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geekwayne's review against another edition
2.0
'Power to the Princess' by Vita Weinstein Murrow with illustrations by Julia Bereclartu is a series of 15 famous fairytales that have been retold to be more "socially conscious." My review copy only included about half of the stories, but it was enough for an informed review.
In the stories I read, Cinderella (Ellia) gets mistreated on the job, so she forms her own company to protect workers and eventually becomes prime minister. Sleeping Beauty starts a sleep clinic and therapy office. The Princess of Pea fame is not frail at all and willing to return the favor of a bad night's sleep. The Little Mermaid becomes an ambassador of peace between people of the land and sea.
Do we need to rewrite fairytales for modern children? I thought it was an interesting idea when I requested the book. Fairytales are not history and they aren't necessarily sacred. What they are is timeless, but the stories in this collection do not seem to be timeless. They may be fine for a generation or two, but they won't endure like other stories have. If that's the case will they actually replace the original narratives?
They also include humor that is just too self-aware. Kids won't get the humor, and I cringed at the attempts. I'm not even sure these stories would hold much attention for young readers. I appreciate the attempt, but I feel like it missed here.
I received this ebook from Quarto Publishing Grou-Frances Lincoln Childrens and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
In the stories I read, Cinderella (Ellia) gets mistreated on the job, so she forms her own company to protect workers and eventually becomes prime minister. Sleeping Beauty starts a sleep clinic and therapy office. The Princess of Pea fame is not frail at all and willing to return the favor of a bad night's sleep. The Little Mermaid becomes an ambassador of peace between people of the land and sea.
Do we need to rewrite fairytales for modern children? I thought it was an interesting idea when I requested the book. Fairytales are not history and they aren't necessarily sacred. What they are is timeless, but the stories in this collection do not seem to be timeless. They may be fine for a generation or two, but they won't endure like other stories have. If that's the case will they actually replace the original narratives?
They also include humor that is just too self-aware. Kids won't get the humor, and I cringed at the attempts. I'm not even sure these stories would hold much attention for young readers. I appreciate the attempt, but I feel like it missed here.
I received this ebook from Quarto Publishing Grou-Frances Lincoln Childrens and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
k1tana's review against another edition
I don’t appreciate when authors take narratives and apply them to our ideals of justice and law. I hate that Belle, the first story, joins the equivalent of the police force in her world.
veecaswell's review against another edition
4.0
A collection of fairytales retold in a feminist way, Vita Weinstein Murrow brings something new to these classic stories and they make for some inspired and captivating reading.
The representation Vita brings to these stories is fantastic and diverse. ‘The Little Mermaid’ is a story about Hans Cristian Andersen dealing with his own love for a man so the fact the writer takes this story and allows for two princesses to fall in love is just something I love in this book and for me one of the many highlights. The representation covers disability, people of colour and LGBT people and it’s just so impressive to me as the reader.
I also enjoy how empowered these characters become or are built to be. In stories such as ‘Zade and the 1001 Ideas’ or ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ we see the women become a business partner and inventor and a Forest Ranger which sees Little Red become a forest conservationist and protecting wolves from humans. I love the idea of little girls hearing these stories and becoming their own kind of princess.
To paraphrase Frances Hodgson Burnett, all girls are princesses and it’s books like this that enable all girls to see that. Some beautiful retellings of stories of my childhood combined with great illustrations that brings these stories to life, I really enjoyed this book.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).
alongreader's review against another edition
4.0
Much shorter than I expected, but that's my fault for not reading the descriptions. I love that this looks like a regular kid's book; most of the feminist books out there at the moment are much more grown up. This is more like something you'd actually buy for a child. And that child would enjoy this, because it's a really well written, cute series of stories. Very clever.
I received a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
readsewknit's review against another edition
3.0
I was the sort of child that devoured princess stories and movies growing up. What's not to love about fancy clothes, castles, and living happily ever after? However, as I've grown and have begun introducing my two girls to favorites books and movies from my childhood, I see them through a new lens and find myself cringing more often than not.
For instance, we recently read Rumpelstiltskin. And I couldn't help but think the king was decidedly cruel to threaten her life if she didn't spin straw into gold (and why would her father put her in such a position?!). Then, once his greed is satiated, he deigns to marry her -- and she wants such a man for a husband?! Then there was the recent reading of The Princess and the Pea. What a trivial test to determine a spouse.
I know I'm not alone in such feelings, and this is the environment that led to the book Power to the Princess. Vita Weinstein Murrow has taken traditional fairy tales and updated them. We get a more rounded background to the characters and their motivations; characters are recognizing internal traits instead of falling in love at first sight.
For instance, Sleeping Beauty, cursed with narcolepsy, researches her symptoms. When she falls into a deep sleep from the prick of a splinter, the sleep experts publish her research and ask for help: "The sharing of Aurora's struggle, in her own words, had a magical effect. For it inspired people and magical creatures all around the kingdom to begin to share their stories of what made them different, and how they had struggled too. They drew courage from Aurora's example, and began to speak up for what they needed and teach one another about their differences."
I appreciate the premise of the book, even if it is hard to compete with how internalized the original stories are in our culture and some of the adaptations fall flat. The stories tend to be relatively brief, around four pages of dense text, with illustrations in the margins. It would be a good way to balance out what can be pretty trivial princess tales.
For instance, we recently read Rumpelstiltskin. And I couldn't help but think the king was decidedly cruel to threaten her life if she didn't spin straw into gold (and why would her father put her in such a position?!). Then, once his greed is satiated, he deigns to marry her -- and she wants such a man for a husband?! Then there was the recent reading of The Princess and the Pea. What a trivial test to determine a spouse.
I know I'm not alone in such feelings, and this is the environment that led to the book Power to the Princess. Vita Weinstein Murrow has taken traditional fairy tales and updated them. We get a more rounded background to the characters and their motivations; characters are recognizing internal traits instead of falling in love at first sight.
For instance, Sleeping Beauty, cursed with narcolepsy, researches her symptoms. When she falls into a deep sleep from the prick of a splinter, the sleep experts publish her research and ask for help: "The sharing of Aurora's struggle, in her own words, had a magical effect. For it inspired people and magical creatures all around the kingdom to begin to share their stories of what made them different, and how they had struggled too. They drew courage from Aurora's example, and began to speak up for what they needed and teach one another about their differences."
I appreciate the premise of the book, even if it is hard to compete with how internalized the original stories are in our culture and some of the adaptations fall flat. The stories tend to be relatively brief, around four pages of dense text, with illustrations in the margins. It would be a good way to balance out what can be pretty trivial princess tales.
magratajostiernos's review against another edition
3.0
¡Perfecto para los pequeños de la casa! Revisita los cuentos clásicos pero en su versión Disney, cambiando el contexto, actualizándolos, siendo más inclusivos... Quizás no aprovecha todo el potencial de la idea, pero creo que consigue ser una combinación perfecta con la lectura de los cuentos clásicos (o el visionado de películas).
La edición es una pasada y las ilustraciones de Julia Bereciartu geniales :)
La edición es una pasada y las ilustraciones de Julia Bereciartu geniales :)
miss_cat's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book! Very inclusive, great choice for open minded parents and kids. :)
messyreading's review against another edition
4.0
Nicht alle Märchen sind gleich gut gelungen, aber alles in allem ein entzückendes Buch!
brwnhoneybee's review against another edition
5.0
Great book! Enjoyed reading it very much. Nice spin on fairytales while empowering little girls.