Wow. For the stories, several of which were completely new to me and others which were fleshed out compared to other versions I've read. Loved the intro and afterword. The art suffered from the small paperback format, but still was intriguing. Big problem: Towards the end of the book (paperback) that I have, several pages were printed out of order and not even in the stories in which they belonged . . . it made for a difficult read-aloud situation that night. ( )

From the publisher: 'This new edition of the beloved tales of the Brothers Grimm —selected, translated, and edited by Peter Wortsman — is drawn from the 1857 edition of the German original, the last edition reviewed and approved by the Brothers in their lifetime. Over the years, the Brothers’ original enigmatic narratives have been sanitized by Disney and children’s book editors for modern consumption; this indispensable edition restores the sting and vigor of the original prose. In Wortsman’s words, his translation is a return to “a tincture of concentrated man-eating ogre and ground hag tooth, diluted in blood, sweat and tears, as a potent vaccine against the crippling effects of fear and fury.” These fortifying imaginative vaccines are accompanied by twenty-four paintings by Haitian artists, including Edouard Duval-Carrié, Pascale Monnin, and Frankétienne. Edwidge Danticat observes that many Haitian painters bring “forth another canvas beneath the one we see.” These works’ imaginative scope, vitality, and evocation of the unconscious open deep channels between the two traditions, shedding new light and shadow on the classic tales.'

Grown up with the adapted fairy tales of the brothers Grimm in a volume illustrated by Anton Pieck, I was thoroughly impressed by this translation of Peter Wortsman, as well as by the illustrations that present a beautiful mirror to the many layers to be discovered in the Grimms' stories. The book is a piece of art and a wonderful addition to my library! ( )