Happy early birthday, Mickey Mouse! Mickey Mouse’s birthday is on the 18th, so this week’s Book Traveling Thursdays asks us to pick our favorite fairy tale retelling. One problem for me is that I do not remember all that I have read that are technically retellings. Another problem is that the one I wanted to pick only has two covers. Instead, I am picking Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.
Until looking for a retelling, I never knew that Book of a Thousand Days was a retelling. It’s apparently based on the Grimm Fairy Tale Maid Maleen. In short, the fairy tale goes that a princess is locked up in a tower for seven years with her servants for wanting to marry the prince she chose. They eventually break out and find a new world order. After hiding and playing a game of switcheroo, the maid and the prince marry.
If you don’t know what Book Traveling Thursdays is, it’s a weekly meme, created by Danielle at Danielle’s Book Blog and Catia at The Girl Who Read Too Much, where compare covers from around the world. It’s now hosted by Lauren at Comma Hangover. Based on the theme of the week, you pick a book and post the original cover, the cover from your country, your favorite cover, and your least favorite cover. If you would like to participate or find out more, check out the Goodreads page!
Original/U.S./Favorite Cover
I remember this cover from when the book first came out. The reason that I prefer this cover over all others is that it maintains the atmosphere of fear that I remember feeling through the middle of the book. There are some frightening moments, and that fear and desperation comes through in at least the color scheme.
Next Runner Up
I loved this cover when I saw it at the bookstore. What holds this cover back for me is that this seems more like a Rapunzel retelling with the damsel in distress than a retelling where the girls to show some agency.
Abstract Covers
From left to right, these are the UK, Brazilian Portuguese, 2009 US, and French covers. My problem with these covers is that they are too sweet for the content that I remember. Yes, they are beautiful and include details from the book, but they don’t fit the tone.
Least Favorite Covers
While I appreciate that the Hebrew cover here includes the leading ladies, the wolves and the turmoil, I think this cover belongs to a different story. It seems like some sort of magical or elemental battle between all three.
I don’t care for the German cover because it strikes me as a light-hearted romance. Not that there isn’t romance, but I never thought it was the dominating feature.
>^..^<
What do you think of these covers? What are your favorite fairy-tale retellings?
Cat on the Bookshelf 
Some of those covers are interesting to say the least! I’m partial to the original U.S. cover myself.
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I didn’t expect to see so many covers in the abstract art style (that’s the best way I can describe it). They are great. I might have too much nostalgia attached to that cover, but I think it represents the book best.
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I must say, I love Shannon Hale’s book cover, it’s so pretty!
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Most of them are beautiful, but I am partial to the original cover.
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Love your kitty and enjoyed this post. I liked the abstract covers
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They definitely fit the current trend of cool, graphic covers on children’s fantasy books.
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I’m sucker for original covers ! Interesting write up 🙂
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I have a tendency to like the U.S. covers best, but that shows how well the cover designers know their audience.
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These covers are gorgeous. The only retelling I like so far is Cinder & Ella.
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This sounds like a great book and I definitely like the first cover best 🙂 Great post!
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I liked it in elementary school, but I haven’t reread it since. The story and emotions were great.
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I always find it interesting that there are so many different covers for the same book.
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