Hansel and Gretel: An Instant #1 NYT Bestselling Fairy Tale Book for Children Ages 6 and Up

A Darkly Enchanting Fairy Tale Reimagined Hansel & Gretel by Stephen King and illustrated by Maurice Sendak is a haunting triumph of storytelling and art. King brings his trademark mastery of suspense and psychological depth to one of the oldest fairy tales, weaving a narrative that is at once chilling and surprisingly tender. His prose dances between menace and wonder, creating a forest that feels alive with shadowy secrets and human fears. The witch’s house—equal parts temptation and terror—is described with a detail that lingers long after the final page. Sendak’s illustrations elevate the story to something unforgettable. Every drawing is alive with texture and atmosphere: crooked trees claw at the sky, the gingerbread house glows with an inviting yet ominous light, and Hansel and Gretel’s wide-eyed bravery shines through the darkness. His artwork balances the grotesque and the beautiful, perfectly matching King’s layered storytelling. What makes this collaboration remarkable is how it respects the intelligence of its readers, both young and old. King doesn’t shy away from the tale’s darker elements, but instead uses them to explore themes of resilience, sibling love, and the courage to face the unknown. Sendak’s art amplifies these emotions, turning each page into an experience of discovery and dread. Final Thoughts This book is more than a retelling—it’s a celebration of what fairy tales are meant to be: thrilling, unsettling, and deeply human. Hansel & Gretel by Stephen King and Maurice Sendak is a must-have for fans of dark fantasy, classic folklore, and exquisite illustration. It’s a story you’ll want to revisit, each reading revealing new shadows and new light.

I've been a fan of King's since Carrie and always like when he gets a little whimsical. His adaptation is a wonderful version of the story, keeping all the old-fashioned touches while updating it a bit. Maurice Sendak's illustrations are all masterpieces in themselves. The book itself is well-bound and illustrated with Rhea's face and the paper is thick. Get it for the Sendak, King, or Grimm collector in your life.

Oh my gosh, I love this book. If you are the right age, you grew up with Maurice Sendak. I'm 64 and I proudly display this one on my book shelf.

I LOVE THIS I love Stephen King and I love children’s books and somehow in this strange reality they came together. I love that the story still had a nice ending and the illustrations were adorable.

My son loved it. He has collected all of Stephen Kings books. The only one missing is the first book King signed. I’m still looking for that. My son is writing books now and looking for an agent.

I am honestly torn. If I could have half stars, it would be more like 3.5 or at best 3.7 for me. I love the fact that they are bringing back a classic tale from pre 1800's folklore as recorded by Brother's Grimm that I certainly remember from my childhood. King's take however doesn't seem to alter much of the original text as I recall. But then again, perhaps there was no real intention on Stephen's part for that other than for the promoters to sell more books. I set an expectation for something a little elevated but there you have it; setting any expectation in anything always sets up the high potential for disappointment. I still think it is worth bringing back for this current generation, but how about including about the history of the folklore at least somewhere in the introduction Stephen. As for the illustrations, I read many of the reviews and am surprised at the negative tone of some. Not viewing the original Sendak work, it's challenging for anyone to give a real critique. I thought they were fine, but I was aware of the fact that they were drawn as part of Humperdink's Opera of the same name from the late 90's. I did see a few of the original drawings on line and I thought those used in the book were fairly close to those electronic versions I saw. I think the level of grittiness and color tones was perfect for such a dark tale.

A beautiful book, suitable for children who aren't afraid of the dark. I was a huge S. King fan until his recent faux pas re C. Kirk. Swore I wouldn't buy any more of his books - and I have most - but this is a book that is so beautiful and so well done that I had to order it! Will give to a great granddaughter for Christmas!

I bought this for 2 reasons. 1, it's a combination of two master authors. And 2, to share it in the local "little library" so others can enjoy it as well.

Excelente

Stunning illustrations and amazing traditional story! Introduction by Stephen King was a surprisingly wonderful touch.

Nice book.

Tutto perfetto! Oggetto come descrizione e foto!

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