Customer Reviews

Princess in the Forest

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I ordered this book directly from Gryphon House publishers, so it's not out of print. I don't know why Amazon.com lists it as such.

"The Princess in the Forest" was originally published in 1909. If you liked von Olfers' "The Story of the Root Children" then you will surely enjoy "The Princess in the Forest." It is another lovely combination of simple text and beautiful, detailed illustrations. This story focuses on the cycle of a single day, rather than the seasonal cycle in "Root Children." Eight simple pages of text and eight lovely accompanying illustrations make for a gentle and calming bedtime story.

The princess wakes in her castle, dew maids clothe her, moss boys bring her breakfast and a pair of crows give her school lessons. Then it is time for play with the forest animals and storytelling to the mushroom children and finally the star folk come to light her way home. One single star watches over the princess through the night. Each illustration is framed by a realistic botanical drawing, adding to further nature-identification fun.

The animals are drawn realistically (like in Beatrix Potter's books) and the children look like children rather than cartoons. The princess in this story is drawn as a young girl, maybe 8-12 years old, clothed in a long, tunic-like red robe, which I liked, as opposed to many princess stories which feature an adult or teenage girl in gaudy and sometimes bosomy dress. The artwork and story emphasize innocence and a natural setting; there are no wicked antagonists or scary situations.

Highly recommended for princess fans of all ages, although the text is suitable for first or second grade-level readers to read alone.

I bought this book for my 2 year old for Christmas. It has become a favorite. I love the simple, yet fantastical illustrations. The story is a good length for the shortened attention spans of toddlers. I have other books by Olfer, but this one is best suited for younger ones.

I probably wouldn't give this a five, but my daughter would. It really is a sweet book and a great alternative to the overmarketed Disney princesses, but it is so simple and short. Maybe it is this simplicity that my child loves. The princess is not a damsel in distress and is kind and unassuming. There is no real storyline, just a princess going about her day, with the help of star folk and moss children, but it is a sweet story all the same. It is another nice book by Sibylle Von Olfers.

This book is simple but beautiful. It tells the lovely story of the day in the life of a princess, surrounded by the nature that cares for her. My 6-year-old daughter was instantly enchanted and decided she even wanted her bedroom to look like scenes from the story. This is the type of princess story I love for her to hear, full of wonder and missing the ubiquitous licensed characters and product tie-ins that normally swarm around our children. Highly recommended for children this age.

This author writes and illustrates beautiful stories for children. My 3 year old loves her books. They are simple, charming, and will be our favorites for many years to come.

Every night I read my girls about three books. Some nights we're in bed earlier than others. For those nights that you're in a hurry to get the little ones to sleep, this book is perfect. It's simple but beautiful and that makes it perfect. No Disney princesses here!