Stephen King's Hansel & Gretel

Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

In the fall of last year, a new children's book version of Hansel and Gretel came out. What makes this version extra special is that not only it is beautifully illustrated by the renowned Maurice Sendak but it is retold by the master of horror fiction, Stephen King.

It's no surprise that King would feel called to retell this story. Indeed, this is the story he's been telling his whole career. As King says in his introduction to Hansel and Gretel, this is the "essence of this story and, really, all fairy tales: a sunny exterior, a dark and terrible center, brave and resourceful children. In a way, I have been writing about kids like Hansel and Gretel for much of my life." These elements appear in his most famous works, including The Shining, It, The Talisman, Firestarter and Salem's Lot.