The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Paperback)

by Ruth Sanderson (Author) "Once upon a time a king had twelve daughters, each one more beautiful than the last..." (more)
Key Phrases: garden boy

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
This Grimm fairy tale tells the story of twelve royal sisters who are locked in their room each night. Mysteriously, by morning, all their shoes are worn out from dancing! With the help of a magic cloak, a humble, intelligent gardener solves this intriguing enigma. In the process, he wins the love of the youngest princess and the favor of the king. Ruth Sanderson--who calls her own artistic style "romantic yet realistic"--has retold and illustrated well-received editions of Papa Gatto, an Italian tale, and Rose Red and Snow White, the Grimm fairy tale. Her beautiful, richly colored oil paintings of princesses, their detailed dresses, the castles, and enchanted forests will make young readers believe in the magical world of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. (Ages 5 to 9) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Given the recent publication of at least three other retellings of this classic tale of the princesses who mysteriously dance each night away, one may question the need for yet another edition. While certain aspects of Sanderson's oil paintings are lovely, this version is somewhat flawed. With their rich, muted colors and intricate detail, the illustrations capture the story's magic and romance, while recreating the lavish dress and customs of the 15th century. At its best--showing the youngest princess standing in the royal garden or the 12 sisters making their way through a golden forest--Sanderson's art recalls Italian paintings of the era she depicts. The characters' faces and several hairstyles, however, are decidedly contemporary, as if a group of high school youths were attending a masquerade ball. In addition, the book's design is curiously flat and uninteresting: other than the paintings themselves, the pages have a starkness that belies the story's innate elegance. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown (October 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316770620
• ISBN-13: 978-0316770620
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,581 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tale retold--and redrawn, May 25, 2000

By	Ilana Teitelbaum - See all my reviews

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do yourself a favour while giving your kids a treat, April 2, 2003

By	R. M. Fisher "Raye" (New Zealand = Middle Earth!) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story, fabulous artwork, October 22, 1999

By A Customer

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.