Gretel, Jack, Rapunzel, and Snow White take center stage in the latest additions to the Fairy Tale Journals series. Through a first-person diary format, each character recounts their version of classic fairy tale adventures through short entries accompanied by illustrations and doodles. While the concept is creative, the execution feels uneven. The design lacks cohesion--journal lines are inconsistent, and the doodles don't always reflect the character's voice, which detracts from the immersive feel. The text reads somewhat choppily due to the ­diary structure, and the plots, though loosely based on the original tales, come across as basic and a bit cheesy rather than adding new depth or excitement. These books may appeal to fans of diary-style storytelling, but they don't stand out in a crowded field of fairy tale retellings. VERDICT A secondary purchase for larger collections where ­diary-format books and fairy tale spins are in high demand.-- "School Library Journal"

Publisher: Picture Window Books

Pub date: 2025-08-01

Length: 64 pages