Hansel & Gretel

Deliciously dark and wonderfully witty is Bethan Woollvin’s topsy turvy reworking of the much-loved Grimm’s fairy tale told from the witch’s viewpoint. Said witch, Willow by name, is a good witch who lives in a self-built gingerbread home. It’s little surprise then that when she comes upon two children scattering breadcrumbs behind them she has concerns about small creatures being led to her tasty residence, and asks them to assist her in cleaning them up.

Instead Hansel and Gretel ignore her request and continue on their way. When they reach Willow’s home they start devouring the gingerbread. Willow however, being the good witch that she is, thinks they must be starving and invites them in for dinner.

Rather than being grateful for her hospitality, those greedy guests gobble up every single scrap of food. Still, their host manages to keep her temper in check.

From then on things go from bad to worse until Willow finally snaps. It turns out that she’s not ALWAYS a good witch.

The terrific twist Bethan serves up at the end will leave audiences and readers aloud spluttering with surprise and delight. From cover to cover, her signature style graphics for which she uses a limited orange, black and grey palette, are as always superb: powerful imagery bursting with wonderful details and as for that final spread – the eyes have it – well and truly! Share this superbly subversive story and you’ll be asked for immediate second servings for sure.