Rapunzel's Golden Locks retold by Emily Gale

Rapunzel's Golden Locks retold by Emily Gale, illustrations Barbara Vagnozzi

This recent publication of Ladybird Books, is a new take on an old story of Rapunzel. It is aimed at the age group 4 - 7 years old, I suspect, although the language is younger and the way the story ends abruptly, leads me to think that it is for children younger. Gale retells the story with brevity, leaving out characters, such as the mother, who is the one who was craving radishes whilst pregnant with Rapunzel.

Wiki says:

"Rapunzel" is a German fairy tale in the collection assembled by the Brothers Grimm, and first published in 1812 as part of Children's and Household Tales. It is one of the best known fairy tales, and its plot has been used and parodied by many cartoonists and comedians, its best known line ("Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair") having entered popular culture.

Gale leaves in the refrain of 'let down your hair', the witch and the prince, but puts a feminist spin on things as the prince is fooled by the witch, and Rapunzel is able to free herself by finding a secret door, hence not needing a man to rescue her. She does, however, ride off on his motorbike into the sunset as he is commenting on how much he likes her new hair do.

This is a weird take on the fairy tale, Rapunzel, and with so many mixed messages of imposed ideologies, it is nothing short of beguiling when trying to analyze it. However, children do not generally analyze books, especially one as silly as this one, so they may enjoy it. The Ladybird edition comes with a CD reading of the book, which is just as silly with sound effects and such, as the book itself is. Quite hand in glove.