Customer Reviews

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

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

 

 

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.

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!

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