Episode 66 - Return to the Fairytale Multiverse (Rumpelstiltskin and Rumaysa Ever After)

It's been a while since we did a fairytale retelling, so this week we have two for you! First up, a sumptuous and modern (if faithful) retelling of Rumpelstiltskin by Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis. We've been fans of Carson Ellis' work for ages, but this book is another level of gorgeous. Mac Barnett's words are colloquial and accessible. This book is a balancing act between the terrifying and the funny, and a collaboration between friends who love Tudor portraiture. When was the last time you read a story named after the villain? And what do you think Rumpelstiltskin wanted with that baby?

Then we're closing up a story we started back in 2022. This is the second and final Rumaysa book by Radiya Hafiza, illustrated once more by Rhaida El Touny. Rumaysa has broken out of the tower and taken her power back. She's on her way to find her long lost parents!... Well, she will be when she gets done with solving other people's problems. It's a story about a legendary girl choosing (sometimes wisely, sometimes not) who to share her gifts with, and finding her way home. Set in a pseudo-medieval fairytale time, it also manages to feel thoroughly modern. Get it for your Shrek fans and your lovers of Disney princesses.

You can catch up with the first part of Rumaysa's story here: episode 30.

Our other episodes about Carson Ellis' books: episode 64 and episode 3 (please forgive how messy this first season was - we got better!).

And our episode about Pattan's Pumpkin is here: episode 14

SHELF, the picture book magazine Nina mentioned, can be ordered here

If you'd like to support us and get access to bonus content, you can join our patreon here.

Another way to support us is to shop our picks on our bookshop here

What A Wonderful Day is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Shane Ivers of silvermansound.com