The Princess Gown [Hardcover]

Linda Leopold Strauss (Author), Malene Laugesen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

With the look of a classic storybook and a setting of palace courtyards and old-world shops and streets, this book features a one-of-a-kind wedding dress. When small Hannah discovers a smudge on the gown her family has created for the princess, she finds a way not only to cover the mistake but to improve upon the design. Out of mistakes come innovation!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—Strauss fabricates a story about a contest in which a princess will select a wedding gown from among offerings sewn by many of the kingdom's tailors. Hanna's family has gone into debt to make their entry, and when the girl notices a tiny spot on the otherwise gorgeous dress, they fear that all is ruined. However, she saves the day by suggesting that they embroider a squirrel on one side of the skirt and an acorn on the other. Since the princess has a pet squirrel, this personalization proves the deciding factor in her selection of Papa Abraham's gown, the appointment of Hanna's family as Embroiderers to the Princess, and a new fashion at court. Laugesen's oil crayon illustrations lack the detail, texture, and depth that are needed to complement this tale of fabric and needlework. The unfortunate coupling of a rather flat and naive artistic style with a text that cries for sumptuous detail diminishes the book's potential.—Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
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Review

". . . practically edible. A tale fit for a princess, or at least an aspiring one." Kirkus Reviews

"...creating a nearly tangible, saturated texture...the pictures keep step with the well-paced tale." Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618862595
• ISBN-13: 978-0618862597
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,414,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sure to become a classic, September 25, 2008

By 

Traveling_Jane - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Princess Gown (Hardcover)

Both of my daughters (ages 5 and 8) fell in love with this book immediately, and it's easy to see why. Not only is it full of things that little girls love to read about (a princess and lots of wedding gowns), it also has a charming story that every child can relate to. Beautifully written and illustrated, the book is sure to become a children's classic.

Based on true historical events, The Princess Gown tells the story of Hanna, an embroiderer's daughter, whose family enters a wedding gown competition for the princess's wedding. Each child in the family is allowed to place a stitch in the gown. But after Hanna's turn, the silk shows a tiny stain that might be Hanna's fault! Then Hanna comes up with a creative solution to save the day.

The writing is elegant and warm, the rhythm perfect. The stakes in the story are high enough to create real suspense -- the family risks ending up in the poorhouse if the gown is ruined! Both the little girl and the princess are appealing characters, with whom my daughters instantly identified (Hanna climbs trees and is messy; the princess has a pet squirrel that she feeds in the garden). The final plot twist and the gentle humor throughout make the book even more satisfying. And, of course, I should mention the illustrations, richly colored like stained glass, especially the dreamy gowns, which have tiny surprises in the embroidery.

Now I'm just waiting for the Disney movie!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Princess Gown, November 2, 2008

By 

Janet E. Rozen (New Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Princess Gown (Hardcover)

I read the story to my four year old granddaughter who loved it so much that she took it to school one day so that her teacher could read it out loud. The kids liked the book so much that my grandchild had to bring it back a second day. She liked the story not only because it's about a princess but also because Hanna's suggestion was seized upon by her elders and was incorporated as an important design on the gown. As an adult, I loved the idea that the story was based on family history. The story was lovely and well written. The accompanying illustrations were beautiful.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Gift!, September 27, 2008

By 

i'm4kids "i'm4kids" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Princess Gown (Hardcover)

"This is a beautifully crafted tale that makes a perfect gift, especially for children who are enchanted by princesses. The story and the illustrations are absolutely lovely!"