The Twelve Dancing Princesses [Hardcover]

Rachel Isadora (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2007 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A magic cloak.

A hidden passage.

A secret underground world beyond imagining.

Night after night, the princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes. But how are they doing it? The baffled king promises a great reward to any man who can solve the mystery.

From the colorful flurry of the princesses? dressing room to a captivating nighttime scene on an underground lake, Rachel Isadora has revitalized and reimagined this well-loved Brothers Grimm fairy tale by bringing the story of the twelve princesses to Africa. Her collage of blazing colors, rich textures and dramatic shapes evoke the patterns and palette of this beautiful continent. Returning to the lush setting of The Princess and the Pea, the unique presentation of this classic tale is sure to enchant readers with its vibrant imagery.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Isadora offers an entirely distinct treatment." - "Booklist", starred review

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of eight. She trained at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and has danced professionally. Rachel lives in New York City with her family.

Rachel Isadora has illustrated many books set in the world of dance and theater, including Opening Night, My Ballet Class, Swan Lake, The Little Match Girl, and Ben's Trumpet, which received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award.

copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of eight. She trained at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and has danced professionally. Rachel lives in New York City with her family.

Rachel Isadora has illustrated many books set in the world of dance and theater, including Opening Night, My Ballet Class, Swan Lake, The Little Match Girl, and Ben's Trumpet, which received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award.

copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (September 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399247440
• ISBN-13: 978-0399247446
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #838,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sigh, January 17, 2011

By 

Ulyyf "Connie" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Mass Market Paperback)

I like this book, and Ms. Isadora's other fairy tale books, in principle. I am beyond the moon at the idea of having these fairy tales set in Africa, with non-white characters. The illustrations are great, and the concept is wonderful. (Believe me, we've had too too many conversations with the older niece about how no, she doesn't need long straight blond hair to be a princess, and her hair is beautiful just the way it is.)

However, I have the same problem with this book that I did with her version of The Princess and the Pea, and that's the text. This version is so incredibly bare bones that it feels like half the story is missing. The soldier who wins does so by getting advice from an old woman - but why does she tell him how to save the day? Does he help her? Does she like him? Is he just nice? Who knows? The story doesn't give her any reason to help him at all.

Most fairy tales I read are written with some pretense that the people have motivations and feelings and thoughts. This one is just... character archetypes and standard plot. There's nothing wrong with that, but I really wish that this version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses was more fleshed out, with the text to match the artwork.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the illustrations knock my socks off, April 8, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Mass Market Paperback)

Rachel Isadora's colors just grab your eyes. I love her illustration on one of the first pages of the twelve beautiful princesses, every one of them with her own look.

What I like about the book also becomes what I almost *don't like* about the book. Every illustration is a two-page spread. So, in the beginning, you get all this amazing scenery and close ups of the worn out slippers and a close up of the snoring soldier...But then, as you get to the end, you are out of pages!

The story wraps up with the soldier marrying the oldest daughter, even though they have not found time in storyland to fall in love. Ah, well. It's worth it to have these glorious illustrations. Well done!

5.0 out of 5 stars Dance On and I Will Dance With You, December 8, 2010

By 

Street Guy Professor (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Mass Market Paperback)

The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Rachel Isadora is the most stunning interpretaion of the classic fairytale. I am so pleased that Ms. Isadora is looking at many fairytales with a different way and that the books reflect images from Africa, my original home. I have sent a number of these books to a small school in Senegal and the children are so happy. They are doing their own collage pictures based on the book. I also sent them The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea and Hanzel and Gretel. Some children are familiar with the original fairytales but most are not yet they understand that the new books of Ms. Isadora highlight the world they experience everyday and are delighted that these books come from America and yet show Africa. I think American children, who know the fairytales, will also delight in the fresh interpretations. I hope Ms. Isadora will do many, many more because we love them all!

Thank You