Retelling of a fairy tale.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Although textually straightforward, this is a visually sophisticated treatment of Grimm's tale. Its force derives not from broad characterizations or expressions but rather from subtleties of color, mood and detail. Ormerod paints a somber world dominated by grays and greens, with only an occasional splash of gold or orange for relief. Not until the final spread, when the princess and her prince are married, does a fuller, lighter palette emerge--as if the burdens of the princess's unkept promise and the prince's unhappy enchantment have finally been lifted. Decorative borders contain a striking assortment of unusual details: frogs in various life-stages, watery tangles of vines, curious flower-figures that sing and dance. In sum, they suggest a place where transformation is eminently possible, and where the boundaries--between dark and light, pond and palace, humankind and other--may be easily blurred. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-- Ormerod tries her hand--with Lloyd--at a classic fairy tale, but the results are disappointing. Her story line is standard to a point--princess loses ball, frog returns it and moves in with the princess--but this time it is the princess' growing fondness for the frog and the fact that she allows him to sleep on her pillow three times that breaks the enchantment, transforming him into a handsome prince. While this less brutal version will be welcomed by some, it is marred by lackluster language and choppy sentence structure. When the frog asks to be placed on the princess' knee--"Well, the princess did not like the idea of that at all, because the frog was wet, and a frog." Without rhythm or cadence, the story seems to plod along, falling dully on listeners' ears. The pictures neither extend nor enhance the awkwardly written text. Ormerod's sketchy, undetailed style, which works so well in her picture books for younger children, here shows a lack of depth; her figures are flat and one-dimensional, with expressionless faces. The palette is somber, in tones of muted olive, gray, and black. Lighter touches of green, red, and gold are used, but they do not ease the overall heavy feeling of the book. Look instead to Naomi Lewis' Frog Prince (North-South Bks, 1989), with its more compelling language and visual allure. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elaborate borders, beautiful book,
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This review is from: The Frog Prince (Hardcover)
Ormerod's elegant version combines beautiful, Art Nouveau styled illustrations with a well-written, non-violent retelling of the classic fairy tale. A queen, instead of a king, forces the princess to keep her promise to the frog. Eventually, the princess grows to love the frog and the frog transforms to green-attired prince after sleeping three nights on the princess' pillow. The amazingly detailed illustrations drawn using muted colors are framed by elaborate borders of dancing plants, insects, amphibians and other creatures.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Story Told In A Simple Non Threatening Way,
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This review is from: Frog Prince (Paperback)
This is a beautifully illustrated book with a very well layered approach when it comes to visual details. There is a very clear main subject, but detailed borders provide a lot to look at on repeat viewings. My 2 1/2 year old immediately wanted to read it again after the first reading. It is a simplified version of the story, which is what I think makes it so good for someone my son's age. Too often, these classic fairy tales are overly wordy and my son quickly loses interest. This one moves along at a brisk pace and tells a lot of the story through the expression on the princess's face, which at first is one of horror and at the end is one of pleasure about her little frog friend. The art nouveau style makes it feel like a book that might have been written and illustrated in 1912.
I would have loved to see this author do the same treatment on other Grimm's Fairy Tales.
5.0 out of 5 stars
transformations,
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This review is from: Frog Prince (Paperback)
These illustrations remind me of some Alphonse Mucha art windows we saw in Prague. Very stylish illustrations, with borders that show transformations. Simply beautiful.
The well-written story is a pleasure to read out loud - this book is a keeper.
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