Eloise [Paperback]

Kay Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2004

Eloise lives with her nanny at The Plaza Hotel in New York. The daughter of extremely rich parents, she is left daily to her own devices. She knows everything about The Plaza and everyone in it. Henry James would want to study her. Queen Victoria would recognise her as an Equal. The New York Jets would want to have her on their side. Lewis Carroll would love her (once he got over the initial shock). Her antics are hilarious, her characterisation of those around her, perfect and whether you are about to fall in love with Eloise or you already adore her, you ought to have this book.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Maurice Sendak calls Eloise a "brazen, loose-limbed little monster." Pulitzer Prize winner Anna Quindlen finds her pathetic and lonely. Eloise gave Vanity Fair writer Marie Brenner "permission to rebel." Anyone who has been introduced to the eccentric 6-year-old who spends her days at large in New York's Plaza Hotel pouring water down the mail chute and managing her self-imposed responsibilities is fascinated, fascinated, fascinated. She is the only girl we know who feeds her turtle raisins and braids his ears, wears Kleenex boxes on her head (they make very good hats), and gets away with everything. Even if you have seven copies of the original Eloise, you may want to add The Absolutely Essential Eloise to your collection. In addition to the full splendor of the original 65-page Eloise story, this special edition includes an 18-page scrapbook, written by Marie Brenner, with "photographs of Miss Kay Thompson when she was young and fabulous and rawther like Eloise" and never-before-seen photographs, memorabilia, and sketches and stories from illustrator Hilary Knight. Anyone who adores Eloise and is intrigued by her talented creators should have this book within easy reach. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1955, renewed 1983 by Kay Thompson. Scrapbook text copyright 1999 by Marie Brenner. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.) (Ages 5 to 105) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Eloise is one of the more delightfully fiendish literary heroines of our time."

-- Edward I. Koch (former NYC mayor!!!)

"Eloise is a model for uppity women."

-- Nina Totenberg (rawther important radio lady)

"Thanks to Eloise, my daughter sought independence and mastery over her life. We loved reading this book, and we've never given it away."

-- Susan Sarandon (rawther grande actress)

"Ooooooo....I just love Eloise! Thank you, Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight. You're the bestest!"

-- Judy Blume (lovely author)

"My first happy response to Eloise was entirely due to the brilliant, iconic images. That brazen, loose-limbed, deliciosly little girl monster is Hilary Knight at his best."

-- Maurice Sendak (enormously famous artist)

"Eloise, Kay, and Hilary have been in my life always. And her pug puppy is in my heart. What memories!"

-- Lena Horne (movie star)

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (April 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743489764
• ISBN-13: 978-0743489768
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (118 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,547,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kay Thompson (1909-1998) was a singer, dancer, vocal arranger, and coach of many MGM musicals in the 1940s. The Eloise character grew out of the voice of a precocious six-year-old that Miss Thompson put on to amuse her friends. Collaborating with Hilary Knight on what was an immediate bestseller, Kay Thompson became a literary sensation when Eloise was published in 1955. The book has sold more than two million copies to date. Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight created four more Eloise books, Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmas, Eloise in Moscow, and Eloise Takes a Bawth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I rawther love love love this book!, April 7, 2000

By 

J. Hauer "me" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eloise (Eloise Series) (Hardcover)

As we all know, Eloise is six and she lives at the Plaza Hotel with her Nanny who says things three times, her dog Weenie, her turtle Skipperdee and two dolls. When I was a child, I adored this book and wanted to be just like Eloise. She does whatever she wants and gets away with it.

As an adult, I feel so sorry for Eloise because her mother only sends for her when it's sunny and otherwise isn't present. What a poor little girl to grow up so alone!

However, this is a tremendously humorous and beautifully illustrated classic that can always make me grin from ear to ear. I looooovve room service too! Oh, and charge it please. Thank you very much.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Childlike and Literary, June 12, 1999

By 

C. Burch (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Absolutely Essential Eloise (Hardcover)

A few weeks ago, I took a friend and her two 5 year old twin girls to dinner. There was a 45 minute wait, and we went to the bookstore next door. I was dreading the prospect of entertaining two 5 year olds for 45 minutes until I saw a copy of Eloise, which has been out of print for many years. I sat down and started reading to them. The time flew by. A few older women walked by and smiled. I like to think that they had read the book when they were little girls. The 45 minutes went by all too soon for me.

What can I say about Eloise? We named our DOG Eloise when I was a boy. It is both literary and true to children. It is one of the books (like Charlotte's Web or Black Beauty) that stays in your heart from childhood.

Give it to your children.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is about a tiny 6yr girl Eloise who lives in the plaza, October 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Eloise (Eloise Series) (Hardcover)

This is a great book were a little girl name Eloise who lives with her Nanny on the top floor of the Plaza in New York. Eloise is a curious girl that always finds herself in trouble. Everyone in the Plaza knows Eloise if they want to or not! Eloise sometimes even goes off subject in the book like " My mother has a Nieman Marcus Charge Card!" If you are a little girl, pre-teen, teen or even an adult you will love this book! If you can get the ABOUSOLUTLY ESSENTIAL EDITION because this has a scrapbook in the end! If you live in New york it is very fun. As i used to ! I even read this to my 2 year old sister Natilie and my new twin sisters Audrey and Tiffany.Natty just cracks up! Well just enjoy!