"This is the book I wanted as a child and didn't have, the book I'd have like both to give to my children and to keep for myself, the book I shall give my grandchildren" - A.S. Byatt, from the introduction to The Annotated Brothers Grimm
My ancestry is part German, and I have always loved the classic fairy tales by the Grimm Brothers. So much so that I have a collection of different editions of their work, and I treasure them! This is one of my favorites - The Bicentennial Edition Annotated Brothers Grimm edited by Maria Tatar. The cover has this beautiful gold leaf work on it, and the inside is filled with over 200 illustrations as well as tons of interesting notes about the history of over 50 stories we all know and love like Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, The Frog Kind, and so many more.
The would be an awesome gift for the fairy tale lover in your life. Something to note: this book is part story book and part text book, and while I think the stories and illustrations could entertain every age, I do think this edition would be more successful with older children and adults who could appreciate the historical notes and original manuscript. Also something to note: these stories were written a long, long time ago. Not everything that was socially acceptable in the 1700s is acceptable today. To be frank, there is a story that we skipped over called Furrypelts where a king doesn't want to find a wife outside of his family and so he marries his own daughter creating a situation that the daughter must try and escape and creating an uncomfortable situation during story time. This is always something to be aware of whenever you find a really cute vintage book in a thrift shop or want to go back and read classic children's lit written during a different era. The views of what is appropriate during that time might clash with what we find appropriate today, so maybe pre-screen if you have any doubts! For younger readers who want some fairy tale fun, I recommend the edition by Usborne that you see below. It's perfect for preschooler and early elementary school kids.
