Wonderful retelling of the classic Rapunzel. The illustrations were amazing, very beautiful art. I almost felt like I was looking at an art exhibit instead of a children's book. The colors were magnificent. I think this would be great for all classrooms and art projects. The moral of the story hadn't changed, even if placed in a high tower and the the love of your life injured, love will prevail and all will be well. ( )

This is a fairytale type book about a princess who was locked up in a tower by an evil sorceress only to be found by a prince one day. He secretely visited and married her then she was found to be expecting by the evil sorceress and banished into the wilderness. The prince was caught and then fell to the ground out of the tower. He was blinded and wandered around aimlessly until he ran into Rapunzel and the babies in the desert. His sight was restored and they lived happily ever after. ( )

Age Appropriateness: Primary
Genre: Traditional Literature (Fairytale)
Media: Oil Painting
Review:
This book is a beautiful rendition of a fairytale. The story begins with "Long ago...". The story of Rapunzel is rooted in oral tradition and has changed over the years from its original French version. The plot changed in a few areas of the story, such as what leafy greens Rapunzel's mother craved when she was pregnant, and also how Rapunzel and the prince escaped and were married. In this particular version, the mother craves the plant called rapunzel, and because her husband gets it for her from the witch's garden Rapunzel is promised to the witch.

Setting Analysis: The plot is essential in this particular story because Rapunzel must be in a tower to let the storyline around her hair carry out. The prince must climb her hair to reach her in the castle. The second setting however, the desert, serves as a backdrop.
The author has set the story in Renaissance era, which is enhanced by the illustrations on each page, and is not specifically mentioned in the story itself, but this setting is in the backdrop as well because the story could take place during any time period.

Summary:
This book starts off as a husband and wife conceive a child. The woman gazes down through her window at a sorceress’ garden. She sees that there is Rapunzel planted and she tells her husband that she wants some or she will die. The woman begs her husband to go into the forbidden garden and get her some. He goes once gets some but this much does not satisfy her craving. So he goes again but this time he is caught by the sorceress. He explains to her that his wife is pregnant and was craving Rapunzel or she would die. The sorceress told him that if he loves his wife and does not want her to die than he will give her the child when it is born. The man agrees, so when the baby is born the sorceress takes her and names her Rapunzel. She cares for the girl and when she turns twelve she takes her and puts her at the top of a tower with only one window, so that the girl cannot escape. When the sorceress wants to visit her she calls up “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair”. Rapunzel would do this and the sorceress would climb up. One day, while a prince was riding by, he heard beautiful singing. He asked the villagers who lived there and they told him a young woman held prisoner. He saw how the sorceress climbed to the top, so he called to Rapunzel to let down her hair. When he got to the top he fell in love with the beautiful young woman and asked her to marry him, she agreed. The sorceress, unaware of the prince found out that Rapunzel was pregnant and cut her hair and banished her to the wild. While she was lost in the woods, Rapunzel had twins; her husband unaware of what had happened called up the tower. Her hair came down and he climbed up to see the sorceress. He was so surprised that he fell down to the ground the impact leaving him blind. Because of his sadness, he wondered through the wild, after a few years he heard beautiful singing. Rapunzel saw him and ran to him when he realized it was her he started crying, his eyes became clear and he could see again. He realized where they were and took his family back to the palace where they lived happily ever after.
Personal Reaction:
I enjoyed this story because it had beautiful illustrations. I also, really liked it because I have never really heard this version but thought it was more interesting.
Classroom Extension:
This is a good example of a Caldecott winner if you are explaining this to students. Another extension could be an example of fantasy stories you could read this to students to help them see the relations to other stories. ( )

A man and women gave birth to a little girl who was promised to a sorceress. The sorceress took the girl to live in a tower in the woods. Each day the girl would lower her hair down in order for the sorceress to climb up.

This is a fairy tale that has been retold for years. I think that this book maybe a little hard for younger children to follow since there is so much going on. Although the Illustrations of this book are amazing.

In the classroom I would like the children to tell their own version of Rapunzel and how she got away from the evil sorceress. I would also like for them to make a drawing of their favorite part of the story.