Hansel & Gretel (Story Orchestra)

Step into a forest filled with music and magic in this thrilling retelling of Hansel and Gretel, inspired by the enchanting sounds of Humperdinck’s opera. With the push of a button, hear the real orchestra play as the story unfolds across the pages!
On the edge of the woods live little Hansel and Gretel with their parents. One day, they are sent into the woods to pick strawberries, but what they discover is far more exciting than berries. Deep among the trees, they stumble upon a house made entirely of sweets. It looks delicious… but someone is watching from inside! Can the siblings outwit the clever old woman who lives there and find their way home?  Discover what happens next in this magical retelling of the famous Grimms’ fairy tale by Jessica Courtney-Tickle.

As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes of one of the greatest fairy tales, press the buttons on each page to hear 10 excerpts from the incidental music! Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.

At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Engelbert Humperdinck, with details about his composition of Hansel and Gretel. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.