There are seemingly infinite numbers of fairy and folk tales retold in picture book form. Rather than list all of the great ones, we'd like to highlight a few authors/illustrators that stand out to us as well as tell you how to find these gems in your local library.
If you have preschoolers at home, no doubt you are well acquainted with the picture book section of your local library (if not, you should be!). But there is another treasure trove of picture books lurking in the 398.2 section of the juvenile nonfiction/Dewey section: the "traditional literature" we usually call "fairy tales." Yes! And, it's filled with picture books that are often geared to school age children. Take some time on your next library visit to check out this section of books. You might look for something done by one of the following author/illustrators (many of these appear on our book lists!). (And, please read different versions to your children! It's a great way to showcase different illustrative styles and to demonstrate how different people tell the same story in different ways.)
Trina Schart Hyman (illustrator): books such as Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Saint George and the Dragon, and others. Hyman's style is distinctive, complex, and heavy (not quite the right word, but I can't think of another right now!). Her books will no doubt appeal to school age children--perhaps even more than preschoolers.
Paul O. Zelinsky (illustrator/sometimes author): many books such as Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel. Zelinsky paints lavish illustrations in many of his books, although he also does line drawings and other styles (particularly for early chapter books).
Paul Galdone (illustrator/reteller): many folk and fairy tales in this genius' arsenal, running the gamut from The Little Gingerbread Boy and The Three Billy Goats Gruff to The Monkey and the Crocodile. Thankfully, several of his books have been reprinted in recent years. Illustrations may seem a touch dated to your eyes, but they will delight your children! His retellings are wonderfully "traditional," too--no softening up.
Jerry Pinkney (illustrator/author): many, including his recent Caldecott The Lion and the Mouse and one of my favorite Little Red Riding Hood versions. I particularly like his use of color. Pinkney has also collaborated with Julius Lester on a couple of anthologies of Uncle Remus tales--they are very well done.
James Marshall (illustrator/author): several, including Hansel and Gretel, The Three Little Pigs, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Marshall (of George and Martha fame) offers us traditional retellings of these tales with hilarious, comic illustrations to accompany them. Very fun for school age children.
Cover images from goodreads
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