Rapunzel
Children's Literature with Dr. Vardell

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Here is my review of a traditional literature picture book...

Zelinsky, Paul O.1997. RAPUNZEL. Dutton Childrens Books. ISBN: 0-525-45607-4

 

Zelinsky, Paul O. 1998. CALDECOTT MEDAL ACCEPTANCE. Horn Book Magazine 74(4):433. In EBSCOhost (database online). Available from http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2447/delivery.asp?tb=1&_ug=dbs+0+1n+en-us+sid+B931BB8F-D...  Accessed 14 June 03. 

 

Simply put, RAPUNZEL, by Paul Zelinsky is a work of art. Zelinskys skill, giftedness and amazing talent shine through brightly in this book. It earned him the well-deserved Randolph Caldecott Medal in 1988.

 

In his acceptance speech he stated that he studied many different versions of Rapunzel. In his rendition he wanted the story to be strong. It is a story about mothers and children, about coming of age, about home and the world beyond the safe haven of home and parental support (wandering in the wilderness). The witch Zelinsky portrays as a motherly figure that can not bear the thought of losing Rapunzel.

 

Zelinsky sought to recapture the look of fifteenth- or sixteenth-century Italy for the illustrations. He spent hours pouring over Renaissance art books and  in art museums. His goal in this work was to create tankehjarta, a Swedish term. In English it means thought-heart. It is the part of humans that responds to art with the emotion of thought and the logic of feeling.  His devotion to capturing the beauty of the story through art has made the world a brighter place. Thank you Mr. Zelinsky.

 
Here is a link to a great site if you want to read more about Paul Zelinsky.