Customer Reviews

The Twelve Princesses

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

 

 

The illustrations are what make this Brothers Grimm classicincomparable. The storyline runs much as it generally does-there aretwelve princess sisters who are locked in their room every night butevery morning their shoes are mysteriously worn out. The king offersthe hand of one of his daughters as a reward to the man who candiscover what is happening each night but, if unsuccessful, thepenalty is death. An old soldier decides he wants to accept thechallenge....

But Fitchell's illustrations add a new angle to thetale. The main characters in his story aren't merely beautifulprincesses; they are beautiful DUCK princesses. Their hair, theirclothing, their regal poses-all reflect the rich attention paid byFitchell to the illustrations. They tell a beautiful and enchantingstory in their own right. Never have fowl looked less foul. END

Anthropomorphic ducks play the parts in this funny re-telling of the classic fairy tale. Colored pencil artwork reminiscent of the Roaring 20's conveys a shiny, high gloss to the illustrations. The background scenery seems slightly reminiscent of Sweden. Wildly multi-colored and perfectly coiffed hair (long blonde hair for one, a blue beehive for another, green flip-do for yet another and a black Louise Brooks style bob among others distinguish the twelve duck sisters from each other. Interestingly, the hero of the story is NOT a young, good looking, down on his luck fellow; but rather an injured veteran who is, we sense, enlisting magical aid to discover the princesses' secret so that he might enjoy a comfortable retirement. Hoary eyebrows and a run down soldier's uniform serve to distinguish his look. Rich, saturated colors throughout the book lend extra definition to the scenes with the invisibility cloak that has been cleverlyrendered in yellow and white. The shoes also take a star turn here, featured on the title page, bejeweled and dazzling, and later in the story worn out and torn up with crunched heels. And although it is the youngest sister who suspects an invisible interloper in their midst, when the old veteran finally does triumph and reveal where the princesses have been going, he chooses the eldest as his wife. Although there is no real romance hinted at between the two of them earlier in the story, a final illustration of the eldest princess and her war veteran husband sailing off into the sunset holding a mangled pair of shoes, suggests that this may not have been a completely unhappy pairing for them.

I got this book during my daughter's current 'princess' phase and was unware of the story's premise. I would have never read it to her had I been aware of the storyline where the duck prince "gets his head cut off" because he does not solve the mystery of where the princesses go at night and why their shoes are worn. Try explaining a beheading to a six year old.

Needless to say I quickly made up an alternate fate of the duck prince and we'll never read this book again. I'm returning it!

Children will love these princesses,specially girls, the pictures are lovely pieces of art.