3D Review - Reviews - How the Library (not the prince) Saved Rapunzel – Wendy Meddour & Rebecca Ashdown

February sees both ’National Library Day’ (7th) and ‘National Tell a Fairy Tale Day’ (26th) so we at Space on the Bookshelf thought very hard, and decided to treat you to a 3D review which celebrates both Libraries and Fairytales. So here we start off our second 3D review for 2015, with a fantastic picture book, ‘How the Library (not the prince) Saved Rapunzel’ by Wendy Meddour and Rebecca Ashdown. Today we start with the reviews, and over the next few days, we’ll post the author and illustrator interviews.

Adult Review

To confess the title alone had me hooked; ‘How the Library (not the prince) Saved Rapunzel’, as I love both books and fairy tales, and it didn't disappoint. The cover is vibrant and fun, and it is refreshing to see Rapunzel depicted as being a red-head rather than the usual Disney-esk blonde. Instantly the cover draws you in to a fabulous fun tale that has subtle yet positive mortal messages, and like all good fairy tales warnings.

The books waves the tale of Rapunzel isolated on the sixteenth floor of a tower box who is lonely and unmotivated as

‘She had nowhere to go. She had nothing to prove.’ 

All her friends and family, are too busy to climb the stairs to the sixteenth floor to see her, and instead just call up to see if she is ok, but when she doesn’t respond go about their business. Even the appearance of a suitor bringing roses and chocolates can coax Rapunzel down,

‘With the wind in his hair and blowing his hooter, along came the prince on the back of his scooter’.

When Rapunzel’s friends and family come together concerned that;

‘without lunch or dinner, Rapunzel was starting to get a bit thinner.’

So they make the journey up the stair to visit her and deliver a letter that Rapunzel shakes of her gloomy disposition. With her new job and purpose,

 “She had somewhere to go. She had something to prove.” 

Rapunzel quickly becomes a beloved librarian, and becomes motivated taking inspiration from the many books she reads from the library.

‘How the Library (not the prince) Saved Rapunzel’, is a beautiful book with exquisite illustrations by Rebecca Ashdown, that are full of energy and work perfectly with Wendy Meddour’s story. I believe this book is a great teaching tool for children, showing them the virtue of libraries, plus giving the subtle ‘fairy-tale warning’ about the dangers of sitting around and losing your self-esteem.

However, I think the real strength and beauty of this book is the dealing with isolation and depression. Showing that sometimes when someone is isolated and down, that taking time out of a busy schedule to an extra step (or flight of steps) to visit them, and show your friendship can be very valuable.

Review by Hannah aged 6

Rapunzel lives on the sixteenth floor of a high rise block and when people come to visit her just sits there and does nothing. Even the prince doesn’t make any difference. However when some visitors come up the stairs to see her she found out that she has a new job at the library and EVERYTHING changes…

My favourite bit was when Rapunzel found out she had a job. I think you’d like this is you like the books ‘The Mummy Shop’ (by Abbie Longstaff and Lauren Beard) and ‘Mr Wolf and the Enormous Turnip’ (by Jan Fearnley). I also think people should read this book because it has an unexpected ending!