Swan Lake by Lisbeth Zwerger

Another Lisbeth Zwerger book for our little library, nestled alongside Hansel and Gretel. This is one of the best-loved ballet of all time and Hans Christian Anderson medal winner Zwerger does a superb picture book adaptation. The haunting story or an enchanted swan princess is brought to life through her gentle water colour illustrations which are reminiscent of English illustrators of the 19th century. Her version is based on Tchaikovsky's original 1877 ballet and has a happy ending rather than the tragic one of the 1893 production. The young prince is out hunting one day and he nearly injures a swan with one of his arrows.  This swan turns out to be an extremely beautiful princess under the spell of an evil sorcerer and the young prince is desperate to win her hand in marriage.

Hansel & Gretel by Brother Grimm & Lisbeth Zwerger

Lisbeth Zwerger, winnmer of the 1990 Hans Christian Anderson Medal,  brings to life this well known story of two children, Hansel and Gretel, who are abandoned in a forest on the order of their stepmother. Unable to find their way home, they come across the gingerbread house of a wicked witch who plans to fatten them up and eat them.  Their faith and cunning help them prevail. The illustrations are striking images and reinforce the contrast between two innocent young children and the sinister witch.