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One-Eye! Two-Eyes! Three-Eyes!: A Very Grimm Fairy Tale    by Aaron Shepard Amazon.com order for
One-Eye! Two-Eyes! Three-Eyes!
by Aaron Shepard
Order:  USA  Can
Atheneum, 2007 (2007)
Hardcover
* *   Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch

In this retelling of a Grimm fairy tale, Two-Eyes is mistreated by her sisters, One-Eye and Three-Eyes, simply because she is different: she has two eyes. (We know from family portraits on the wall that having one or three eyes is the norm.) Two-Eyes never gets enough food to eat, and the mean sisters keep her close to home, dressing her in rags.

While Two-Eyes is outside crying her eyes out, a fairy appears to her, and lets her in on a secret magic spell that will give her as much food as she would like to eat. Of course, her sisters find out about this and sabotage her plans. Ultimately, Two-Eyes is rescued from her despair by a prince who - lo and behold - has two eyes himself and in fact, is surrounded in his kingdom by many other two-eyed folks. The happily-ever-after belongs to Two-Eyes alone, while her sisters get their just desserts.

Aaron Shepard is known for his retelling of fairytales and folktales. The drawings are comical and exaggerated; the illustrator succeeds in portraying Two-Eyes as the picture of innocence, and he captures the wickedness of the two other sisters. This picture book celebrates differences, rewards the underdog and shows that good conquers evil.

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