Summary:
This story is about siblings Hansel (boy) and Gretel (girl), who come from a very poor family. Their household consisted of a father, and a stepmother. The parents had no money to provide food for the children, so their wicked stepmother came up with an idea to leave Hansel and Gretel in the forest in hopes to free them from caring for the children. The father disagreed with his wife but granted her wish. The first attempt was unsuccessful, because Hansel was very clever. He left pebbles every step of the way, in order to use them to find their way back home. The second attempt was successful, because Hensel was unable to collect pebbles, he had to use bread crumbs. When the children tried to follow the bread crumbs the notice the crumbs were missing. The children followed a white bird through the forest to a house made of bread and cookies. The children were captured by a wick witch, who tries to eat them. The witch had Gretel prepare the oven and stick her head in to see if it was ready. Gretel denied that she know how to check the oven, so the witch tuck her head in to show Gretel how. Then, Gretel pushed the witch in and killed her. She rescued her brother and they returened home with fortunes. The family lived happily ever after, without their stepmother due to her death.

Personal Reaction:
This brings back memories. I remember my mother reading this book to me as a child. I like this book but I would not read this book to my four year but most definitely to my eight year. Hansel and Gretel is a good book to introduce children to a world of reality of evil people. I really did not care so much for the pictures, because I did not find them eye catching due to the dull colors. Another thing I didn't like about this book was that the stepmother had to be wicked. I think for younger children this might influence their perception of step parents. But, then again it is fiction.

Classroom Extension:
1. I would pick up a couple of gingerbread houses from the grocery store, put the students in groups, and have them create the gingerbread house with candy on the outside.
2. I would put students in groups and assign pages from the story. Then I would have each group act out parts in the book with a narrator. ( )