Hank and Gertie: A Pioneer Hansel and Gretel Story

by Eric A. Kimmel, Mara Penny (Illustrator)

Hank and Gertie brings a modern twist to the classic Hansel and Gretel folktale combined with the landscape of the Oregon Trail.

While taking a break from their journey out west, Hank and Gertie lose their way back to their covered wagon and stumble upon the most glorious house made of candy. Little do they know there's a dangerous witch lurking nearby, and she's got her eye on the two hungry and vulnerable children.

Genres: Picture Books, Fairy Tales, Witches, History, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 7, 2018

About the author

Eric A. Kimmel is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster, and Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wanted to put in a good word for this book, since it seems to be getting a bad rap here on Goodreads. Perhaps I'm a little biased in its favor since I grew up in the American West, belong to a church with pioneer heritage, and spent many happy hours as a child playing Oregon Trail on the computer (RIP Mary).

I just love the idea of retelling Hansel and Gretel in a western/pioneer setting. Sure, it's hard to believe, but so's the original. At least in this one the parents aren't trying to ditch their children, thank goodness. I've read countless multicultural fairy tale retellings, and this one is no different in concept, but we Americans seem to be harder on own culture than we are on others' sometimes.

This book is fun! The colorful illustrations, the licorice house, the flying cauldron, the way Hank and Gertie interact, the final picture of the pioneers dismantling the candy house and loading it into their wagons. It's not terribly clever and witty, but it's a good, solid retelling. My son asked for it two nights in a row, and my daughter took with bed to her afterward. That is the ultimate compliment my kids can pay a book.

[Steven Copp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, this book was fine! It is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel during pioneer times, so there are a lot of references shoved into this book, especially in terms of food (surprise surprise). It felt at times it was a theme someone wrote for school where they had to create a story with facts about pioneers, so that got tiresome after a while. Not my favorite, but not bad either.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quirky yet cute retelling of Hansel and Gretel as pioneers on the Oregon Trail. My favorite part was the detailed layout of the fatty delicious-looking foods and the temperature gauge for "spittin' mad."

Parts of the story were a little out there but very unique and fun! The illustrations are entertaining too. I also adored the author's note at the end about the Oregon Trail and his recommendation to visit The End of the Oregon Trail Museum along with the website: https://historicoregoncity.org

Stay tuned for a more in-depth review on my blog for my LS Literature for Children's course.
https://boardbooksforboredbabes.blogs...

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

A prairie retelling of the classic Hansel and Gretel story. Hank and Gertie are traveling with a wagon train across the prairie when they wander off and get lost. They meet an old woman known as Aunt Caroline who imprisons them. Gertie figures out Aunt Caroline is a witch who has cast a spell on Hank. Gertie tricks the old witch into destroying herself and is able to free Hank and herself and return to their family.

The story reads like a 10-year-old wrote it and the illustrations are obviously digital and they're terrible. Not recommended at all.

[Abbey Phelps · Rating 1 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book should have been a lot different. Casting a clearly American Indian woman as the witch was a terrible choice. I am a librarian in a rural area that is close to the Yakima Nation, Celilo Indian Village and Warm Springs. I could not put this book into our collection. I would like to give the illustrator the benefit of the doubt and believe it was a mistake. A coworker believes it was done purposely, how could it be an accident?

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find the premise delightful: A PIONEER version of Hansel and Gretel.

Illustrations help the story along. My favorite touch is the set of pullouts for the picture of "Aunt Caroline."

Another high point in this lively story is the thermometer that goes from calm, through irked, all the way up to "spittin' mad."

Thanks for the delightful concept and text, author Eric A. Kimmel. Thanks to you as well, brilliant illustrator Mara Penny.

Your excellent book deserves all FIVE STARS!!!

[Kaylee Dugan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a spin on Hansel and Gretel, set during the Oregon Trail. Two children, Hank and Gertie, get separated from their wagon train and wander through the wilderness until they discover a cabin made entirely of candy. Excited and hungry, they don’t realize that a dangerous witch lives there and has been watching them. The story adds a creative twist by combining the classic fairytale with the challenges of traveling west - it was okay!

[Andrea Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a humorous variation of Hansel and Gretel. I loved that the author changed their dialect. This characteristic really puts you in the time and place of the story's setting. The only thing I would say I didn't love about it was the pioneering references that were thrown in where I feel they didn't necessarily belong. I did enjoy the references that fit, especially in the illustration of Aunt Caroline. I also enjoyed the heavy use of similes. It definitely fit the theme.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the new family dynamic. No evil step-mother, just a mom trying to keep her kids safe. The flying cauldron felt like too much of a stretch. I couldn't figure out if this was supposed to have that "historically accurate" feel, or more of the "total fantasy" feel. The author kept switching back & forth, which made it difficult for me to really immerse myself in the book.

[Hannah Dull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional
Grade Level: 1-3

I liked this retelling of the story. It brought in a different culture/ part of the world that I appreciated. I also enjoyed the differences in it. This would be a great story to use for compare/ contrast unit. I also really enjoyed the illustrations in this story.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad retelling - some things seemed a bit of a stretch, other things worked out pretty well. I liked that the kids weren't *actually* left behind by their parents, like in the original.

Also, now I'm REALLY hungry!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from 3.5 stars because the mom wasn't wicked. I bet this fractured fairy tale was a *lot* of fun to write. Extensive author's note.

I'm still working my way through Kimmel's catalog... :)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations in this book! I didn’t feel like the author brought much new to the story, but I really like Gi is Gertie was able to get the witch to disappear in that it was super different from the original Hansel and Gretel story.

[Cody Heffelfinger]

I thought this was a good book, not sure why it has such a low rating. The one thing I did not like was that she treated the women so poorly because she was too skinny for them. It also fits a little too much into the stereotype where the man sits and does nothing while the women work.

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish the story was longer. I loved the info about the Oregon Trail. I don't know if the cat was supposed to be like a "can you spot it" easter egg type of thing, but it made me read the book twice.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disturbing...

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love fairy tales, pioneer times, and the concept of mixing the two. Sadly, it just didn’t work.

[Mel Beags · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was just bad. Not a good combo.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary and up retelling of the classic German story Hansel and Gretel. In this version the Oregon trail is featured and the siblings wonder away from the wagon train.

[Awjtf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it!

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has disturbing illustrations depicting child abuse. Not for young children

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for 4th grade

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hank & Gertie good, cannibalism bad.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic retelling especially if working on Oregon Trail unit.

[Jade Wolf · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tactless taste to make the witch a Native American.

[Caroline Aldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good to show how, if you wanted to be treated fairly and treat everyone with respect

[Sarah Schill]

Genre: Traditional
This story is based off of Hansel and Gretel but is changed to a western theme. I think this would be a great book for children learning about the western frontier.