Author: Retold by Renate Raecke from an old legend collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Illustrator: Lisbeth Zwerger
Translated by: Anthea Bell
Genre: Traditional Literature
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Medal, Pied Piper Literary Prize
Grade(s): 1-3
Summary: This legend was originally collected by the Grimm brothers and it depicts a dark story about a town called Hamelin that is overrun by rats. One day the pied piper comes to Hamelin promising to rid the town of the rats for a large sum of money in return. Reluctantly, the townspeople agreed and allowed the piper to rid the town of the rats. The piper pulled out his pipe and began playing a tune that was never heard before. However, all of the rats were very attracted to this tune and followed the piper out of the town. The pied piper led all of the rats to the river where they all drowned. When the pied piper returned to the town to collect his pay, the townspeople felt they had agreed to pay too much for such a simple deed, so they all came up with excuses not to pay him. The pied piper had left the town, but later returned dressed as a huntsman so he wasn't recognized. He, again, pulled out his pipe and began to play an unfamiliar and unusual tune. This time, all of the children in the town were attracted to this tune and blindly followed the piper without turning back. The piper ended up leading 130 children to a mountain where they were never found again. After this, music was not allowed to be played on that street and it was later named the Drumless Street.
My Thoughts: Although I have heard this story before, I do not believe that I would ever use this book in my classroom. I feel that it is a bit inappropriate for children even though it could be for grades 1-3. However, I wouldn't necessarily discourage children from reading it simply because it teaches them to never follow a stranger. But they would not find this book to read in my classroom.
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