Jim Henson's "The Storyteller"

The television series was one of the best things ever to be shown on TV, but it's more than worthwhile to pick up this book just to be able to focus on Anthony Minghella's (yep, he of "The English Patient") way with words. Minghella doesn't just write good narration, he writes good, old-fashioned *story-telling* Like, say, Kipling's "Just-So Stories," Minghella's "The Storyteller" captures the language of the very best tale tellers.

Many years ago my family sat around the television, wide eyed and filled with magic; we were watching the Jim Henson Storyteller series. We waited and waited for it to reappear one day- to no avail. But FINALLY, a book! To be able to relive the "hugs and snoodles" of Hans My Hedghog, the stone soup tale of a "Story Short"- all of it beautifully, and creatively written, with illustrations to match- will take you back to your childhood. I find it hard to believe this has yet to be discovered. Don't miss the videos that are now out, at long last!

Perfection is the TV series that preceded this book. Of course, I must gloat and say that I knew all those many years ago that Anthony Minghella was the most exquisite writer I had ever heard/read. His words coupled with the genius of Jim Henson and company made for the best (no exaggeration) thing ever to be broadcast on television. To be able to read the words from these shows and have them readily available on your bookshelf is heaven. I've been recommending the TV series and this book for years. I still recommend it today.

This book is an enchanting, beautifully-illustrated collection of fairy tales by the same author who wrote the screenplay to "The English Patient." The stories are all based on ancient European folklore, but Minghelli's lush and vivid language ('...while his mother felt a crack faulting her heart, like a tiny pencil line. And with each hour the pencil line grew thicker and thicker until one day, not long after, her heart split in half and she died.') makes each story new and unique, and definitely full of surprises. Nearly every page is enhanced with gorgeous full-color illustrations by Darcy May. Definitely not just for kids, and, no, there's not a single Muppet in it!

This is one of those books which I hope to hand down to my children, and my children's children. It will stay on the shelf, tattered, and well-loved.Each story is based on an old fairy tale, beautifully and magically written. For adults and children, to be read aloud or alone.