RAPUNZEL

Having found an audience—an adult one, at least—for Cinderella: An Art Deco Love Story (2001), the Roberts sibs put a differently styled, but equally stylish twist on another folktale romance. Every day while her evil Aunt Esme is off being the Lunch Lady from hell, young Rapunzel stays locked in a top-floor apartment, listening to Bowie and Blondie LPs by a lava lamp’s light. Until, that is, Roger, lead guitarist in a high-school band, spots Aunt Esme leaving for work down Rapunzel’s long red braid. The illustrator outfits the young folk in bell bottoms and platform shoes, filling out the backdrops with period posters and other details. The author follows the original plotline, at least in general, but eases up on the end, so that Roger just suffers temporary amnesia rather than being blinded by his long fall, and after the lovers are reunited at a rock concert, Rapunzel becomes an accomplished designer of (red) wigs. Those under 30 may miss many of the cultural references, but even in this fractured form it’s good to see the classic tale stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive. (illustrator’s note) (Picture book/folktale. 8-10, adult)