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Rating: 
Summary: Not appropriate for children under 12!!!!
Review: i am not a squeamish or overly protective parent, but i was shocked and horrified at the graphic violence and gory details that were prescient in this book. bluebeard (which had been previously referenced) was completely over the top!!! in addition, there are unnecessary references to pre-marital sex (e.g. rapunzel and the frog prince). the stories may be true to the original, but it is not for my 5 year old daughter. it is in the recycling bin.
Rating: 
Summary: An exquisitely illustrated collection
Review: Neil Philip not only tells us the classic tales such as "Sleeping Beauty," "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Cinderella," he also includes a world of tales from South America, the Far East, Asia and Australia. These are traditional stories which have been told by firesides and hearths for centuries. Nilesh Mistry's illustrations are so beautiful, you must see them to believe it. Fairies with delicate pastel wings, haunting castles, beautiful maidens eating oranges, gnomes dancing by bonfires, Persian gardens, horses riding through fire, sly wolves, purple headed dragons and green demons are just some of the enchanting images. If you fall in love with his illustrations, look for: "The Illustrated Book of Myths." The details of the landscape, costume and building design of each country was considered and makes the illustrations all the more magical and authentic. The origin of each story is given on the contents pages. The stories are grouped together with other stories which have similar themes. Stories in which characters fall under a spell are in the first section. Poor heroes hoping to make their fortunes follows. The last section includes stories in which love conquers all. Neil Philip has a Ph.D in myth and folklore and has a great talent for giving insight into the cultural background of each story. Many stories have changed over time, yet they still hold true to the basic premise that evil is punished and good is rewarded. Fairy tales are filled with magic and wonder. They do in fact cast a spell on the reader. Enter this world of talking animals, magical creatures, evil witches, princes and maidens. These stories have lived in the minds of man since the beginning of history. Gifted story tellers on every continent have contributed to the richness of these enthralling visions. Look for the elements of truth in the stories. Secretly, I think adults enjoy these stories just as much as children do.
Rating:
Summary: Not appropriate for children under 12!!!!
Review: Neil Philip not only tells us the classic tales such as "Sleeping Beauty," "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Cinderella," he also includes a world of tales from South America, the Far East, Asia and Australia. These are traditional stories which have been told by firesides and hearths for centuries. Nilesh Mistry's illustrations are so beautiful, you must see them to believe it. Fairies with delicate pastel wings, haunting castles, beautiful maidens eating oranges, gnomes dancing by bonfires, Persian gardens, horses riding through fire, sly wolves, purple headed dragons and green demons are just some of the enchanting images. If you fall in love with his illustrations, look for: "The Illustrated Book of Myths." The details of the landscape, costume and building design of each country was considered and makes the illustrations all the more magical and authentic. The origin of each story is given on the contents pages. The stories are grouped together with other stories which have similar themes. Stories in which characters fall under a spell are in the first section. Poor heroes hoping to make their fortunes follows. The last section includes stories in which love conquers all. Neil Philip has a Ph.D in myth and folklore and has a great talent for giving insight into the cultural background of each story. Many stories have changed over time, yet they still hold true to the basic premise that evil is punished and good is rewarded. Fairy tales are filled with magic and wonder. They do in fact cast a spell on the reader. Enter this world of talking animals, magical creatures, evil witches, princes and maidens. These stories have lived in the minds of man since the beginning of history. Gifted story tellers on every continent have contributed to the richness of these enthralling visions. Look for the elements of truth in the stories. Secretly, I think adults enjoy these stories just as much as children do.
Rating:
Summary: Great book to read *with* your kids!
Review: This book contains 52 classic tales from over 30 countries! I thought I was well-versed in fairy tales; however, of the numerous tales included in this particular book, I was familiar with only eight. The stories are not terribly long, an average of only 2-4 pages in length. It is a wonderful book for parents to read with their children, great for giving your kids (and yourself) a more rounded view of the world. But keep in mind, these are not 'Disney' tales, they more resemble the original Brother's Grimm stories.
Rating:
Summary: Great book to read *with* your kids!
Review: This book contains 52 classic tales from over 30 countries! I thought I was well-versed in fairy tales; however, of the numerous tales included in this particular book, I was familiar with only eight. The stories are not terribly long, an average of only 2-4 pages in length. It is a wonderful book for parents to read with their children, great for giving your kids (and yourself) a more rounded view of the world. But keep in mind, these are not 'Disney' tales, they more resemble the original Brother's Grimm stories.
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