Hansel and Gretel (King and Sendak)

by Stephen King, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Interest age: 5 to 9
Reading age: 7+

Published by Hachette Children's, 2025

  • Fairy tale
  • Picture books

About this book

Nibble, nibble, little mouse. Who is nibbling at my house?

Two masters, of storytelling and of extraordinary artwork, have combined to re-tell Grimm's familiar fairy tale in their own deliciously dark way. 

This is Hansel and Gretel as you know it, but with a house that has a face. And a witch with two faces. And many gingerbread men whose expressions change from page to page...

As Stephen King says in his introduction, the original tale has delighted children with its dark content - but ultimately hopeful ending - for hundreds of years. When he was offered the opportunity to pair his words with the astonishing illustrations that Maurice Sendak created for an opera, he couldn't say no. 

The result is a stunning book for children who are drawn to stories that send a chill down their back.  

About the illustrator

Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began by illustrating other authors' books for children, but the first book that he both wrote and illustrated was Kenny's Window, published in 1956. In his lifetime, he illustrated over 80 books, and received many awards, including the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are. In 1970 he was the first American to win the Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator's Medal. He passed away in May 2012.

More books like this

Share this page Twitter Facebook LinkedIn