Customer Reviews

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

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I've said it in another review and I'll say it again: every home should have at least one Ruth Sanderson book in their children's bookshelves, and her retelling of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' would be a pretty good choice.

The king of a prosperous kingdom has twelve beautiful daughters, but is confused at the state of their shoes each morning - each pair is worn through, although the door to their bedroom is locked. Where are the princesses going and how are they getting out? Many men are sent to guard the princesses with the promise that if they solve the mystery they may gain one of their hands in marriage, but all the young princes disappear by morning. But one day Michael comes to the castle as a helper to the gardener with the magical gift of an invisibility cloak given to him by an old woman on the road. Instantly smitten with the youngest princess Lina, Michael hides in the girls' bedroom under his cloak and watches them creep through a secret trapdoor, through glittering woods and across a vast lake to a castle... but how is a mere commoner supposed to inform the king of this and secure the love of his youngest daughter?

Ruth Sanderson once again brings to life a beautiful fairytale with her glorious oil paintings, making this a must for any bookshelf, or lovers of fairytales or fine art. Despite the fact there are twelve princesses, the illustrations are never cluttered, and Sanderson captures water, material, hair and even glances between one figure to another realistically, yet with a whimsical and fantasy touch. If there is one slight flaw, her colours are less bright than in other books - they are mostly pale yellows, blues or greens that give them a slightly washed out look when compared to the vividness of her other books such as 'The Golden Mare, the Firebird and the Magic Ring' and 'The Crystal Mountain', but this is most definitely one of her best narrative retellings. 'The Enchanted Wood' in my opinion still contains her best illustrations, but the story is rather weak. 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' is the best choice for a melding of both art and storytelling skills.

Basically, girls will adore this, parents will love reading it, and if you take the time to persuade boys that is isn't a 'girly' book, then I'm certain they'll be intrigued enough by the mysterious midnight travels through the woods and the cunning of Michael to enjoy it too!

Ruth Sanderson's 'Twelve Dancing Princesses' is a fresh, deftly written take on the original fairy tale. The characters come alive, and the writing captures the childlike innocence of a fairy-tale world without being saccharine. However, what really makes this book stand out are the gorgeous illustrations. Sanderson's sumptuous oil paintings enrich the tale, and are works of art in their own right. Even without words, she knows how to create an atmosphere of mystery and of magic.

This retelling of a well-known story is done with great care and authenticity. The artwork is rich and full of detail, pulling the reader into the story. My daughter has checked this out from her school library many, many times over the past few years and now wants a copy of her own. It has held her attention and imagination for many happy hours.

I read this book for a college course and am still amazed. The illustrations are extraordinary and the story is purely magical. This is a beautiful and uplifting story for all ages.

Having enjoyed looking at children's book since childhood this illustrated book is absolutely amazing. Each page is beautifully illustrated in Oil based paint, such exquisite artistry in a book made for children. The detail of each painting serves to tell the tale without words.

Even my 5 year old daughter who was given the Barbie movie by the same title prefers me to read this book to her over watching the dvd. The illustrations are lovely; the text is interesting, yet clear enough for my little one to understand. A wonderful book for any little girl who enjoys beautiful dresses and magical places.

Ruth Sanderson's luscious artwork sets apart her
version of the classic story. Sanderson
made some changes from other versions; the hero
is not a soldier, but a young man seeking his fortune.
The text creates a romantic atmosphere
my daughter loved, and the illustrations of
young and vital characters support the story beautifully.
This is the version to get

Having enjoyed looking at children's book since childhood this illustrated book is absolutely amazing. Each page is beautifully illustrated in Oil based paint, such exquisite artistry in a book made for children. The detail of each painting serves to tell the tale without words.

I owned this book as a child, and it was definitely one of my favorites. I was (and still am) an avid reader, and even if I didn't want to read the whole book, I definitely would flip through it on a regular basis just to look at the beautiful artwork. I had planned on having my daughters read (and in turn, hopefully love it as much as I did), but unfortunately my oldest decided it made a fantastic noise as its' paper ripped when she was about two years old. I definitely am going to replace this book in their library, now that I have the exact title and the authors' name again.

Ruth Sanderson, as creator of both the text and illustrations, has told the tale of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," my favorite Grimm's fairy tale, in a literate and alluring way. Ms. Sanderson's attention to detail in her ravishing illustrations reinforces the text, which is helpful to youngsters who want to read this magical tale to themselves. Story and illustrations are wonderfully integrated, making this the finest version available today of the tale of twelve princesses and the clever commoner who solves the mystery of their worn shoes.