujours, des personnages merveilleux, des illustrations pour rêver et une fin comme vous ne l’avez jamais vue… Bienvenue dans la forêt des contes.

France Month: Jack et le haricot géant by Sébastien Mourrain

2012-01-05T09:32:00.000-06:00

Jack et le haricot géant by Sébastien Mourrain (Auteur), Joseph Jacobs (Auteur) is a charming Jack and the Beanstalk picture book.

Book description:

Un classique de la littérature enfantine proposé dans une édition de grande qualité. L’auteur est retourné aux sources du texte d’origine, pour réaliser une traduction fidèle et très contemporaine de ce conte tra-ditionnel britannique. Les illustrations de Sébastien Mourrain s’accordent parfaitement à l’esprit espiè-gle et merveilleux du récit, dans un style graphique très personnel et résolument moderne. Menacés par la famine, Jack et sa mère décident d’aller vendre leur vache au marché. En chemin, Jack fait la rencontre d’un étrange personnage qui lui propose, en échange de l’animal, une poignée de graines magiques… Jack décide de lui faire confian-ce. Il en sera grandement récompensé : une fois plantées, les graines donnent naissance à un fabuleux haricot qui grimpe jus-qu’au ciel. Cet étrange escalier va lui donner accès à la maison de l’ogre et à ses trésors. Ainsi, après avoir triomphé de plusieurs épreuves, Jack s’en retournera chez lui doté d’une fortune qui permettra à la mère et au fils de couler des jours heureux, libérés pour toujours des soucis et du besoin.

New Book: Magic Beans: A Handful of Fairytales from the Storybag

2012-01-04T05:01:00.021-06:00

Magic Beans: A Handful of Fairytales from the Storybag is a recent book released in the UK with many short stories by well-known authors based on fairy tales. I missed this when it was released a few months ago and it is pushed primarily in ebook format here in the US. The ebook is $9.99 which looks like a bargain when one finds that each of the short stories are also available separately for $1.95 each in ebook format.

The best part--besides a stellar author list--is that many of these are lesser used tales for retellings. I'm not sure how much interpretation is in these versions or if they are more straightforward rewritings by the authors, but either way I am sure they are fun reading. I do know enough to recognize they are reprints of dollar books printed by Scholastic with each title. The illustrations appear to be included here, so this is a good way to collect them all if they interest you or a child in your life.

Book description:

Magic beans. Sow them. Plant them. Watch children grow.

'If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hoper, a prayer, a magic-bean-buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!' - Shel Silverstein, Poet

Each and every one of the stories in this anthology is a magic bean: a wondrous tale that will capture your imagination. Prepare to be dazzled by Rapunzel's golden tresses. Prepare to be moved by the suffering of the Little Mermaid. Prepare to laugh yourself silly as 'Mr Sultana' struggles to get the better of a little red rooster!

Lovingly crafted by the finest authors and illustrators, these 'magic beans' will delight, thrill and thoroughly entertain.

Table of Contents:

Adèle Geras
The Six Swan Brothers

Anne Fine
The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Henrietta Branford
Hansel and Gretel

Jacqueline Wilson
Rapunzel

Malorie Blackman
Aesop’s Fables

Philip Pullman
Mossycoat

Tony Mitton
The Seal Hunter

Alan Garner
Grey Wolf, Prince Jack and the Firebird

Berlie Doherty
The Snow Queen

Gillian Cross
The Goose Girl

Kit Wright
Rumpelstiltskin

Michael Morpurgo
Cockadoodle-doo, Mr Sultana!

Susan Gates
The Three Heads in the Well

Linda Newbery
The Little Mermaid

France Month: Peau d'âne by Jean-Pierre Kerlo'ch & Eric Battut

2012-01-04T05:00:00.015-06:00

Peau d'âne by Jean-Pierre Kerlo'ch (Auteur), Eric Battut (Illustrations). Another Peau d'âne since I have her on the brain this week. I could only find two illustrations for this book, but they are interesting all the same.

Book description:

La délicatesse des illustrations d'Éric Battut met en lumière l'un des textes les plus fascinants et les plus anciens du répertoire français, adapté par Jean-Pierre Kerloc'h dans le respect de la langue de Charles Perrault.

A Collection of Vintage Fairy Tale Treasures By Marissa Meyer

2012-01-03T05:01:00.063-06:00

Today is the day! Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer is released today. (Here's an ebook link if you prefer that.) This book is burning up the internet with buzz and talk and I agree that it is a fun book that made Cinderella interesting even to me. (When you do what I do on a daily basis, Cinderella can get stale at times, I admit.) I've enjoyed many of Marissa's guest posts around the online book world the past few weeks--she's had some clever ways of giving us variety as well as emphasizing that this book has something for all sorts of genre readers, from romance to science fiction--and she didn't want to leave out SurLaLune. Instead of another post about her interpretation of Cinderella, Marissa decided to share, well, never mind, I'll let her tell you herself. Here's Marissa's guest post:

A Collection of Vintage Fairy Tale Treasures

By Marissa Meyer

When Heidi offered me a chance to write a guest post for SurLaLune, a blog that I’ve been a long-time fan of, it occurred to me that I should probably talk about my debut novel—Cinder, a futuristic retelling of Cinderella. But I’ve been talking an awful lot about my book lately, and instead I thought this would be a great opportunity to write about something entirely different, that I hope SurLaLune readers will enjoy: a virtual show & tell of my vintage fairy tale collection.

Although people have been giving me old copies of The Brothers Grimm fairy tales since I was a kid, my collection of old fairy tale things only started about two years ago when I was at an antique show with my then-boyfriend (now husband). I came across this set of tiles with fairy tale illustrations:

Tiles: Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Pied Piper, & Cinderella

I fell in love with them immediately, and have been looking for fairy-tale inspired pieces ever since. Luckily, my husband loves antique stores and estate sales as much as I do (his weakness being early-twentieth-century baseball memorabilia), so I have lots of chances to go on the hunt.

Some of my favorite pieces include this Cinderella cookie jar:

This xylophone that includes both fairy tale characters and other storybook favorites (Cedric/Little Lord Fauntleroy, Snow White, Pinocchio, Hansel, Gretel, the Swan Prince, Cinderella, Tyl Tyl, Mityl, Red Hood, Alice, & Nils):

And this Snow White lunch pail which has an adorable board game on the back:

Generally, I try to stay away from Disney items because they’re so common the collection would no doubt take over my entire house, although some Disney knock-offs are too cute to say no to. I also refuse to look on eBay, as that would take all the fun out of the treasure hunt. I estimate most of my findings to be from the 30s and 40s, though I’m by no means an expert.

Red Riding Hood tin tea set

Greeting Cards—the set includes both fairy tale favorites, such as Goldilocks and Snow White, and also nursery rhymes, such as Little Miss Muffet. Interestingly, Jack and Jill make an appearance, but both are illustrated as girls.

Snow White vase/figurine, a recent wedding gift, along with my camera-hogging cat

A block puzzle that makes up six different illustrations

One peculiar trend that keeps popping up is the case of the blonde Snow White, as opposed to the well-known “hair as black as ebony” trait. See the xylophone above, along with this Snow White embroidered pillowcase:

And also this German-made piggybank (which has Red Riding Hood on the other side).

I also have 13 plates from the 1970s, each representing a different tale (well, two of them are Rumpelstiltskin), but I think this post has gotten picture-heavy enough. Perhaps Heidi will be kind enough to invite me back to share them with the publication of Book #2. :) (Yes, please do! says Heidi.)

If you think you’d like to start a collection of fairy tale treasures of your own, the only advice I can give is patience and diligence. Just like with any collection that involves old things, I might go months and months without finding anything, and then I’ll stumble onto three great new pieces at a single antique fair. You just never know when something new will catch your eye.

If anyone has any questions about the pieces I have, I can try my best to answer them! Thanks for having me on the blog, Heidi, and letting me share with your readers.

Marissa Meyer debut novel, Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles, comes out on January 3. You can follow her on Twitter (@marissa_meyer) or become a fan on Facebook (facebook.com/lunarchronicles and facebook.com/marissameyerauthor).

Back to Heidi: Thanks, Marissa! This was a fun post and perfect for SurLaLune. You know us well here!

France Month: Babayaga by Taï-Marc Le Thanh (Auteur), Rébecca Dautremer (Illustrations)

2012-01-03T05:00:00.002-06:00

Here is Babayaga by Taï-Marc Le Thanh (Auteur), Rébecca Dautremer (Illustrations). No images of a chicken legged house in the online galleries although there may be one in thebook, but they are beautiful all the same.

Bargain Ebooks: Gregory Maguire Titles

2012-01-02T22:32:00.000-06:00

Here are a few bargain ebooks by Gregory Maguire. I wish they were the fairy tale ones, but I know some readers here love Wicked with Bonus Material: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years), which is $1.99 for a limited time, down from $9.99

Son of a Witch (The Wicked Years) is $3.99, down from $7.99, also for a limited time, I imagine.

What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy is $1.99. This one fluctuates to lower prices while the others are usually higher, but I thought I would include it while I was here...

France Month: Blanche Neige by Eric Battut

2012-01-02T05:00:00.009-06:00

Blanche Neige by Eric Battut (Auteur), Wilhelm Grimm (Auteur), Jakob Grimm (Auteur). Yes, a French Snow White for today.

Bargain Ebook: Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

2012-01-01T13:23:00.000-06:00

I was browsing through the new January bargain book deals and feeling rather discouraged by them when I found this gem that made me smile and welcome the new list. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George is a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling released originally in 2009 is marked down to $2.99 for the month of January in Amazon's 100 Books Deal. So if you don't have it, here's your chance for an inexpensive copy that still supports the author!

Book description:

Rose is one of twelve princesses forced to dance through the night in an underground palace. The key to breaking the spell lies in magic knitting needles, an invisibility cloak, and-of course-true love. Inspired by "The Twelve Dancing Princesses,"this novel is as captivating as it is fresh. Enchanted readers are sure to clamor for the new companion, Princess of Glass, also published.

After writing a few fairy tale inspired novels, including Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, George most recently had a successful release of Tuesdays at the Castle this past October and it will be a January birthday gift to my niece so I plan to read it myself in the coming weeks.

Happy New Fairy Tale Year!

2012-01-01T05:01:00.022-06:00

Happy New Year, dear readers!

I don't have much to say other than I am grateful for all of you. I don't have profound words and I gave up New Year's Resolutions years ago, although I make plenty of resolutions throughout the year. I have enjoyed many of the holiday wishes and greetings this year, but I admit one stuck and I had to share in case you missed it. This is from Neil Gaiman's journal, just yesterday, but it is a wonderful sentiment and very liberating when the year feels fresh with no new mistakes in it.

And for this year, my wish for each of us is small and very simple.

And it's this.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

So, yes, perhaps if I were to allow myself to make a resolution today, it would be a resolution to make mistakes, because they are inevitable if we are striving and learning and just simply trying, aren't they?

And the image is from KingBarbarossa on DeviantArt, originally part of a greeting card line from Duirwaigh Studios.

France Month: Peau d'Ane: L'ancienne et véritable histoire de la Peau D'Anesse

2012-01-01T05:00:00.007-06:00

Peau d'Ane : L'ancienne et véritable histoire de la Peau D'Anesse by Jean-Jacques Fdida (Auteur), Jean-Marie Machado (Auteur), Nathalie Novi (Illustrations)

This month, I am going to be featuring French picture books of fairy tales with an emphasis on their illustrators since visual art crosses language barriers. I will offer primarily familiar tales since I don't have time to translate descriptions. Originally, I was going to offer fairy tale books from around the world but I got caught up in France and didn't exit, realizing that I have plenty for a month of posts from just one country. I may continue the theme from other countries during other months in 2012. For now, Happy New Year!

I won't be focusing on illustrators in these posts as much as the interpretations of the tales. Some illustrators are going to appear more than once, too, since some have plenty of fairy tale work.

Most of all, I am excited to share so many Donkeyskin/Peau d'Ane books since the tale is very much alive and beloved in its homeland.

Advertising: Cinderella and Cingular

2011-12-31T05:00:00.008-06:00

I never saw this one! Uploaded to YouTube in 2006 so at least five years old. But it's a fun play on Cinderella.

Save $10 on Kindle e-Textbooks with code ETXTBOOK

2011-12-30T14:42:00.000-06:00

Save $10 on Kindle e-Textbooks with code ETXTBOOK, applicable to either a purchase or rental.

This deal is open to anyone, one time only, and expires on January 9, 2012. All of the other fine print is on the deal page. You don't have to own a Kindle, just have a device that can run one of the free Kindle apps.

There are several fairy tale and folklore titles--those are direct links to searches--several of which I own in paper and am debating an ebook edition if the price is right. I pictured a few above. If you don't already own it and like fairy tales and mythology, Fairytale in the Ancient World would be my top pick, pictured above.

SurLaLune Titles Lending for Amazon Prime

2011-12-30T10:05:00.000-06:00

FYI: Some of the SurLaLune library titles are available for free borrowing through Amazon's Prime lending library. If you are a prime member, you probably already know about the program. For now, only these SurLaLune titles are available, but more may be available in the future.

Amazon's text: "Borrow this book for free, with no due dates, if you are a Kindle owner and Prime member."

Bargain Book Round Up for end of December

2011-12-30T09:51:00.000-06:00

Amazon's Deal of the Day in ebooks is The Giver by Lois Lowry for $.99. This one is today only, so fair warning. Again, not a folklore book, but of high interest to many readers here.

It also gives me the opportunity to remind you that if you want any of the discounted folklore and fairy tale themed books I have featured this month, those that are still discounted will return to their higher pricing come the new year. You can also browse 100 Kindle books for $3.99 or less which will definitely end on the 31st because that is how Amazon does things. But there will be new bargains in the new year, so that makes for happy thoughts, too. Here's some that are still discounted pictured below. Many of these are also top picks for the year.

Illamasqua Ice Queen Makeup Tutorial

2011-12-30T09:40:00.000-06:00

While we have Snow Queens on the brain thanks to Disney, Christmas, winter, etc. I thought I would share this video after debating over it for a month or so.

I'm not much of a makeup person and could never wear this myself due to allergy issues--I am extremely sensitive to makeup. Illamasqua is a UK brand that is quite avant garde in its styling and naming. I like some of their nail polishes, I admit, which is how I occasionally get their emails. This one caught my eye so here it is! In the US, you can find some Illamasqua products at Sephora.

Anyway, if you have a costume party for New Year's, this might inspire you.

Paper Tales Exhibition in Hong Kong: The Snow Goddess

2011-12-30T09:32:00.000-06:00

Here's an exhibit devoted to HCA's Snow Queen (here called Snow Goddess) in Hong Kong the past month. It is still showing until January 20th.

Press Release:

Magical Journey with Swire Island East’s Paper Tales

Swire Island East, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (YAF), presents Paper Tales – an awe-inspiring exhibition featuring delicate works from 11 local artists and 23 local students using paper as a medium to create objects of innovation and artistry. Led by the project’s main artist SumSum Tse, Paper Tales will be held at Swire Island East’s ArtisTree from 11 December 2011 to 20 January 2012.

Paper Tales flaunts mastery, originality and the divergent adaptability of paper. Artists let their imagination run wild to conceive idiosyncratic installation works, demonstrating complex paper-cutting and book-carving of great finesse. Visitors will see a medley of arresting paper art forms that is not limited to fine cutting and folding. An eccentric and spellbinding art anatomy is showcased, complemented by ambient music composed by Nick Harvey and special lighting effects by Wong Chiyung.

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s Snow Goddess, Paper Tales is a magical journey in four chapters encompassing the poetic works of local creative force. The story begins with Pauline Yau’s maze-like Ice Tunnel of light and shadow. Weaving the way through the tunnel, visitors will arrive at Percy So’s Story-telling Installation. Four paper sculptures crafted in traditional paper art techniques unveil the legend of the Snow Goddess.

The tunnel finally opens up to a mysterious icy world. In a secluded setting, the Snow Goddess’s Crystal Palace produced by SumSum Tse emerges as the centrepiece of the exhibition. Visitors will be greeted by the mystical Snow Goddess in an animated projection casted above the Palace.

Teardrops of the affectionate Snow Goddess are transformed into eight Small World Dioramas of floating islands contriving a galactic abyss. Contributing artists include: Aeroporto, Margaret Chu, Graphic Airlines, Candice Keung, Hanison Lau, Salon de Pigeon and Tereza Tan. This section will also feature miniature sculptures created by local secondary students who learned from SumSum Tse through a series of workshops organised by YAF.

The exhibition also offers free guided tours and DIY ornament making workshops during which participants will learn to make crafted objects with used paper.

The images below came from an article at How to enjoy Christmas in Hong Kong while the poster came from the event site.

Pauline Yau makes fragile paper look menacing in her work "The Ice Tunnel."

Advertising: Golden Crisp Cereal & Jack and the Beanstalk

2011-12-30T05:00:00.005-06:00

Blurry, but still discernible. Anyone remember this one? I wasn't in the demographic in 1993 when this aired so I don't remember it.

Disney Defrosts, Thaws Out "The Snow Queen"

2011-12-29T11:20:00.000-06:00

Remember a year ago when many people were upset when the media blitzed that Disney was foregoing fairy tale films for the foreseeable future--I discussed it some in my Thoughts on Tangled post. Yes, only a year later and we have Princess Sofia announced and even bigger news, Snow Queen is being defrosted.

Now, I have a long history with Snow Queen and have mentioned it before. Back in 2000 when my husband worked for ABC Online, he rode the train to Burbank and became friends with a few of the Disney animators. A few dinners and conversations later, I had some backdoor insights and peeks at Snow Queen which were fascinating. To sum up: It was nothing like the fairy tale, at all. There was a Snow Queen. That's it. If the plot had been described to me without any preface I wouldn't have ever placed it as the HCA tale.

Then Disney needed to layoff employees to make its year end numbers--which included those animators and my husband--and Snow Queen was tabled yet again. ABC was in the state that NBC is in today and Disney itself wasn't doing much better. VSPs (voluntary severance packages) were the topic of conversations, not The Snow Queen. I've lost count how many times the project has been tabled. And, fortunately, my husband was kept on a few extra months to finish some major projects so we walked away with the package and a new job the following Monday, a blessing since we had moved across the country for the job, far away from family and a much lower cost of living standard. Our rent then was hundreds more than our mortgage now that we live back in Nashville.

But now, with headlines about defrosting, thawing, etc. the media is announcing that the film has been resurrected yet again. Just one article is here but a news search will produce more. There's not much beyond the title and confusion over whether it will be handdrawn or CGI but the consensus is that it will be 3D. I still don't understand Hollywood's misconception that 3D sells seats and DVDs. They might consider offering women viewers some strong female roles and some non-gross romance. (See Movie crowds dip to 16-year low as apathy lingers By DAVID GERMAIN.)

Now the movie will be one word-titled "Frozen." Yes, those onscreen TV guides have oversimplified our lives. And we wouldn't want to disenfranchise male viewers with a girlie title either.

I enjoyed Tangled. I'm not a Disney fan, but I am not a big detractor either. Honestly, more of my own distaste comes from those days dealing with Disney in Burbank when my husband was employed there and I worked down the street at a branch of the Burbank Library. But that's neither here nor there for this post.

As always, I am happy about any big media project that brings more focus on fairy tales, and, let's face it, Disney is hard to surpass for visibility. So let's hope "Frozen" finally gets defrosted, cooked and served at our tables!

Advertising: Sky's Campaign Success and Boy Who Cried Wolf

2011-12-29T10:38:00.000-06:00

I've featured several of the Sky TV fairy tale ads over the last few years, especially the last few months with my daily fairy tale advertising posts, especially at Advertising: Sky TV Spots and Fairy Tales and Advertising: SKY Satellite TV and Fairy Tales. Well, a new one was launched in the UK on Christmas Day, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" this time. While it is a fun ad like the rest, what I found most interesting was some of the media coverage, such as this from Sky hails success of fairytale TV broadband ad campaign by Nigel Adie:

Sky has claimed its 'fairytale' broadband advertising campaign is so well-recognised that the satellite broadcaster has been able to spend less while still attracting more customers.

Since launching the ads in 2010, unprompted consumer awareness of Sky Broadband has risen from 51 per cent to 66 per cent, the pay TV giant's figures show.

The company is now planning to shift the adverts to digital and owned media platforms, although the TV campaign's latest installment - based on Aesop's Fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf - is set to premiere on Christmas Day, reports Marketing Week.

Lucian Smithers, director of brand strategy and communications at BSkyB, explained Sky spent less on media this year than in 2010.

"The campaign has become so well-known now that our maintenance levels are lower, but our acquisition numbers are still high," he remarked.

You can also read a case study about the campaign at ThinkBox.

“The construct of a typical fairytale often starts with the hero or main character in a distressing situation, but finishes with a happy ending. It’s with this in mind that the Fairytale campaign was conceived […] the DRTV ad’s liberation of broadband from its (distressing) past pricing and lack of value to the happy ending of being part of a great value bundle with Sky TV and calls […] The 40” advert resulted in record levels of efficiency for Sky DRTV with a CPA of £127 versus an expectation of £250, and has since been re-used with similarly impressive results.”

Now folks, that's the kind of success ad agencies salivate over. It is a savvy campaign.

Puss in Boots (2011): DVD Release 2/24/2012

2011-12-29T10:04:00.001-06:00

Puss in Boots (2011) has been announced for DVD/Blu-ray release for February 24, 2012. It really is about three months now between theatre release date and DVD release date. No wonder I have less and less interest in going to the movies anymore. Well, then there's also the quality and content of the movies, but that's another conversation... Still, I tend to preorder the few movies that interest me since a DVD is still less than a trip for two to the theatre and I can watch it again.

You currently have two options for formatting: Puss in Boots DVD and Puss in Boots (Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy). The prices are average right now but I imagine they will drop a few more dollars which will happen automatically if you order somewhere with a lowest price guarantee like at Amazon.

Also, for a limited time, you can save $5 select discs when you use the code "SOFTPAWS" at checkout on Amazon. I almost missed that, so I wanted to point it out to you, too.

I haven't seen the movie yet. Probably won't until it is on DVD. I haven't seen The Muppets yet, either. I just finally saw and enjoyed Kung Fu Panda 2 with the family over the holidays. I am not much of a movie goer anymore as I said. But since The Muppets DVD is already up for preorder, too, I will probably wait.

Bargain Ebook: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

2011-12-29T09:52:00.000-06:00

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood isn't really a folklore book, but it is of interest to many readers here so I thought I would share it as Amazon's Daily Deal for only $1.49 for the ebook version today only.

Here's the description:

The Handmaid's Tale is not only a radical and brilliant departure for Margaret Atwood, it is a novel of such power that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast. Set in the near future, it describes life in what was once the United States, now called the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy that has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to, and going beyond, the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans. The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word, with bizarre consequences for the women and men of its population.

The story is told through the eyes of Offred, one of the unfortunate Handmaids under the new social order. In condensed but eloquent prose, by turns cool-eyed, tender, despairing, passionate, and wry, she reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishment's calm facade, as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions. The Handmaid's Tale is funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing. It is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force. It is Margaret Atwood at her best.