Dornröschen / Die Bienenkönigin

Released in 1977 under the Zebra label, this record features audio dramatizations of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales 'Dornröschen' (Sleeping Beauty) and 'Die Bienenkönigin' (The Queen Bee). The Zebra label was a subsidiary of the German record company Miller International, which focused on affordable, accessible audio entertainment for children during the 1970s. This series utilized common production techniques of the era, relying on ensemble voice casts and underscore music to bring traditional European folklore to a younger audience.

The visual design of these records was synonymous with the Zebra aesthetic, characterized by vibrant, whimsical illustrations intended to capture the imagination of children in retail stores. While the specific illustrators were often uncredited house artists working for Miller International, the artwork followed a distinct German fairy tale illustration style prevalent in the late seventies. The release was well-received as part of a larger, culturally significant catalog that provided many German-speaking children with their first exposure to audio storytelling before the widespread dominance of home video.