I read Hansel and Gretel by James Marshall! What first attracted me to this book was the illustrations, which I recognized from Miss Nelson is Missing!, one of my favorite books from my childhood. This was a classic re-telling of the story of the same name.
When a famine strikes and the woodcutter and his family's situation is destitute, his wife decides their best bet is to get rid of his two children, Hansel and Gretel. Horrified at the thought of abandoning his precious kids but unable to refuse his wife, the woodcutter goes along with the plan (twice). Hansel and Gretel may have sneakily found a way to get back home the first time, but by the second try, they found themselves without a plan and at the mercy of a witch with a mesmerizing candy cottage. Thanks to the wit and brains of Hansel and Gretel, they are able to get rid of the witch once and for all and are reunited with their father, where they would live happily and comfortably, without their mean stepmother.
I would totally use this book in my classroom! It is a classic and enjoyable story that has a good ending. The best part about this book is seeing the strategic and ingenious ways that Hansel and Gretel dodge trouble and get themselves out of unfavorable situations. It definitely promotes thinking outside the box and being resourceful which I think are two useful lessons for kids to be reminded of (although hopefully the situation never arises that a kid will have to stop a witch from throwing them into an oven 😬)!
I would say that an appropriate grade level for Hansel and Gretel would be anywhere from first through fifth grade. The story itself is fairly simple to understand, and many kids have already heard it, but some of the vocabulary in this particular retelling was tricky, especially for younger students. Also, the plot could potentially be a bit scary for some kids, so that would be something to keep in mind.
Hansel and Gretel would be a great book to use for a sequencing activity! Students could order the events in this story since it is a straightforward plot. Students could also compare and contrast characters in the story, such as Hansel versus Gretel or the stepmother versus the witch, to draw similarities and differences between them. Reading this book would also be a good time for the class to discuss what to do if you are ever lost, seeing as Hansel and Gretel found themselves in that situation.
Overall, Hansel and Gretel was a fun read and trip down memory lane for sure!
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