Retold and Illustrated: Paul O. Zelinsky
Type: Picture
Grade Level: 3-5
Rating: 3 out of 5
To ease his pregnant wife's food cravings a husband repeatedly sneaks into his neighbors yard to pick her vegetables. He eventually is caught by the sorceress who he had been stealing from and is forced into paying his debts back with his still to be born child. Upon birth the sorceress takes the daughter and places her in a tower to be kept from everyone. The only way to enter the tower if by climbing up the long ladder of Rapunzel's hair.
A concern of mine for this book is that it lacks any diversity. The husband and wife are privileged, white, rich and young. The sorceress is old and ugly. Rapunzel is a rare beauty with pale skin, reddish gold hair and a beautiful voice. The prince is young, handsome and brave. Like most fairy tales Rapunzel does not challenge societal norms or attempt at diversification. Just because of that does not mean the book is bad but I would like to try for as much diversity in my classroom readings as possible.
This book won the Caldecott Award in 1998 for its stunning and highly realistic oil paintings. I would say the art in this book is its high point. Since fairy tales are so popular with children you could read this book and discuss the art. Create an art appreciation unit based off this story. This book could even be used as an example of a different painting style. Have this be the example and let children do their own paintings to this story, their own or others.
No comments:
Post a Comment