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    The Children's Book Review

    Reimagining some all-time favorites, Damsels in Distress edition

    Luisa LaFleurBy Luisa LaFleur3 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Bilingual Books Books with Girl Characters
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    By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
    Published: April 7, 2009

    These three classics are told simultaneously in Spanish, giving the reader a good reason to revisit these lovely fairy tales.

    Beauty and the Beast: La Bella y la Bestia (Bilingual Fairy Tales)

    Beauty and the Beast/La Bella y La Bestia

    Reading level: Ages 4-8

    Paperback: 32 pages

    Publisher: Chronicle Books; Bilingual edition (July 5, 2007)

    Publisher’s synopsis: “Through her capacity to love, a kind and beautiful maid releases a handsome prince from the spell which has made him an ugly beast.”

    Review: In this version of the classic damsel in distress story, Beauty must make up for her father’s transgression and is held captive by the Beast. Despite first impressions, he treats Beauty kindly and eventually she falls in love with him. You can expect a simple story with an ends-justify-the-means ending. The story traces back to France in the 1700s. It has been interpreted on stage and on screen many times–we’ve all seen the Disney version but there have been film versions since the 1940s. This fairy tale’s long history is a testament to the effect it has had on children–and grownups–for ages.

    Snow White/Blancanieves: A Bilingual Book (Bilingual Fairy Tales)

    Snow White/Blancanieves

    Reading level: Ages 4-8

    Paperback: 32 pages

    Publisher: Chronicle Books; Bilingual edition (January 30, 2008)

    Publisher’s synopsis: “A princess takes refuge from her wicked stepmother in the forest cottage of seven dwarfs.”

    Review: In this version of the classic fairy tale, Snow White flees her father’s palace after she hears that her evil stepmother is plotting to put an end to her. She takes refuge with the seven dwarfs but is quickly found by her stepmother. This version of Snow White has a particularly mean stepmother and a completely absent father. You can expect a simple tale with a happy ending but there are some scenes that may be a little hard to explain to younger readers–like why the stepmother wants to poison Snow White or why Snow White lays comatose in a glass casket. The story dates back to the 1800s but there have been parallels to historical figures reaching back to the 1500s.

    https://www.chroniclebooks.com/images/items/0811850/0811850609/0811850609_large.jpg

    Rapunzel/Rapunzel

    Reading level:
    Ages 4-8

    Paperback: 32 pages

    Publisher: Chronicle Books; Bilingual edition (February 16, 2006)

    Publisher’s synopsis: “A beautiful girl with extraordinarily long golden hair is imprisoned in a lonely tower by a witch.”

    Review: This version tells the classic tale of a childless couple that desperately longed to have a baby. They lived next door to a garden owned by a witch. When the wife has cravings for some radishes in the witch’s garden, the husband steals them for her. He gets caught by the witch who demands he give up his firstborn on pain of death. Thinking they couldn’t ever have children, the husband agrees. But then, as if by magic, his wife gets pregnant and when the baby is born the witch comes to collect. You can expect a complicated tale of banishment and betrayal and of love lost and then found. This fairy tale is best suited for older children, who will be more able to understand the vagaries of love and the whims of destiny. Rapunzel was first published in 1812 by the Brothers Grimm.

    Link: Reimagining some all-time favorites, first edition.

    What to Read Next:

    1. A Walk With Grandpa
    2. The Children’s Book Review Turns One
    3. Reimagining some all-time favorites
    4. The Best Mariachi in the World / El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Luisa LaFleur
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    Luisa LaFleur
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    Luisa LaFleur reviews bilingual books for The Children’s Book Review to help parents choose the best books for their budding linguists. She was born in Argentina, attended school in NYC and speaks three foreign languages–Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Formerly an editor in NYC, Luisa is currently a stay-at-home mom to two little ones.

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