I recently made the goal of reading all of the Caldecott books to my girls. My goal is to check out one or two Caldecott winners each time we go to the library.
Our first book was Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky. Zelinsky is an incredible artist, and his renaissance-style illustrations are incredible and detailed. I gloried in the illustrations as we began the tale of Rapunzel. And then I was a bit shocked. This is not the tame Rapunzel I was expecting.
Apparently this Rapunzel is true to its origins, being traced through various countries until it reached the Brothers Grimm. I shouldn't be surprised that the Grimm version is a bit shocking. In this tale, Rapunzel meets a male (the prince) for the very first time when he climbs her hair to her tower prison. The prince convinces her to marry him then and there in a ceremony concocted by the two of them. The prince returns each night, and suddenly Rapunzel is confused by her swelling belly.
Oh my! Fortunately, my six-year-old did not ask for any detailed explanation. However, this isn't a fairy tale I want sitting on the bookshelf of my small children.
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7 comments:
Who would have known? I guess the award goes for the drawing/art and not the value of the story. Not my idea of a children's book either.
I thought this website might interest you. It includes a place to order seeds to grow your own rapunzel and a lesson plan for your elementary school students:
http://www.paulozelinsky.com/rapunzel.html
I am shocked and embarrassed just hearing the story. I'm not sure its a good idea to teach it to your elementary school kids.
You two should check out the book and read it for yourselves. It is beautiful.
I actually checked out the book from the library today. I prefer your telling of the story. The book itself seemed tame in comparison.
It sounds like the book should of been called "Rapunzel Needed a Chastity Belt"
That may be the finest comment we've received on this site thus far.
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