Usborne Illustrated Fairy Tales

by Sarah Courtauld, Rosie Dickins, Usborne Publishing (Publisher)

Containing ten classic fairy tales by authors such as the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, 'Usborne Illustrated Fairy Tales' includes stories such as 'The Frog Prince', 'Little Red Riding Hood' and 'The Swan Princess.'

Genres: Childrens, Fairy Tales, Picture Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Folk Tales, Classics

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 2007

About the author

Sarah Courtauld lives in London and writes and illustrates funny books for children. Her favourite children's writers are Andy Stanton, Roald Dahl, Tove Jansson, J Meade Falkner and Lemony Snicket, although her all time favourite children's book is The Princess Bride.

Acclaim for Buckle and Squash & the Monstrous Moat Dragon:

"Delicious!"
Gertrude the goat.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Elves and the Shoemaker was my favourite of the stories included in this collection of fairy tales, a heartwarming story about giving and generosity.

This was my first time reading Beauty and the Beast and I think it probably was one of the stories with the most substance. I really enjoyed The Nightingale as well.

But the Emperor from The Emperor’s New Clothes is easily the most relatable character.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were good stories where nobody gets killed or hurt in them. They are good for kids who are more sensitive to those things

[Jordan Tiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly decent renditions if classic fairytales. Not too much modernity shoe-horned in there, like some other versions we’ve read.

[Emily Fauble · Rating 4 out of 5]

good compilation of children's fairy tales with a different illustrator for each story, which keeps the children engaged. There were a couple stories I didn't know and a couple were told in ways I didn't like as much, but they are well done for younger children and my girls love them.

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these simple stories. Short text and a colorful illustration on each page. An easy read made more magical by the illustrations.

[Sara Why · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mother who is a big advocate for parents reading to their children, I am always on the lookout for cool new books to add to our collection. Most of my son’s books are ones that his grandmother had stored away from when his aunt and I were children, but we are constantly adding to it with newer picks that we find at the local bookstore, or with books that are given to him as gifts.
——This book is one such gift.
My Aunt Josie is a big giver of books, and this particular treasure was gifted to Micah in February of last year. I have since read all 349 pages to him a couple of times, and it is a treat to turn every page each time we go through it.
To start off, the cover is nice and plush. You can squeeze it and it just rises back up like a springy pillow, which is something I really enjoy holding while reading. The cover art is beautiful and bright, which sets the tone for the amazing art that brightens every page onward.
Ten fairy tales live within these pages—‘Sleeping Beauty’, ‘The Dragon Painter’, and ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ among them—and all are illustrated in slightly differing styles, but they all keep the vibrant colours that the cover art and opening pages display to you.
There is very little room for text on the pages, which is why the book is so long, but the images are enough to capture the imagination of any developing mind.
Breathtaking illustrations together with timeless stories of love, friendship, and intrigue make this book a must-have for your little one’s shelf.
Already have a plethora of fairy tale books? Who cares!? So do we! All of them are told differently and all of them have different illustrations. You will be truly missing out if you don’t add this to your collection. I promise.

[Koskinen Sari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tämä kirja, joka suomeksi löytynee Tyttöjen oma satukirja-versiona, oli mielestäni pettymys. Samoin kyllä oli lukukaverini mielestä, vaikkakin eri syistä johtuen. Itseäni erityisesti kuvitus häiritsi läpi kirjan ja ne versiot tutuista saduista. Ja kuitenkin voidaan puhua klassikkosaduista, jos puhutaan Grimmin veljeksien tai H.C. Andersenin tasoisien tarinankertojien alkuperäissaduista. Yllättäen parhaimmaksi itsestäni nousi Kaunotar ja hirviö-satu, vaikka oli siinäkin puutteensa. Ja ehkä pitäisin suht kliseisinä valintoina joitain satuja, jotka tohon oli valittu juuri tytöille sopiviksi. Tai sitten itse ja oma lukukaverini ollaan huomattavan erilaisia edustajia kuin keskimääräiset kirjan lukeneet. 🤔

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this book! The illustrations are beautiful and each story is just the right length for bedtime. The story accuracy is about half-way between Disney and the original. Not overly watered down but mild enough for young children.

The only criticism I have is that too many of the stories used a "rough" illustration-cartoon style. I was hoping for more "pretty" illustrations like the cover. But I'm also pretty picky.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I, of course, enjoyed so many of my favorite fairy tales in an Usborne book, these tales are told a bit differently than I've ever heard them before. While the illustrations are colorful and bright, they are a bit odd ... don't look real, nor do they look exceptionally "fairy tale" beautiful. It's a treasury I will keep and share with my granddaughter.

[Gundrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Lovely set of illustrated fairytales that's well-pitched for a young audience. We do have one small quibble... my daughter asked why, in the illustration of the elves in their fine clothes, they don't have new hats to go with their new suits and shoes. It's a fair question and their mismatched clothing now niggles me whenever we read that story!

[Adrian Alvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my 6 year old daughter a little every night. She loved the illustrations and the stories stayed pretty surface level and simple, which was actually fine for her. I imagine we'll be re-reading this a few more times, which I don't mind even if I do prefer the more gruesome versions of these tales and wish the ones here were a little less milquetoast.

[Russell Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully presented selection of mostly well known fairy tales that I have read to both my children. They enjoyed listening to the tales and looking at the illustrations, and I enjoyed reading them.

[Andrea Zuvich · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly delightful collection of fairy tales, which seem to help spark a lifelong interest in reading. My toddler daughter kept saying, "Please read more!" The illustrations are wonderful and magical.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it all. The cover is just beautiful, which is what made me pick this title up. Included are many of the fairy tales you've undoubtedly heard or read about before. Brightly colored illustrations couple ten classics from the likes of Brothers Grimm and others.

[Fi's Journey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read these fairy tales to my daughter at bedtime. She seemed to like all of them that I read aloud to her.

My personal favourite was The Swan Princess. I will have to ask my daughter, which one her favourite is!

[Amanda Schwind · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations were beautiful! I loved this anthology, although some of the versions of these fairytales weren't my favorites.

[Elon Slootweg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely adorable and very uplifting, a children's book for anyone who likes fairytales, illustrations and a good laugh every once in a while.

[Atle Tungland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice selection of fairy tales with plenty of brilliant illustrations to keep the kids happy when we read it at bed time

[Kashe Jester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice illustrations. I like the stories. Very original.

[Rachael Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice version of the fairy tales, and I love Usborne Illustrated collections.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my ten-, nine-, and four-year-old sons at bedtime. This held the attention of the youngest compared to other sleep-inducing books we’ve read, but even he was left craving for more. My older kids wanted more of a plotline, so I told them to find the real books if they want more of the stories. It was so clearly a tease for them all that I felt satisfied that this collection had accomplished its purpose. Great artwork. The Elves and the Shoemaker was my favorite tale.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just like illustrated fairy tales. Usborne booked are the best!

[Frances Coe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection of illustrated fairy tales

[Zahidan Zakiya Abidah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite is beauty and the beast!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocada que eu não sabia da versão em que o pai da Cinderela estava vivo e assistia passivamente o que acontecia com a filha.

[iretorta · Rating 5 out of 5]

mi infancia

[Oni 媛馨 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustration very cute, the story also very interesting and funny

[Shrubbery Rabbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved some of the various art styles in this book. Included many classics. An amazing read!

[Jamie Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this one through many times to my kids. Cute stories and bright, engaging pictures.

[Kalilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this for my niece but couldn't resist reading it myself. The illustrations for some of the stories are so lovely, especially those for 'Sleeping Beauty', 'The Emperor and the Nightingale' and 'The Dragon Painter'.
Of course, being designed for children who are learning to read on their own, the stories are very much abridged and, note, retold. But the essence is still there.