The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Brothers Grimm (Author), Errol Le Cain (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nobody knows how to party like these 12 princesses who first twinkled their toes in a Brothers Grimm tale. These young ladies manage to hide their wild nights out from everyone?especially their father, who would never allow such behavior. But each morning the king discovers a dozen pairs of freshly shredded dancing shoes and an exhausted brood of daughters. At wit's end, the king offers a princess's hand in marriage to any man who can expose the daughters' mysterious escapades. Ray's (Magical Tales from Many Lands; Noah's Ark) adaptation reads well as a timeless story of children's rebellion against strict parental rule, adopting a "girls just wanna have fun" attitude toward deceiving the king. In her distinctive style, Ray saturates each page with lush, intricate backgrounds and patterns, whisking readers away to an elegant dream world. Her lavish, richly hued scenes of trees dripping with diamonds and exquisite ball gowns shimmering in the moonlight are the grand stuff of fairy tale fantasy. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2?This beginning-chapter book recasts the familiar fairy tale. It's told from the point of view of Luca, a gardener at the royal palace, who falls in love with the littlest princess. In these cartoon-style illustrations, all of the characters are dogs. Some children may have trouble visualizing the chunky dog heads in gorgeous gowns as beautiful princesses (just imagine "Mudge" clones in formal attire), but it's all relative-to a pup like Luca, they probably look pretty good. Use this version in conjunction with the original tale to give children the opportunity to understand the differences and appreciate both.?Jan Shepherd Ross, Dixie Elementary Magnet School, Lexington, KY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (September 24, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140503226
• ISBN-13: 978-0140503227
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,143,258 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful children's book, April 5, 2000

By	"bluemamma" (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twelve Dancing Princesses (Paperback)

This is one of the best books my five year old daughter and I have ever read. We first got it out of the library, but I just ordered it because it's a book I know we'll re-read hundreds of times. Everybody knows the Grimm's story: twelve princesses escape every night to go dancing. Their father, the king, doesn't know where they go, only that that in the morning their dancing shoes are in tatters. He offers the hand of one of his daughers in marriage to any suitor who can discover their secrets.Many try, and finally one succeeds. There are two wonderful things about this version. One is that it's clear at the end of the book that the daughter who is chosen doesn't marry the man who figured out their secret. She chooses him „ and plans to keep right on dancing after she gets married! The second great thing about this book is the illustrations, which are so beautiful, you just want to look at them again and again. More important, the princesses are all beautiful, but in exotic and interesting ways. No one size fits all Disneyesque beauties here. Each face is unique. One even wears glasses! Terrific book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I AM OUTRAGED, May 9, 2006

By	S. Welch (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I specifically ordered the version illustrated by Errol Le Cain. Instead I received a most wretched version illustrated by Jane Ray. Now I will have to pay for shipping to return these monstrosities to the UK. I am extremely unsatisfied. This is misrepresentation at its best. Beware!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pure Art, January 15, 2004

By	Krista Barry (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Twelve Dancing Princesses: A Folk Tale from the Brothers Grimm (Easy to Read Folktale) (Paperback)

These illustrations are fit for framing. The story is lovely, magical and fun. This is the stuff of great childrens books. A gem.