Eloise Wilkin (1904–1987)

I have always enjoyed this story (most likely due to the idea that there could be a house made of candy). This was a faithful retelling and I liked the use of dialogue to bring life to the characters. However, I did not like the illustrations. The people appear to be drawn to look like dolls and, therefore, are a little bit too creepy to enjoy. I did like the plot. It incorporated enough twists and surprises to keep even young children engaged. There is a reason this story has lasted so many years and I believe it's because the plot is so eventful and entertaining. The main theme of the story is not to trust strangers, even if their house is made of candy.… (more)

In my opinion this is a classic book that any child will be able to enjoy. The story is simple and full of suspense without being too gruesome. The basic language used will allow a child to read it easily without getting stuck on difficult words or concepts. The evil stepmother character will be familiar to children as there is usually one in most traditional books. While reading, the child will be able to think about what they would do if they were living with an evil step-parent. Hansel and Gretel will also encourage readers to think about what they would do if they found themselves lost in the woods, or anywhere, and how they could find their way back home safely. Like most traditional fiction stories, this book provides a lot of messages and the reader will come away having learned not to always trust a friendly stranger and that siblings should always stick together.… (more)