School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-6-- Fonteyn's affection for Swan Lake is clear, especially in the interesting performance notes at the end of the book which include a sharp reminder to today's performers that Odette is more woman than swan. Although written in narrative form, the story of the doomed lovers and the evil magician is told with an eye on stage. The settings are described, the characters' movements are motivated, and the plot unfolds to its inevitable tragic conclusion. Unfortunately, Fonteyn does not trust the impact of the story and ends it with one of the rescued swan maidens spelling out the moral that ``the power of real love is greater than all the forces of evil added together.'' Hyman's lush illustrations heighten the romance in night scenes awash in soft blues that contrast with the reality of the daytime and indoor scenes which almost glare with shades of yellow with green and red highlights. The idealized characters float through the tale in their good and evil forms. Details such as jewelry worn by the women of the court, wall sconces, and the ominous cloud formations contribute to the fairy tale atmosphere. Still available are Donna Diamond's Swan Lake (Holiday, 1980), a well-written full version with very ethereal gray and white illustrations, and Anthea Bell's more terse Swan Lake (Picture Book Studio, 1986) with watercolor illustrations by Chihiro Iwasaki. Many versions of the ballet plot are available in collections. This new Swan Lake , with its sophisticated color and design, picture book format, and straightforward telling, will appeal to a wide age range. --Amy Kellman, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The legend behind the ballet that has long captivated audiences is presented in storybook form. Siegfried is, of course, the headstrong prince who must choose a bride. Odette is the swan-maiden who appears to him on a moonlit night, captive of a cruel spell. The owl-magician who has her in thrall appears to make a mockery of their love, but the lovers, denied one another in life, plunge to the depths of the lake together--thus breaking the spell forever. In book form, as on the stage, this proves a magnificent story--an enchanted, romantic vision underlaid with powerful themes of good and evil, and of reality and illusion. Fonteyn's competent telling moves the plot along smoothly, but Hyman's illustrations--magical tableaux of mood and mystery, in which each detail and expression seem to have been perfectly attended to--make this extraordinary pas de deux soar. All ages. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
A magnificently illustrated version of the story, with a penetrating final note on its history and character as a ballet. To break an enchantment on Odette, his One True Love, Prince Siegfried must pledge Undying Faith; tricked by an evil magician, he pledges it to Odile, the wrong woman. When he discovers his mistake, he and Odette plunge to their deaths in the cold lake waters, thus destroying the spell and the magician too. Fonteyn's calm, clear retelling retains the ballet's structure but--more than just a long program note--fleshes out both the plot and the feeling behind the story's twists and turns. Hyman gives the characters sumptuous balletic costume in her wonderfully atmospheric paintings, capturing the look and elegance of a staged performance that plays in complex ways against a shadowed, Teutonic background. The magician and Odile are particularly hideous, threatening figures, scary enough to startle the most jaded moviegoer. Donna Diamond's illustrations for a 1980 edition of the story are more mannered and ethereal, but less romantic. A moving, well-told tale--and a splendid introduction to the ballet. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This read-along version of Audrey and Don Wood's King Bidgood's in the Bathtub (HBJ, 1990) offers Carl and Jennifer Shaylen's musical adaptation, which includes six original songs that vary in style from a march to rap. Simple, frequently repeated lyrics from the text and catchy rhythms beg for listeners to join in. With growing animation, Dame Margot Fonteyn retells the Swan Lake legend from her own text (HBJ, 1989), accompanied by selections from Tchaikovsky's ballet (Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra). The balance between the spoken word and the music is well orchestrated. While quite different, both high-quality cassettes and their beautiful books are excellent for use in schools, libraries, and at home. Preschool-2 and Gr. 3-8. ~--Cynthia Alexa
