The Snow Queen and Other Tales

by Marie Ponsot

From the author and artist who created The Golden Book of Fairy Tales comes The Snow Queen and Other Tales, another timeless treasury of once-upon-a-times and happily-ever-afters, all brought to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307202054
• ISBN13: 9780307202055
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Golden Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 3.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 9.8" x 12.9"
• Age Range: 7 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 2

Customer Reviews

A child's personal library

This book is a "must have" for every child's personal library and should be in every public library and school media center. As a professional children's librarian I would recommend it as part of any child's home library because of its quality and content. The material contained within this book is difficult to find in America, especially so well written and so beautifully illustrated. It was a joy to see it finally reissued. I still have my own childhood copy, although it is dog-eared and pages are loose. A perfect gift for any adult to give a child they care about.

A Dream Come True

I also loved this book as a child in the 60's. I checked it out of the library until it finally disappeared from the stacks and I could no longer get it. As an adult, I searched for this book for years, finally finding it through an out of print book service and paying about $$$ for it. I was thrilled to have it, but unfortunately in the years since it had been printed, the lovely, dreamlike colors in the illustrations had faded, losing much of their emotional intensity. I am absolutely thrilled that this book has finally been reissued. It is a "must-have" for anyone who loves fairy tales or appreciates the art of illustration- in fact, as a working artist, I have to credit Adrienne Segur's work with inspiring me as a child to keep drawing. And if you are a ballet fan, this is a true representation of the rather creepy, very dark original tale of the Nutcracker, not the dumbed-down saccarine version fed to kids today. This is one of the best children's books, ever.

One of the Best

Like the sister book, "The Golden Book of Fairy Tales", this collection of fairy stories, with their ethereal illustrations, is magical. I had been read the aforementioned fairy tale book as a child in the early sixties, and the haunting stories and (especially) illustrations have stayed with me all my life. It is Adrienne Segur, whose artwork exemplifies perfection, that bring these old Russian winter tales to life. This book is perfect for a child at Christmas - the stories evoke snow and frosty enchantment. Along with the keystone chapters of "The Snow Queen", I found "Melito's Soul" to be heartfelt and spiritual, and the full (finally !) telling of "The Nutcracker" by Alexander Dumas in this anthology to be excellent. Good fairy tales are contained in countless volumes, but what sets this book,(and the fairy tale book) apart, is the artwork. Segur's full-color paintwork and sketches have a whimsy and charm that are otherworldly; her skill and detail display a rare talent by any standard. My two little daughters (and in a few years, my son) will now be able to dream these tales thru Adrienne Segur's eyes and imagination, and I am glad to be able to enrich and enchant their lives, as mine was as a child.