Here is the classic tale of elfin magic, loved by generations of children and made new by an artist of international acclaim. Jim LaMarche's stunning paintings, reminiscent of his earlier work in The Rainbabies, are the perfect compliment to this favorite Grimm fairy tale.
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-A newly illustrated version of the ever-satisfying tale of a poor shoemaker and his wife who become rich when elves create splendid shoes for them to sell, and who return the favor by making outfits for the elves. The text only alludes to Christmas, while the underlying theme explores kindness and giving. LaMarche's generously proportioned illustrations in acrylic washes and colored pencil feature substantial child-sized elves, who are "poorly shod" and wearing "raggedy sacks." (In other versions of the story, the elves are often as small as the shoes themselves or smaller.) The luminous pictures will project easily to the back of the storytime room, and the unembellished text moves the narrative along briskly. A good choice for those wishing to de-emphasize the religious aspects of the holiday.-S. P.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. LaMarche, illustrator of Donna Jo Napoli's Albert (2001), provides appealing illustrations to accompany this retelling of Grimms' familiar tale in which two elves labor at night to save the day for a poor but kindly shoemaker and his wife. The text varies a little from the original. The elves (a boy and girl rather than two little men) aren't naked but dressed in "raggedy sacks." Still, the main elements of the story are intact, and readers will find plenty to like in LaMarche's interpretation. The illustrations, done in acrylic washes with colored pencils, depict a cozy Old World setting inhabited by rosy-cheeked, individualized characters. These scenes are suffused in a glow that seems warm, golden, and benevolent. Children and adults alike will enjoy the story, beautifully realized in the beguiling artwork. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautiful Book & Great Story,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Elves and the Shoemaker (Hardcover)
The illustrations in this book are wonderful. A true artist. Very cleverly hides the elves in each page and its much fun for a 3 year old to find them and the mice and birds too.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful!,
By
This review is from: The Elves and the Shoemaker (Hardcover)
I have always loved the story of "The Elves and the Shoemaker" and have searched and searched for an adaptation that evoked the memories that I carried from my childhood. (As children, my sister and I fell in love with the Scholastic version which, sadly, is off the market.) But this version is as good, if not better! The pictures are simply beautiful ~ so full of color and expression and detail! And the story is told in a simple yet profound way so that children as young as three but as old as eight or nine will be able to find meaning and enjoyment. I can not recommend this book enough! In my mind, it deserves a space on every child's bookshelf!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent retelling of classic Grimm fairy tale,
This review is from: The Elves and the Shoemaker (Hardcover)
This book is a wonderful companion to any collection of classic fairy tales. The illustrations are lively and charming; the tale is retold simply and well. This book also does an excellent job of conveying what a cobbler does, if you are looking for some books to bring history alive. Not many children now think twice about where their shoes come from. Above all else, the illustrations really bring the tale alive. The quality of the expressions on each character's face is truly incredible and any small child can easily "read" along by seeing the delight on the faces of the customers, the patience and careful work done by the elves (you can practically hear them whistle as they work), the astonishment and gratitude felt by the shoemaker and his wife. This heartwarming story is a must for any preschool or first grade classroom.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
From that time on, the little elves were not seen again. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
From that time on, the little elves were not seen again. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
65
books
cite this book:
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- Holiday Story Play by Joyce Harlow on page 53, page 60, and page 70
- One Voice: Music and Stories in the Classroom by Barbara M. Britsch on page 5, page 23, and Back Matter
- TeX, XML, and Digital Typography: International Conference on TEX, XML, and Digital Typography, Held Jointly with the 25th Annual Meeting of the TEX ... (Lecture Notes in Computer Science) by Apostolos Syropoulos on page 237
- Books Kids Will Sit Still For: A Read-Aloud Guide Second Edition by Judy Freeman on page 357
- Simplify Your Christmas: A Little Treasury by Elaine St James on page 41
See all 65 books citing this book
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