When browsing the manga and graphic novel section at one of our local bookstores, we were delighted to see the title Grimm Fairy Tales on the spine of one of the graphic novels. Having read the original Grimm’s Fairy Tales when we were younger, we were interested to see what they would look like in graphic novel form.

We were expecting something similar to the Fables graphic novels, but found this, um, surprising cover instead:

Somehow, we never pictured Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Snow White to be so… angry looking.

So, just a word of caution: If you grandmother asks for a copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales for Christmas, she probably doesn’t mean the edition pictured above.

But, if you’re interested in this new take on the classic fairy tales as written by the Brothers Grimm, you can check out what the back cover of this book has to say below.

Fables and fairy tales have been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years and have survived multiple interpretations and retellings, but there has never been an adaptation quite like this!

Xenescope’s ‘Grimm Fairy Tales’ has quickly become one of the most intriguing and best selling comic books in the world. By exploring a much darker side of the infamous fables you heard as a child these classic tales are retold and re-imagined with a terrifying twist you’ll simply love as an adult!

From ‘Red Riding Hood’ to ‘The Pied Piper,’ from ‘Cinderella’ to ‘Snow White,’ it’s time to become reacquainted with the infamous characters from your childhood as they’re seen in an absolutely frightening new light.

Enter a world where morality is constantly tested and the shocking repercussions of one’s choices must always be faced… enter the world of Grimm Fairy Tales.

If nothing else, there is one thing Grimm Fairy Tales and the Fables graphic novels have in common: Neither portray the Disney-friendly fairy tale princesses most of us are used to.

It was bound to happen. In addition to environmentally friendly everything else, kids can now have books that are earth-conscious.

The Green Start series of books boasts that they are “Good For Your Child” and “Good For The World.” Made out of recycled materials, the books focus on being environmentally conscious.

In all actuality, we think these books are great. Books require many trees and other resources to produce, so recycling books or other paper goods to make new books is definitely the way to go.

Our only qualm? We wonder if the motivation behind these books is to help the environment or to make money off of people who want to feel like they’re being ‘green.’ Either way, we hope to see more books like this.

But what do you think? Are ‘green’ books really all they’re cracked up to be?

When we aren’t wandering through bookstores, we’re wandering though the many awesome book blogs out there. One of our favorites happens to be The Olive Reader (run by the good folks at Harper Perennial) not only because we love the stuff they publish, but because they post about their pets, and also post about awesome cat-themed books like this:

Yes—that is a cat in outer space. And yes, the title is a (possibly silly?) pun, but we love it anyways, and can’t wait to see it hit the shelves.

Here’s a short description of what Catalyst is all about: Read the full story

Okay, we’ll admit it: We are a sucker for cats. We try to refrain from posting about too many cat books since we realize we’re slightly biased toward the feline persuasion, but this is one kitty book that we couldn’t pass up.

When standing in a very long pre-holiday line at one of our local bookstores, we found Zen Kitty to be a light in the darkness. (As we said, it was a very long line).

Since we love cats and we love Japanese art, it was win-win situation. Check out some of the art on the inside pages: Read the full story

It seems that zombies aren’t quite done invading classic literature yet. We found this book bearing the image of a zombie-like Shakespeare hanging out on an end-cap at our local bookstore.

But unlike other moster-mash up versions of classic literature, Zombie Notes: A Study Guide to the Best in Undead Literary Classics doesn’t insert monsters or the undead into full-length literary masterpieces, but instead offers, “Zombiefied study notes to all the books you wouldn’t have been caught dead reading in high school” (Borders.com).

You can head over to Amazon to learn more about this book.

In honor of the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz,one of our local bookstores has rolled out with a display of all things Oz.

One of these things just happens to be the Wizard of Oz graphic novel.

We are all for graphic novels, but it seems that publishers have become fond of remaking most classic novels into graphic novels these days.

Personally,we believe that it’s a good thing. While not everyone who reads The Wizard of Oz graphic novel will pick up the original Wizard of Oz novel, they are still being introduced to a book that played an important part in American culture.

But what about you? Do you feel that it was appropriate for Marvel to remake The Wizard of Oz into a graphic novel? Do you think they did it just to be ‘hip,’ or do you believe that they were trying to reach an audience that many not have read The Wizard of Oz otherwise?

For those of you who don’t have an opinion either way, here’s some cute Wizard of Oz plush dolls to look at before you go. Read the full story

I walk into my local bookstore yesterday and lo and behold I find this:

an Elf on a Shelf.

Not that I have anything against elves sitting on shelves, mind you; it was just completely unexpected.

I was walking zombie-like toward the haven of caffeinated beverages (also known as a cafe), and out of nowhere a small — and not completely uncreepy looking — elf is staring right at me.

I’m also not quite sure I buy the tagline of the book: “A Christmas Tradition.” I never had any elves sitting on the shelves at my house growing up. (None that I could see, anyways.)

But I have to ask you honestly: Is this a book that you would buy for your child or a child in your life? I can only speak for myself, but I would have been slightly afraid of a book like this when I was a child.