Retellings and Remixes (Versions and Variants)

Firebird

“In the shadow of King Vaslav’s Palace was a marvelous garden, and in the middle of that garden stood a tree that grew apples of solid gold, each one as dazzling as the sun.”Someone is stealing the king’s famous golden apples, and the culprit must be found. The palace gardener spots the luminous Firebird snatching the apples in the night. The king’s two oldest sons are sent to capture it but fail. So Ivan, the youngest son, must go on the dangerous quest, befriending a gray wolf, winning both the Firebird and the heart of the beautiful Princess Helen. Saviour Pirotta’s powerful retelling of this classic folktale plumbs the heart of human fears, courage, and love.

The People Could Fly

Retold Afro-American folktales of animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and desire for freedom, born of the sorrow of the slaves, but passed on in hope.

The Bourbon Street Musicians

In this rollicking retelling of “The Bremen Town Musicians,” a creaky old jack mule, a droopy hound dog, a ragged rooster, and a bony cat, all unwanted and no longer loved, set out for Bourbon Street in New Orleans to play bebop and make their fortune. Presently they encounter a band of thieves in a shack by a bayou, and though things don’t turn out quite as expected, they end up mighty fine just the same. A bluesy dialect that begs to be read aloud, vivid imagery, and distinctively comic illustrations infuse the adventures of these four determined friends with the flavor of rural Louisiana and the rhythm of New Orleans jazz. Glossary.

Once Upon a Princess and a Pea

Illustrated and told from a fresh point of view, Once Upon a Princess and a Pea opens a door to a 19th century classic with a 20th century kick. The brilliant, flamboyant illustrations set the stage for this humorous retelling in an art-deco-inspired fantasy world. In this version, the princess’s fate hinges on the importance of being true to herself. Full color.

Petrosinella: A Neapolitan Rapunzel

A retelling of a classic Italian tale that predates the Grimms’ Rapunzel by nearly two hundred years features a golden-tressed young woman who uses wit and magic to outsmart the wicked ogress and wed her prince.

Pinocchio

Idiosyncratic collages by the acclaimed Sara Fanelli and a clever, authentic translation make this slipcased PINOCCHIO a must-have for collectors of all ages. Combine Carlo Collodi’s tale of an outrageously naughty wooden boy with the quirky collage work of Sara Fanelli, and you have a striking, beautifully designed edition that captures the ironic and darkly humorous tone of the original text. This authentic unabridged translation by Emma Rose revisits the mischievous Pinocchio, the long-suffering Geppetto, and the ill-fated cricket in a graceful, witty retelling that bears little resemblance to the popularized Disney version. Sara Fanelli’s inventive multimedia illustrations are absolutely arresting, and make a perfect match for Collodi’s classic, picaresque tale.

King Lear

A taut adaptation of Shakespeare’s masterwork by Gareth Hinds — the standard-bearer of graphic-novel retellings of literary classics.In a graceful adaptation, Gareth Hinds transforms Shakespeare’s timeless tale of pride and defiance, loyalty and ambition, betrayal and revenge into graphic-novel format, packing it with visual drama and providing accessible notes. This artful edition — like an extraordinary stage performance — offers a striking new perspective on one of the most powerful and beloved tragedies in the English language. Incorporating excerpts from the bard’s own language, Gareth Hinds’s inventive format opens the experience of KING LEAR to students and fans of graphic literature.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

A retelling of the centuries-old tale follows Sylvia, a spirited girl apprenticed to a sorcerer, as she steals from his castle a powerful potion that she is sure will help her complete a difficult task.