On "The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine": A Book Review

Title: The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine
Authors: Mark Twain and Philip C. Stead
Genre: Fairy Tale

About the Book...
In 2011, a researcher came across 16 pages of notes by Mark Twain referring to a bedtime story he had told his daughters in 1879. Drawing attention to this discovery, the notes and story eventually made their way to Random House and the project entered the hands of husband and wife Philip and Erin Stead.   

A boy named Johnny doesn't have much other than a chicken and when his horrible grandfather tells him he has to sell the chicken, his journey to the city presents him with a gift that will lead to an adventure. This is a fairy tale-esque story about a boy, talking animals, and kindness. 

What I Think...
While I typically shy away from books that are based on the notes or unfinished works of literary or classic authors, this one got my attention simply based on the cover illustration and because it was done by children's book author and illustrator team, Philip and Erin Stead.  

Stead handles the story gently, tying in imaginary conversations with Twain and his own thoughts between chapters. There is never the sense that he is trying to be Twain in telling the story, nor does he attempt to take on Twain's writing style, which I found refreshing (he does however have some very Twain-ish dialogue for the character of Twain). Stead acknowledges that he made adjustments to the original notes, adding and changing characters, for example, and as Twain didn't have an end for the the story and Stead does mention his changes or what he would have had happen very much making it his own.

The illustrations in this are gorgeous and really go along well with the gentle and relaxed tone of the story. I love how they consist of woodblock printing, ink, and pencil. 

To Sum It All Up...
A lovely story started by Twain and handled with care by the Steads to create a memorable fairy tale worth reading.♥