Eloise's Guide to Life: Or, How to Eat, Dress, Travel, Behave, and Stay Six Forever [Hardcover]

Kay Thompson (Author), Hilary Knight (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

If you're bored with your life and want to be more like me,

Eloise

Then buy this BOOK for Lord's sake and

CHARGE IT PLEASE

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you grew up with Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight's Eloise books, some of her eccentricity probably rubbed off on you whether you realize it or not. Frankly, it's difficult to remain unaffected by a 6-year-old girl who lives in New York City's Plaza Hotel, braids her turtle's ears, talks to Mars through a paper cup, and pours water down the mail chute. Eloise's Guide to Life pieces together snippets from Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise in Moscow, and Eloise at Christmastime in the interest of instructing its readers on "how to eat, dress, travel, behave, and stay six forever." Of course, if everyone took this advice, people would put large cabbage leaves on their heads when they had headaches, throw occasional temper tantrums, comb their hair with forks, and pretend they were orphans to get food from strangers. Like the wee Seuss-isms, this whimsical sampling of Eloise-isms is sure to renew a sense of rebellion and joie de vivre in nostalgic Eloise fans. This small book is perfect for new graduates or for anyone who has forgotten how much fun it can be to wear toe shoes on their ears. For adults who want absolutely everything Eloise, The Absolutely Essential Eloise includes the text and illustrations of the original title, along with a historical scrapbook detailing the making of Eloise. (Grownups) --Karin Snelson

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.

Hilary Knight, son of artist-writers Clayton Knight and Katharine Sturges, was educated at the Art Students League, where he studied with Reginald Marsh. Besides the Eloise books, Hilary Knight has illustrated more than fifty books for children, six of which he wrote himself.

He lives and works in New York City, not far from The Plaza Hotel.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; 1st edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689833105
• ISBN-13: 978-0689833106
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eloise Redux, June 16, 2000

By 

Randall Rice "factorykid" (Providence, RI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eloise's Guide to Life: Or, How to Eat, Dress, Travel, Behave, and Stay Six Forever (Hardcover)

This tiny little book seems to be simply part of the ramped up marketing of the "Eloise" character since the death of its very protective author, Kay Thompson.

If you have the previous books, you have all of the illustrations and "Eloise"isms in this not so new book.

Save your money and buy the original.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scrapbook of Eloise's Quirks from the Four Books, December 12, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 110,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Eloise's Guide to Life: Or, How to Eat, Dress, Travel, Behave, and Stay Six Forever (Hardcover)

This book contains highlights of the four Eloise books (Eloise, Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, and Eloise in Moscow), grouped into her habits about eating, dressing, travel, behavior, and staying young (six). The book is like having a brief scrapbook of these stories that capture and remind you of the essential character of Eloise. As such, this book will help you quickly drop the cares of the day . . . and it's healthier than a cocktail.

On the other hand, if you haven't read all four books, I think this assemblage will lose some of its charm. Some of the examples don't make much sense if you don't have the story context for them.

If you have read all four stories but don't have copies, this is the bargain basement way to have a little of each one.

If you can afford to indulge, I suggest Eloise: The Ultimate Edition as a better choice. That has all four stories, plus the wonderful scrapbook material about the development of the Eloise character and biographies of Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight. Once you own that edition, you don't really need this one (unless you just want to tuck it under your pillow for comfort).

Some of my favorite sections from this book include Eloise combing her hair with a fork, ordering room service, insisting on Sabena because they let turtles fly on that airline, and getting a new outfit from M. Dior in Paris. I'm sure you'll find some of your favorites, too.

By the way, Eloise must have authorized this book. Kay Thompson wouldn't have . . . because it's commercial Eloise rather than essential Eloise. The wonderful Hilary Knight drawings carry the edition, even when the context seems lost.

After you have finished enjoying this little souvenir, I suggest that you try boiling down your life into 20 elements of your own habits. Which 20 best capture the real you? If they don't capture you, what does that say? Hmmmm. Something to think about.

Remember the best . . . from midst all of life's little eddies.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Eloise fans only!, August 6, 2001

By 

Susan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eloise's Guide to Life: Or, How to Eat, Dress, Travel, Behave, and Stay Six Forever (Hardcover)

Let's face it-you are either an Eloise fan or not. There is no in-between. I happen to be a very loyal fan.

I ran across this by accident one rainy airport day and of course, knew it was going to be great. I was not disappointed. This is a book full of previous work collected into a life "guide".

The illustrations are once again, hillarious! Who couldn't smile at Eloise's antics? The "advice" is superb. But my favorite are the little pink colored advice tidbits on most pages.

I am so relieved that Eloise has not been censored by the politically correct. So many children's books are so soapy clean that you cannot enjoy them. However, all things Eloise remain classic.