The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Hardcover)

by Marianna Mayer (Author), Kinuko Y. Craft (Illustrator) "Long ago and far away, at the edge of a humble village, there lived a young farmer named Peter..." (more)
Key Phrases: twelve sisters

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Craft's richly hued illustrations create a magical setting for Mayer's polished version of this romantic fairy tale. The story centers on the mysterious enchantment to which the King's 12 daughters have fallen prey: although locked in their bedchamber at night, each morning they emerge pale and tired, with their satin dancing slippers worn through. It is Peter, a humble gardener, who succeeds where dozens of princes have failed, eventually breaking the spell that has bound them. With skillful use of lighting, texture and detail and a fine sense of mood, Craft captures both the regal opulence of the King's court and the shimmery, ethereal beauty of the subterranean world of the all-night dancing, resulting in a lavish feast for the eyes and the imagination. All ages.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-- In this lavishly illustrated but poorly structured retelling of the classic Grimm tale, Mayer retains little of the original, making major and inexplicable changes in the story. Abandoning the direct simplicity of the folk tradition found in Errol Le Cain's version (Penguin, 1981), Mayer fundamentally alters the main characters, making the old soldier a golden-haired youth, the eldest daughter the youngest, and the old crone a mystifying vision of a "regal" woman. She further confuses the plot by introducing several new and unnecessary elements which are never fully developed (a fortune-teller, a "half-forgotten" prophecy), leaving the plot muddled and readers feeling cheated. Mayer's prose contributes to the muddle, relying on long cliched descriptions and an excessive use of adjectives ("the wizened old fortune-teller's eyes burned bright, and her thin voice crooned like a haunting echo"). Overall, the language is too ornate and cumbersome to sustain children's interest or be effective as a read-aloud. Craft's illustrations are much more successful. For the most part, her paintings are rich and luminous, appropriately depicting the romanticized couple in an opulent fairy tale setting. Several are striking in their design and use of light, but a few are disconcertingly flat and garish. Evocative vignettes, placed on nearly every page, elaborate small details of setting or action. While Craft's illustrations make this an attractive addition to folk/fairy tale collections, Mayer's overblown text is inappropriate for both the genre and the intended audience. Libraries with a strong demand for multiple versions of fairy tales may want to purchase this for the illustrations alone, but those owning the Le Cain version can pass it by.
- Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, Fla.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (March 24, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688080510
• ISBN-13: 978-0688080518
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #119,941 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated version of the classic tale, July 18, 2002

By	M. Lilliquist (Bellingham, Washington USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As usual, any book illustrated by K.Y. Craft is wonderful to look at, and will surely enchant anyone with a "penchant for princesses." Almost worth the price of admission by itself.

The story has a lot to recommend it also. The classic plot has been nicely modified to give some depth of character and intelligence to the clever young suitor and to the object of his interest, the youngest of the twelve bewitched princesses. (For those unfamiliar with the story, the king's daughter have been put under a spell which send them to a secret realm every night where they dance the night away; the young hero discovers the secret and breaks the spell.)

My 4-year-old daughter enjoys the story very much, but there are elements to the story that she is probably not catching on to, and which older kids will enjoy. A good read-aloud for young kids, and a nice stretch for early readers, I should think. (Not beginning readers, though. The vocabulary is rich rather than constrained.)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece, April 9, 2003

By	J. Sanders "reader22" (Lakepoint, Utah United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I remember reading this book in my elementary school library it was by far my favorite. Even when I went on to graduate I never forgot it. Now I'm married and have a child of my own, when I fould out I was pregnant I went looking for this book and bought it off of Amazon.com. It was just as i had remembered. It is still the most beautiful book i have ever read the illistrations are gorgeous and so detailed. And the story is a perfect fairy tale. All mothers should read this to their children before bed so they'll have fond memories and sweet dreams.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, January 19, 2001

By	Erin (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Richly written and illustrated, this book doesn't disappoint. So many fairy tale books go only half-way--either they have great pictures or a well-written story. This is not one of those. Marianna Mayer tells the story with lovely detail and a highly enjoyable style. And the artwork--well, look at the cover! The artwork is amazing! The portrait of Princess Elise almost jumps off the page (or invites you into it, whichever you prefer). And don't overlook the sidebar illustrations on each text page--they add a deeper dimension to the story by giving the reader a glimpse of the magical setting. This book is truly enchanting.