ISBN 0785300252 (3 stars) - Since this is the second version of Sleeping Beauty that I've read recently, I thought I'd merge the reviews for comparison. The one thing that makes Jane Jerrard's adaptation for the Fairy Tale Treasury series is the almost pocket-size, perfect for taking along when you're out of the house. The illustrations by Burgandy Nilles are nice and, considering how small they are, surprisingly detailed. They are generally much less vibrantly colored than the Disney illustrations. This version is all right, but just doesn't compare to the Disney edition.

ISBN 0394927982 (5 stars) - Keep in mind that Disney's Wonderful World of Reading books are intended to help youngsters start reading on their own, because this book isn't meant for the advanced reader. The story is shortened and altered somewhat and the text is simplified using easy vocabulary words. The graphics are part of the story in these books, as well, making it easy for young readers to see what's happening as they learn to read.

The entire set is standard Disney - bright, beautiful graphics to catch kids' eyes and pull them into the wonderful world of reading!

The story is the same, essentially, in both books. After years of wishing for a child, the King and Queen finally have a girl who, other than Princess and later Sleeping Beauty, has no name. Fairies (the number varies) come to the celebration of her birth and bestow good things upon her, except for one fairy who wasn't invited (details vary). Her gift to the child is a promise that she will die when she is sixteen years old, after pricking her finger on a spindle. This terrible curse cannot be removed but one last fairy has a gift left to give and softens the curse so that the Princess will sleep until kissed by a Prince, rather than die. Her father's efforts to thwart the curse do no good and the curse comes true years later. The fairy who'd lightened the curse puts the rest of the castle's residents to sleep and grows a magical forest around it to protect them until the right Prince comes along. When he does, happiness and life are restored to the castle and the Prince and Princess marry.

- AnnaLovesBooks ( )