The Paper Princess (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Elisa Kleven (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 1998 | Age Range: 3 - 5 years | Series: Picture Puffins | Lexile Measure: 280L (What's this?)

A gust of wind sends a paper princess flying. ?Wait! I didn?t finish you,? cries the little girl who made her. ?I?ll finish myself,? calls the princess, and the wind carries her away, over a meadow and a river, to a carnival and a town, until finally she finds her way home. Elisa Kleven?s ?mixed-media collages are a kaleidoscope of color and activity, encompassing a vast, multiracial cast of happy people? (Publishers Weekly). ?The best book yet from this talented author/illustrator, and one that children will love.? -- School Library Journal, starred review Elisa Kleven?s award-winning picture books include her own Ernst and The Lion and the Little Red Bird, the illustrations for Abuela, by Arthur Dorros, and her most recent book for Dutton, The Puddle Pail. She lives near San Francisco, California.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A paper-doll princess designed by a little girl blows away in the wind before the doll is completed. Her far-flung adventures are illustrated with mixed-media collage. "Youngsters will no doubt be inspired to fire up their crayons, markers and paints after this outing," said PW. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-A little girl draws and cuts out a picture of a princess. When the paper doll is blown away by a gust of wind, she travels far and wide and finally, through a coincidence worthy of The Steadfast Tin Soldier, ends up with her own little girl again. Kleven has taken this simple story and given it style and heart. The events, some of which are either purely fanciful or highly unlikely, all seem authentic. Giving an inanimate object a believable personality is not an easy feat, and the author does a fine job of it. Her graceful phrases add a lyrical air, and emotions are described with a light and delicate touch. Her multimedium collages have never looked fresher or more interesting. The world she creates is not necessarily free from danger or sadness, yet it is predominantly full of beauty and sunlight. All the elements of the visual arts-texture, pattern, shape, color, and line-come alive in her skillful hands. The best book yet from this talented author/illustrator, and one that children will love.
Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 5 years
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140564241
• ISBN-13: 978-0140564242
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.1 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding June 21, 2003

By Morgan Witthoft

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The text is pure magic and the pictures are pure poetry. Or: the story is poetic and the pictures are magic. Or: the story is colorful and the pictures are resonant. Or: ... oh, just buy it and enjoy it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a visual delight January 10, 2002

By Sarah Tittle

Format:Paperback

I'm so glad we found this book! I have two daughters (3 1/2 and 6) and both love it. The story of a paper doll that flies away from the little girl who creates it is sweet and simple. But it's the illustrations--extremely detailed matisse-like collages--that are most compelling. I think every time we read this book (and that's often) we discover something new in the pictures. We linger over each spread and even play "I Spy," pointing out little details to each other. The ending is very satisfying and there's no lesson or preachiness. It's just a story about love, and caring for someone, and the joy of having that love returned. Also, it is often confused with the Paper Bag Princess, which although a good story, couldn't be more opposite in tone or presentation (we like paper princess better).

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars BUY this one! September 8, 2005

By waldorf_curric VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

ooh, did we ever love this book... My daughter wanted it for every nap and bedtime once it hit our door. I had a difficult time even getting to read our other library books for this week. The Paper Princess goes extremely well with another favorite book - Soul Mate Dolls. If you have a daughter who will immediately want to make a paper doll after you've finished reading The Paper Princess, get Soul Mate Dolls as well. This story is so good I feel a strong urge to buy every one of Elisa Kleven's other books, sight unseen (I might, in fact, since we also checked out The Lion and the Little Red Bird in the same week and that one is extraordinary as well). Elisa Kleven is an imaginative, talented, and supremely warm author & illustrator. BUY this one!