Hansel and Gretal will by published in North America and the United Kingdom in September 2025 by HarperCollins
These two titans bring forward a retelling:
"Hansel and Gretel is a must-have reimagining of the Brothers Grimm fairytale, retold by worldwide bestselling author Stephen King, with artwork by Caldecott Medal–winning creator of Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak.
Sendak’s illustrations were originally created as set and costume designs for the Humperdinck opera of Hansel and Gretel in 1997. This new edition of Hansel and Gretel will be published in the US by HarperCollins Children’s Books and in the United Kingdom by Hodder Children’s Books, part of Hachette Children’s Group, on September 2, 2025. Nancy Inteli and Megan Ilnitzki acquired North American rights from The Maurice Sendak Foundation and Liz Darhansoff at Darhansoff & Verrill on behalf of Stephen King. English-language rights for UK and Commonwealth excluding Canada were acquired by Jo Dickinson at Hodder & Stoughton and Hannah Ray at Hachette Children’s Group in the UK, from Luke Ingram at the Wylie Agency on behalf of The Maurice Sendak Foundation and Liz Darhansoff at Darhansoff & Verrill on behalf of Stephen King."
"Hansel and Gretel brings together two creative legends, each unparalleled in their genius and influence shaping the literary landscape for kids and adults alike for more than sixty years. In this book, Stephen King brings his signature voice to the classic fairytale of two brave children lost in an eerie and dangerous forest. Sendak’s hauntingly beautiful illustrations on every page draw readers into the deliciously daring world of Hansel and Gretel. With a personal introduction from Stephen King, this beautiful book has been created in close collaboration with The Maurice Sendak Foundation. This stunning storybook makes the perfect gift for fans of King, Sendak, and Grimm fairytales.
In a 1997 behind-the-scenes interview with the producer of the Hansel and Gretel opera, Maurice Sendak said, “‘Hansel and Gretel’ is the most profound of all Grimm fairy tales. Generally speaking, most of Grimm is about heroic children. Hansel and Gretel are the most heroic of them all. . . . It’s the toughest story in the world and people are afraid of it, yet it’s famous because it’s so truthful.” (The Art of Maurice Sendak: 1980 to the Present by Tony Kushner)
“When I was asked if I might be interested in writing a new interpretation of “Hansel and Gretel,” bending it to fit (loosely) with set and costume designs Maurice Sendak had created for the Humperdinck opera of the story, I was interested,” said Stephen King. “When I saw the pictures themselves, I resolved to give it a try. Two of his pictures in particular spoke to me: One was of the wicked witch on her broom with a bag of kidnapped children riding behind her; the other was of the infamous candy house becoming a terrible face. I thought, This is what the house really looks like, a devil sick with sin, and it only shows that face when the kids turn their backs. I wanted to write that! To me, it was the essence of this story and, really, all fairy tales: a sunny exterior, a dark and terrible center, brave and resourceful children.
In a way, I have been writing about kids like Hansel and Gretel for much of my life.”
“We can’t think of a more wonderful, appropriate collaboration than King and Sendak,” said Lynn Caponera, executive director of The Maurice Sendak Foundation. “Both are virtuosos of their crafts. Mr. King’s skillful adaptation reads as though he were looking over Maurice’s shoulder.”
“Hansel and Gretel is the literary event of the year, a timely and timeless dialogue between Mr. Sendak, Mr. King, and Brothers Grimm that transcends time, space, and even death,” said Nancy Inteli, vice president and publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
“Much like the oeuvres of Mr. King and Mr. Sendak, Hansel and Gretel champions the undeniable strength, bravery, and resilience of children in the face of the horror and terror of the world,” said Megan Ilnitzki, executive editor, HarperCollins Children’s Books.
ABOUT STEPHEN KING:
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His new novel, Never Flinch, comes out in May 2025. His recent work includes You Like It Darker (a New York Times Book Review top ten horror book of 2024), Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End Of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by the New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014
National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
ABOUT MAURICE SENDAK:
Maurice Sendak’s books have sold over 50 million copies and have been translated into more than 40 languages. He received the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are and is the creator of such classics as In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There, Higglety Pigglety Pop!, and Nutshell Library. In 1970 he received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration, in 1983 he received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award from the American Library Association, and in 1996 he received a National Medal of Arts in recognition of his contribution to the arts in America. In
2003, Sendak received the first Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an annual international prize for children’s literature established by the Swedish government. In 2024, HarperCollins released Maurice Sendak’s Ten Little Rabbits, a hilarious counting picture book starring Mino the Magician, which School Library Journal called in a starred review “a newly discovered treasure from a beloved children’s book magician.”
ABOUT THE MAURICE SENDAK FOUNDATION:
The Maurice Sendak Foundation is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization that promotes the artistic legacy of Maurice Sendak by ensuring his books are widely available in ideal editions, by preserving his home and studio, and by exhibiting his original art. It supports illustrators and writers in children’s literature, especially supporting excellence in the art of the picture book. The Sendak Fellowship, a core program of the foundation, is a residency that encourages, teaches, and supports artists who tell stories with illustration. Past fellows include Harry Bliss, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Terry and Eric Fan, Yuyi Morales, Sergio Ruzzier, Doug Salati, and Sara Varon. Find out more about The Maurice Sendak Foundation at
ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS:
HarperCollins Children’s Books is one of the leading publishers of children’s and teen books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many timeless treasures and bestsellers such as Charlotte’s Web, Goodnight Moon, The Hate U Give, A Long Walk to Water, The One and Only Ivan, The Polar Express, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and Where the Wild Things Are; series including The Chronicles of Narnia, Curious George®, the Giver Quartet, Little Blue Truck, Pete the Cat, Ramona, Red Queen, The School for Good and Evil, and Warriors; and graphic and illustrated novels such as Invisible Emmie, New Kid, and Nimona. Consistently at the forefront of digital innovation, HarperCollins Children’s Books delights readers through engaging storytelling across a variety of formats and platforms, including the largest young adult (YA) book community, Epic Reads, and Shelf Stuff, where kids and parents can discover the best middle grade books. Part of HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperCollins
Productions develops and produces TV, film, and interactive media for HarperCollins’s major franchises, which include Carmen Sandiego, The Oregon Trail, and Pretzel and the Puppies. HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, which is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, has operations in 15 countries, and is a subsidiary of News Corp. You can visit HarperCollins Children’s Books at harpercollinschildrens.com and epicreads.com and HarperCollins Publishers at corporate.HC.com.
HANSEL AND GRETEL
Retold by Stephen King, Pictures by Maurice Sendak
HarperCollins | On Sale September 2, 2025
Ages 6 and up | US $26.99 / CAN $33.50 | ISBN 9780062644695 | 10 x 9 | 48 pages
Media Contacts:
Tracy van Straaten | TvS Media Group | tracy.vanstraaten@tvsmediagroup.com
Jennifer Corcoran | HarperCollins | jennifer.corcoran@harpercollins.com
Comments