#750 of 1001 · August 20, 2022

Let us flee from the darkness and return to the safety of home as Hansel and Gretel Week Two draws to its conclusion. I now present @neilhimself’s powerful retelling of the story, accompanied by the art of @lorenzomattotti. The text, set in elegant floral borders designed by Annalise Olson, builds elegantly on the writing of the Brothers Grimm. Gaiman sows the story with vivid, thoughtful details—a jar of syrup-soaked cherries here, an iron key there—and presents the episodes of violence and despair in a sober, unflinching tone. Unusually for the tale, he also lights on the etymology of the children’s names: “Gretel” from “Margaret” and “Hansel” from “Hans”. Mattotti provides stark illustrations in thick sweeps and dry brush strokes of black ink, the movement of his wild lines lending the story an air of puppetry or a shadow play. #forest #woods #house #witch #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks