RUMPELSTILTSKIN, by Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis, Orchard Books, Feb. 3, 2026, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)
Caldecott Award-winning creators Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis introduce readers to a book about making deals and being clever with Rumpelstiltskin.
Once upon a time there was a clever girl with a not-so-clever father. When her father claims she can spin straw into gold, the king forces the girl to perform this impossible task. She has no other choice than to accept a strange deal from a mysterious little man. But when he arrives and attempts to collect the debt, the fiendish trickster Rumpelstiltskin discovers that he is the one who has been tricked!
This is the second in a new collection of retold fairy tales crafted by one of today’s most celebrated and esteemed authors, Mac Barnett, paired with the illustrations of the acclaimed and award-winning creator, Carson Ellis. The duo published The Three Billy Goats Gruff in 2022. —Synopsis provided by Orchard Books
It’s been 40 years since Paul O. Zelinsky took on the Brothers Grimm story of Rumpelstiltskin. His beautiful illustrations and carefully adapted text earned him a Caldecott Honor. The year before, Paul Galdone took on the tale.
Now, Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis are putting their own twist on the story of a girl who must spin straw into gold.
The story is told through Barnett’s tongue-in-cheek, conversational tone that’s full of wry humor and a wink and a nod to readers. It’s a joy to read aloud, especially when it comes to the three days of names. Ellis is known for her folk-art style, which lends itself incredibly well to this story. Her use of black-and-white, as well as color brings the story to life.
This is a book kids will want to read on repeat.
Copyright © 2026 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
