Hansel and Gretel: A Favorite Story in Rhythm and Rhyme

by Nadia Higgins (Adapter)

When two kids get lost in the woods, they get caught by an evil witch. How will they escape? Sing along to this Fairy Tale Tune in Hansel and A Favorite Story in Rhythm and Rhyme.

24 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Nadia Higgins is the author of 50-plus books for children. She also worked as an editor in the industry for almost ten years. Many of her books have a science bent, though she’s also written about pop stars, car art, and zombies.

Nadia's favorite part of being a writer is doing research. "I'm always looking for that vivid detail or off-the-wall fact," she says. Her books often use humor or fiction techniques to bring a nonfiction topic to life.

Besides writing, Nadia enjoys dancing, making soup, and doing puzzles. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two young daughters.

Reviews

[Lynette Camerlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hansel and Gretel - Retold By: Nadia Higgins / Illustrated By: Kathleen Petelinsek
Age Range: 3-7
Level: M*
Date Read/Reviewed: Monday, Sept.12th, 2022
Review: I would rate, “Hansel and Gretel,” retold by Nadia Higgins 3 out of 5 stars. Hansel and Gretel is a story about two children, a boy and a girl, who are banished from their family because their wicked stepmother was upset that they were eating up all the family’s food, starving herself and the childrens' father. The stepmother and father tricked the children into following them into the forest where they left them to perish. The children tried to find their way back home and while doing so, they encountered a house made of sweet treats. The children ate the sweet treats until an old witch came out and took the children in because they seemed famished. The children were tricked by the witch as she wanted to eat them. However, the children tricked her back and were able to escape the witch and find their way back home to their father.
I felt that the book left a lot of unanswered questions as to what was happening in the story, such as…1. How did the girl save her brother?, and 2. Why doesn’t the witch try and eat Gretel first? The pace of the book went too fast and did not have enough descriptive text that truly engages students in the story. This book is not appropriate for the age-range of 3-7 as the story is a bit too mature for students to understand. Also, the topic of hungry children/hungry families may bother some students as it can be a very sensitive topic to discuss. If I had to utilize this book in my classroom, I would only use it for independent reading time for students. I would let my students choose books that they are interested in and are wanting to read during times they may be finished with their classwork, free-time, etc.
Although I am not a fan of the book, I will admit that the story teaches students about trust, knowing who they can rely on, and understanding that not everyone has good intentions.

[Evan Copes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not like this book. I feel like the art and illustration are off putting and creepy to children.