The Fairy Tale of the Rich Prince and the Diligent Maiden - Illustrated by Vojtěch Kubašta

Not all fairy tale princesses need to call upon a fairy godmother for help. With elements from Rumpelstiltskin, this whimsical advertisement for Lada brand sewing machines demonstrates that engineering could be modern magic. This vintage ad is undated with illustrations by Vojtěch Kubašta (1914-1992).

 

Once upon a time there lived a prince. He did nothing all day but go hunting. One day, however, he and his companions lost their way in the deep forest.

After wandering about completely lost for a long time they at last came out into a clearing. There they found a tumble-down cottage and in it a diligent maiden named Lada. The young girl showed them the way out of the forest. Many days had passed but the prince could not forget the maiden.

He confided in his father the king and told him that he had fallen in love with a poor maiden and wished to make her his wife. The king, however, did not dare to decide and sent his son to ask the advice of the queen.

The queen had Lada brought before her and said to her: "You must deserve your good fortune. You can become the wife of the prince but only on condition that you do as I command."

The queen took Lada and her luggage into a hall which was filled from the floor to the ceiling with the most expensive fabrics. "You must use all of these for your trousseau and have it finished in three days."

Then the queen locked the door with seven locks and in addition placed guards outside. For three days and three nights all that was to be heard from the hall was the singing of diligent Lada and a gentle, mysterious humming sound...

To the surprise of the queen however, when on the third day she entered the hall, it was empty! Lada modestly pulled aside the curtains

and then all present saw many finished dresses, beautifully sewn and magnificently embroidered. Lada had fulfilled her task and the wedding festivities commenced.

For three days and three nights there was eating, drinking and merry-making. Only the queen was all out of humour until finally she asked Lada to tell her the secret of the magic which had enabled her to fulfill the task which had been given her.

"It's no magic--it's only my faithful companion, a perfect sewing machine," replied Lada. "It will serve anybody just as well as it serves me." How happy this made everyone! In honour of diligent Lada, they named the sewing machine after her--LADA!

Yes, the perfect LADA sewing machine can become your helper too for sewing, mending or embroidering and many other jobs.

Related post: When Cinderella Dined with the Prince

The Poisoned Apple: A Fractured Fairy Tale Written and Illustrated by Anne Lambelet

A sweet princess, an evil witch, a poisoned apple and a dastardly plan. Familiar fairy tale ingredients mixed in with a new sauce. Anne Lambelet's brew of suspense, humour, and stylized art bring this classic to modern times. Quick paced and straight to the action, readers will anticipate the witches moves as the story develops. The princess is given the poisoned apple and the witch watches from afar as her scheme spirals out of control and she gets a taste of her own medicine.

Short descriptions are provided for the nameless characters to draw more attention to their actions and the consequences thereof. This story assumes that readers already know the classic tale of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' by the brothers Grimm but it's not a prerequisite. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed and playful especially when showing the witch collecting her rare ingredients. This new fairy tale ends with an old-fashioned moral. Recommended for ages 3+. 

Amazon

Page Street Kids 2020
Hardcover 32p

10.11" x 9.49"

Robin Hood by Nicky Raven - Illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert

The legend of Robin Hood gets a fresh retelling in this action packed adventure. Having missed the first printing of this book, I was so pleased to find out it is available again through Racehorse for Young Readers this year. The foreword is by Otto Bathurst, director of Robin Hood, released late 2018. Timing for this edition is a little off however, it is not a movie tie-in. Fast paced with short background information on the characters and setting, this edition rises into action fairly quickly and does not slow down the momentum until the very end.

Robin of Locksley is a war veteran whose land has been seized, is the leader of a band of outlaws. While Robin is the main character, he does not overshadow the secondary characters like Friar Tuck, Little John and Will Scarlet; they also get good character development. There are only two strong female characters: Maid Marian, smart and very lady-like and Alyn, a member of the outlaws who is a good fighter and ace archer. The Sheriff of Nottingham performs his duties justly while the new villain here is his lackey, Guy of Gisburn.

The cover illustration has a Kevin Costner look-alike from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 1991. Nicky Raven's story will have a more lasting impression than that movie. Anne Yvonne Gilbert uses coloured pencil and ink for her illustrations and an earthy colour scheme to match the settings of Sherwood forest and the medieval ruggedness of the era. Her characters look real and less "Hollywood". This is a small book with many beautiful illustrations. Recommended for readers looking for a new interpretation of this legendary hero, ages 12+.

Amazon
Racehorse for Young Readers 2019
Hardcover 104p
6" x 9"

Hansel & Gretel by Holly Hobbie

Hansel and Gretel is a German tale first published in 1812 by the Brothers Grimm and remains very popular to this day. The story involves two young children who are deserted by their father and stepmother deep in the woods. Lost and hungry, they are lured into a house made of cake and candy. The homeowner is an old, evil witch who poses as a kind and gracious host but by next morning she reveals her true self and captures the siblings with the intent of eating them. In the beginning of the story, Hansel appears to be more of the thinker and active in the siblings escape from peril but it is Gretel who outwits the witch in the end.

This version of Hansel and Gretel by Holly Hobbie is adapted from Grimms' Tales for Young and Old translated by Ralph Manheim (1977). The text has been shortened with the focus being the wonderful illustrations. Ms. Hobbie uses watercolours, pen and ink and gouache for her twenty-two paintings in this book. The mood is subdued with effective use of shadow and light. The darker aspect of this story may have been written to warn children about trusting strangers. Recommended for ages 5+.

Amazon
Little, Brown and Company 2015
Hardcover 32p
10.4" x 10.2"