A First Book of Fairy Tales by Mary Hoffman, Anne Millard, Julie Downing (Illustrator)

Product Details

Synopsis

In this beautifully illustrated book, 14 classic fairy tales are retold for young children. Old favorites, such as "Cinderella" and "Jack and the Beanstalk," are presented alongside some lesser known stories, such as "The Fisherman and his Wife" and "Diamonds and Toads." Mary Hoffman's charming retellings use simple, lyrical language ideal for reading aloud, while Julie Downing's illustrations bring the characters to life. The stories in this collection show the consequences of greed, pride, and vanity, but also tell of the love that grows from a kind heart and a cheerful nature. And along the way, there is a wealth of magic and fun to be enjoyed.

Biography

Mary Hoffman has written more than 70 books for children, and her powers of observation bring vitality and humor to all her stories and retellings. Her previous titles for Dorling Kindersley include Henry's Baby and A First Bible Story Book. Her best-known picture books are Amazing Grace, Three Wise Women, and An Angel Just Like Me. Mary lives in Oxfordshire, England, with her husband, and they have three daughters. The girls were brought up on myths and legends, of which Mary and her husband have an extensive collection. Julie Downing has always had a love of drawing and discovered her desire to illustrate children's books during her arts studies at The Rhode Island School of Design. She has had several books published, including A Ride on the Red Mare's Back, Lullaby and Goodnight, White Snow, and Blue Feather. Julie's books for Dorling Kindersley include A First Bible Story Book, The Christmas Story, and Come Aboard Noah's Ark. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their young son and daughter.