As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
To continue you need an active subscription to hbook.com.
Subscribe now to gain immediate access to everything hbook.com has to offer, as well as our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database, which contains tens of thousands of short, critical reviews of books published in the United States for young people.
Thank you for registering. To have the latest stories delivered to your inbox, select as many free newsletters as you like below.
No thanks. Return to article
32 pp.
| North-South
| October, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7358-4029-4$16.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Pirkko Vainio.
When faced with death, the Chinese emperor finally realizes that the bird from the natural world sings far more beautifully than the artificial, jewel-encrusted music machine he has embraced. Richly detailed watercolors bring the luxurious court to life, including the little kitchen maid who first finds the nightingale. It's an attractive presentation of the well-known tale.
32 pp.
| NBM
| June, 2004
|
TradeISBN 1-56163-391-7$$15.95
(3)
4-6
Adapted by P. Craig Russell.
Illustrated by
P. Craig Russell.
The fourth graphic art adaptation of Oscar Wilde's fairy tales retains its sharp edge and wit while making the two stories especially appealing to those readers who love comic books. Russell uses Wilde's rich language to good effect in his retellings; the clear, expressive drawings capture both the individual characters and the overall spirit of each work.
48 pp.
| Candlewick
| October, 2002
|
TradeISBN 0-7636-1521-8$$17.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
Bagram Ibatoulline.
This exquisitely designed and illustrated retelling is a lush interpretation of Andersen's tale. Every part of the book is thoughtfully designed, from the die-cut jacket to the endpapers to the use of the gutter to accentuate the Chinese-panel-like illustrations. Mitchell's retelling is brisk, which keeps the filigreed presentation from becoming too much.
40 pp.
| Fogelman
| September, 2002
|
TradeISBN 0-8037-2464-0$$16.99
(4)
K-3
Adapted by Jerry Pinkney.
Illustrated by
Jerry Pinkney.
Pinkney observes that the tale of the nightingale whose song enchanted a kingdom has a universal message that can be adapted to many locations. His selection of Morocco showcases the artist's lush style, but reinventing both setting and characters causes much of the original Andersen to be lost. This is an elegant creation, but one hopes that children will also know of the original.
Reviewer: Mary M. Burns
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2002
4 reviews
Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.
This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.
We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.