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Parents' Guide to

Rapunzel

By Esther Ehrlich, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Retelling of classic brims with passion and grace.

Book Paul O. Zelinsky Fairy Tale 1997
Rapunzel Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

Will K.
Will K. Parent
June 24, 2018
age 4+

Deep Archetypal Meanings

A prophetic parable. Teaches the difference in archetypes of the great mother, contracting the thieving, hoarding witch with the giving, nurturing mother. Teaches the power of love to restore vision to life.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

A pregnant woman craves the leafy rapunzel growing in a sorceress's garden. When her husband sneaks into the garden to steal some, the sorceress catches him, and she makes him promise to give his first-born child to her.

The sorceress raises infant Rapunzel, and, when the girl turns twelve, imprisons her in a tower. The only way to enter or exit the tower is to climb Rapunzel's long hair, and one day a prince discovers the secret. He climbs, they meet, they marry.

When the sorceress learns that Rapunzel is pregnant, she chops off Rapunzel's hair in a rage and banishes her to the wilderness. The next time the prince climbs the tower to his bride, he finds only the sorceress, who tells him he'll never see his wife again.

Grief-stricken, he crashes to the ground and is blinded by thorns. A year later, chance reunites him with Rapunzel. Her tears of joy restore his vision. At last they can live happily ever after.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

This classic tale retold brims with passion and grace, and the emotional intensity of Paul O. Zelinsky's work is bewitching. Spectacular oil paintings, rich with color and light, dive below surface appearances to convey deep feelings and relationships. The vividness of the illustrations is matched by a text that is simple yet elegant, dotted with words such as wretched and luxuriant.

Some children will find the language and the formal, Renaissance-style paintings a challenge, but for those who are able to take in this story, there's a lot (in addition to history and language skills) to be gained. Through all of the drama, children are offered an important lesson about love. Rage, grief, and jealousy flash through the story, but in the end, it is love that prevails. Zelinsky extensively researched the origin of this story and provides notes on the sources.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the relationships in this story. Does the sorceress love Rapunzel? Why does she want to keep the girl locked away?

Book Details

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