There's a great deal more to Mercer Mayer's version of "Sleeping Beauty" than any other retelling I've encountered, but overall, I found the additions engaging and interesting. I also enjoyed the Saxon/Viking feel to the illustrations: the Viking era is one of my favorite time periods, and I loved imagining "Sleeping Beauty" taking place within that time period and culture. ( )

Another beautifully illustrated fairytale from Mercer Mayer. In this version, the artwork takes on Celtic themes, which I found to be an interesting and complementary style to the story. Most versions that I have seen of the Sleeping Beauty legend take place in an English or blandly non-national setting, but the Celtic motifs still work because the story itself doesn't seem to belong to one nationality or another. The characters are often nameless (as they are in this version), and even the supernatural beings are very general. I definitely wouldn't have thought to put this story in a Celtic setting, but Mayer's beautiful illustrations prove this to be a success! ( )

This has to be the most unique, take on sleeping Beauty, while still staying true to the story. And the illustrations are fantastic. Part of it makes me think at Stardust, while the other brings Disney to mind. But this is entirely it’s own lovely and spectacular work. ( )

This is one of my very favorite picture book versions of "Sleeping Beauty." I was captivated by it as a child. I love the added element of the prince being the evil fairy's son, it makes the story so much more cyclical and profound. The image of the evil fairy standing in the doorway before a blood red moon has stayed with me since childhood. ( )

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