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The Twelve Wild Geese
The powerful story of a young girl's selfless love for her brothers has fascinated storytellers throughout the ages--from the Grimm brothers, Hans Christian Andersen to W.B. Yeats. Now, Matt Faulkner's robust version of medieval pageantry provides a new interpretation of the Celtic story. Pen over watercolor illustrations.
- GenresPicture BooksFairy Tales
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1994
About the author
Matt Faulkner
44 books45 followersMatt is married to author and children’s librarian, Kris Remenar, and lives with their children in Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 24, 2023
✩ 4.2 stars
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[read for my independent studies of folklore & mythology]
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[read for my independent studies of folklore & mythology]
March 8, 2021
This is a wonderful adaptation of the original Brothers Grimm: The Twelve Brothers and is a must-read for any age group. The artwork, the tale, the devotion are all splendid and awe-inspiring. I was captivated when I picked this book up out of my little sister's library and couldn't stop reading it after she was called off to go help our mom with something.
The tale of a king and queen desperately wanting a daughter after already having 12 boys and a deceitful witch who grants their wish. This is a true page-turner but also in a weird sense, I found myself captivated by the expressions and the attention to detail in portraying thoughts and feelings. The plot had a good twist and the character development was rather smooth. If there is one thing I wish this book had, it would have been more about the life of brothers while they were away. It's easy to tell how they lived their life, but to see how exactly they survived would have been a gem to see.
The cultural and historical context within the picture book really give us an idea of what life was like back in Germany during the 1800s and the way the characters are dressed, down to the castles and knitting, it's clear that they are from another world unlike our own more advanced one. Sometimes, though, I find myself wishing I could have seen it for myself. Although the princess does not actually have a disability for speech, the representation of being mute and not being able to talk to others or convey what is happening is a serious connection I never thought I'd feel from a book. Her frustration was as much hers as it was mine and I've never had that feeling before when reading a book. Not to that extent, anyway. Representation of disability and cultural and historical context is mention in my class book I'm reading right now about fairy tales and it was quite spot-on for this picture book.
Overall, I recommend this to any reader with an eye for wonder and fairy tales. It's appropriate for all age groups and will surely make any person feel inspired after being read.
The tale of a king and queen desperately wanting a daughter after already having 12 boys and a deceitful witch who grants their wish. This is a true page-turner but also in a weird sense, I found myself captivated by the expressions and the attention to detail in portraying thoughts and feelings. The plot had a good twist and the character development was rather smooth. If there is one thing I wish this book had, it would have been more about the life of brothers while they were away. It's easy to tell how they lived their life, but to see how exactly they survived would have been a gem to see.
The cultural and historical context within the picture book really give us an idea of what life was like back in Germany during the 1800s and the way the characters are dressed, down to the castles and knitting, it's clear that they are from another world unlike our own more advanced one. Sometimes, though, I find myself wishing I could have seen it for myself. Although the princess does not actually have a disability for speech, the representation of being mute and not being able to talk to others or convey what is happening is a serious connection I never thought I'd feel from a book. Her frustration was as much hers as it was mine and I've never had that feeling before when reading a book. Not to that extent, anyway. Representation of disability and cultural and historical context is mention in my class book I'm reading right now about fairy tales and it was quite spot-on for this picture book.
Overall, I recommend this to any reader with an eye for wonder and fairy tales. It's appropriate for all age groups and will surely make any person feel inspired after being read.
December 11, 2019
This is one of my favourite fairytales, retold with AMAZING pen and watercolour illustrations. I was obsessed with this book when I found it as a teen, and came across it again as an adult with children of my own, and they all like it a lot, too.
The wording is not perfectly designed for young children, but maybe that's okay. Stretch them a little!
The pictures are just gorgeous. So much happening in the stories that is not told by words. For example, when the princess goes off to find her brothers, the illustration shows her cleverly choosing NOT to go over the bridge that has a troll under it, but instead she goes down and through the stream on stepping stones instead.
The wording is not perfectly designed for young children, but maybe that's okay. Stretch them a little!
The pictures are just gorgeous. So much happening in the stories that is not told by words. For example, when the princess goes off to find her brothers, the illustration shows her cleverly choosing NOT to go over the bridge that has a troll under it, but instead she goes down and through the stream on stepping stones instead.
April 9, 2013
A retelling of The Twelve Ravens, a folktale, about a queen who has twelve sons but wishes to give them all up in exchange for a daughter. A witch hears her wish and grants it, turning the sons into geese. It is left up to the queen's daughter to get the twelve sons back, in human form.
October 26, 2015
A Queen wishes that she had a daughter and her wish gets granted, but her 12 sons are taken away. When the daughter finds out, she tries to get her brothers back.
setting- castle, the woods
grade- 2nd/3rd
use- I would use this book to teach my students a moral lesson
setting- castle, the woods
grade- 2nd/3rd
use- I would use this book to teach my students a moral lesson
October 15, 2014
This was one of my favorite books as a kid. The illustrations were beautiful and it had a good story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews