Hansel and Gretel

Thoughtfully Adapted, but Still Scary for Younger Kids

We love Moonlite as part of our bedtime routine, and we’ve had many wonderful storytime experiences with it. This version of Hansel and Gretel is clearly intended to be a gentler retelling of the traditional story. The witch is portrayed as friendly, and the parents do not abandon their children in the woods, which helps soften some of the darker elements of the original tale. That said, my children are three, and even with these changes, they still found the story unsettling. Despite being written as a kind character, the witch remains visually and thematically scary for them at this age. For our family, this story feels better suited for slightly older children, and we plan to revisit it when they’re a bit more ready.

Great Classic edited for small children

I really was curious how this story would be handled in this format since the classic ending is anything but appropriate for small children. This version follows the story closely until the last chapter where in stead of the witch meeting her end, she teaches the children a lesson about listening to their parents. The art is nice and the pacing is pretty fast. I’m happy with the addition to our Moonlite library.