Rose Red and the Bear Prince

Rose Red and the Bear Prince

Adapted from The Brothers Grimm by: Dan Andreasen

Illustrated by: Dan Andreasen

Harper Collins, 2000

40 pages

Picture Book – Traditional Literature

I chose this book because I like The Brothers Grimm. I was curious as to how the author adapted this story. Rose Red lived in a cottage with her widowed mother. One day, a bear came to the cottage and asked to warm himself by the fire. The widow and her daughter welcomed the bear. He became a regular visitor. The bear had a dark secret. The bear would only tell the daughter that a wicked dwarf had stolen his three treasures. The girl retrieves these treasures for the bear. The bear reveals himself for who he really is. He had a spell cast upon him, but the girl broke the spell by retrieving the treasure. The bear is really a prince, and they live happily ever after.

Dan Andreasen adapted this story from The Brothers Grimm, and he also illustrated the story. Dan’s medium for his illustrations is oil paint. He uses rich, earth tone colors in his pictures. The illustrations are detailed and beautiful. They give the impression that the texture is smooth.  

This book is appropriate for kindergarten and up. I would read this book aloud to a 1^st grade class, introducing a science lesson on seasons. The bear leaves the girl when it is spring again, and students could discuss with the teacher why animals hibernate in the winter. This book could also be read to a 3^rd grade class. If I were reading this book to a 3^rd grade class, I would give them this writing prompt, “If you were the girl in the story, would you have helped the bear?” Students would be able to discuss why or why they would not have helped the bear. I would read this book to my practicum students in the 1^st grade because they are learning about tame and untamed animals.