The Dinosaur's New Clothes [Hardcover]

Diane Goode (Author), Hans Christian Andersen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

In this retelling of the familiar story about two rascals who sell a vain emperor an invisible suit of clothes, the characters are presented as dinosaurs.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A traditional tale with a twist--and, thanks to Caldecott Honor artist Diane Goode's lavish illustrations, a wonderful new book. In this umpteenth retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story about an emperor with a fashion passion and the weavers who dupe him, the costumes (except, of course, the invisible "new" clothes) are spectacularly Louis XIV. And, all the characters wearing this ornate plumage are dinosaurs. Gloriously complicated outfits include fish-ridden trousers, brocade jackets splashed with mermaids, pink lace cravats, and powdered wigs. Think Marie Antoinette. Think stegosaurus. It's a great combination. Predictably, the emperor (a Tyrannosaurus rex) winds up leading the procession, naked but for a hat and a blush. As traditional fairy tales go, this is one of the least gruesome, and, especially in this fanciful setting, a good one for introducing children to the moral language of Hans Christian Andersen. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by Diane Goode. Used by permission of Scholastic Inc.) (Ages 2 to 8) --Richard Farr

From Publishers Weekly

What is perhaps the most famous swindle in children's books receives a prehistoric makeover in this visually wry retelling. Using the palace of Versailles as a backdrop, Goode (Mama's Perfect Present) whips up an ensemble of pompadoured and powdered dinosaurs to portray the characters in the Hans Christian Andersen classic, with a Tyrannosaurus rex cast as the clothes-crazy emperor. The artist has a field day with the setting. Pilasters and ceilings in the Hall of Mirrors sport dino motifs and carvings; dino cherubs wing their way across elegant paintings; and the royal "Rex" insignia takes on a whole new meaning when intersected with a giant "T." Best of all are the emperor's many outfits, which have images from well-known children's stories woven into their designs. It's all good silly fun, a light parody of Andersen's send-up of gullibility and greed. Ages 3-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; 1ST edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590383604
• ISBN-13: 978-0590383608
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,655,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diane Goode was born in Brooklyn, New York into a French and Italian family. She has a BA in Fine Arts from Queens College. She studied at Les Beaux Arts in Aix-en-Provence, has a High School teaching degree from NYC and taught book illustration at UCLA.

Diane Goode's list of picture 50 picture books include, 'When I Was Young In The Mountains', for which she won the Caldecott Honor. She is also the recipient of numerous awards including two Platinum Oppenheim Toy Awards, and Parents' Choice Awards.

Her most recent publications are: CINDERELLA SMITH, by Stephanie Barden, LOUISE THE BIG CHEESE series, by Elise Primavera and MY MOM IS TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE and BUT I WANTED A BABY BROTHER, both by Kate Feiffer (A Paula wiseman Book, Simon& Schuster) 2008.

A member of the Society of Illustrators, she chaired the 2007 Original Art Show in Manhattan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new twist on an old favorite, May 11, 2000

By 

Nicole Cooke - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dinosaur's New Clothes (Hardcover)

You wouldn't think that dinosaurs would have any place in the classic Andersen tale, but indeed, this retelling of The Emperor's New Clothes is wonderful. By just reading the text, there is no indication that this version features dinousaurs - this speaks to the creativity of the illustrator, Diane Goode. What pictures! They really make the story come alive. A fun book for those new to the story, and for those who enjoy fresh perspectives.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book!, November 28, 2010

By 

Liz and Trent Soldwish-Zoole "Liz S-Z" (Olivette, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dinosaur's New Clothes: A Retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen Tale (Paperback)

What a gem! The illustrations are so vivid and detailed - be sure to look closely at the Emperor's coats on each page - several of them are picture-cloth for other classic tales.