Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter (Hardcover)

~ (Author, Illustrator) "ONCE THERE WAS MILLER'S DAUGHTER WHO got into a heap of trouble..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The children's classic "Rumpelstiltskin" undergoes an attitude update in Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter by Diane Stanley. Yes, the king imprisons the miller's daughter Meredith and threatens death if she doesn't spin mountains of gold, but this time it's a kind and cute, not a troll-like and evil Rumpelstiltskin who rescues Meredith from the king's wrath. Rumpelstilskin's heartfelt request for Meredith's first child as payment for the spun gold is accompanied by promises that he will read to the child and even coach Little League! Meredith cannot resist such promises, and the two escape from the palace, marry the next day, and settle on a farm far from the king. The story picks up some 16 years later. Meredith and Rumpelstiltskin have a "sunny and clever" daughter named Hope who delights in traveling to town to sell the golden coins spun by her father. On one such trip the greedy king crosses Hope's path and, after spying the gold coins, sets her to spinning gold in a cold palace cell. Hope cooks up a plan that results in prosperity for the people of the kingdom and her appointment as prime minister. Diane Stanley's irresistable prose and detailed illustrations make Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter a golden yarn that's sure to be spun over and over. (Age 5 and older)

From Publishers Weekly

This miller's daughter can't imagine why anyone would want to marry the money-loving king, and proposes marriage to the short little man who has saved her life. In a starred review, PW said, "Stanley blazes a new path for herself in this effervescent revisionist fairy tale, and the results are stunning." Ages 5-up. (June)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (April 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068814327X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688143275
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #471,109 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story, stunning illustrations, June 11, 2000

By	K. Bennett (Rolla, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sometimes I run across a book that has such a well-crafted story and such exquisite illustrations that I just sit back and say, "Wow!" This book by Diane Stanley is one of those "wow" books. In this version of Rumpelstiltskin, the miller's daughter, Meredith, is not a brainless wench who jumps at the chance to marry the king. Rumpelstiltskin is not an evil child-snatching gnome. In fact, he's a sweet soul who only wants one thing in life -- a child to love and care for. No wonder Meredith decides to ditch the king and marry Rumpelstiltskin. Besides, she has a weakness for short men. Rumpelstiltskin and Meredith marry, work on their farm, and raise their daughter. Although the family could use Rumpelstiltskin's talents to become exceedingly rich, he only spins a small amount of gold to buy those things they can't make or grow themselves. The rest of the people in the kingdom are not so lucky. The greedy king has rooms full of gold while his subjects are penniless and starving. No wonder he needs a contingent of armed guards who have elevated teeth-gnashing and sword-clutching into an art form.

When Rumpelstiltskin's daughter is sixteen, her parents let her take the odd bit of gold into town to exchange it for coins to buy necessities. Eventually the old greedy king hears about this, kidnaps Rumpelstiltskin's daughter, and locks her in a tower filled with straw. "Rumpelstiltskin's daughter looked around. She saw a pile of straw the size of a bus. She saw a locked door and high windows. She gave a big sigh and began to think. She knew her father could get her out of this pickle. But she had heard stories about the king all her life. One room full of gold would never satisfy him. Her father would be stuck here, spinning, until there was not an iota of straw left in the kingdom. "After a while she climbed the pile of straw and thought some more. She thought about the poor farmers and about the hungry children with their thin faces and sad eyes. She put the two thoughts together and cooked up a plan. . ." Instead of spinning straw into gold, Rumpelstiltskin's daughter puts her plan (which Ms. Stanley develops so cleverly that you really should read it for yourself) into action and saves the kingdom by teaching the king some simple lessons in economics and public relations. By the end of the story, the king offers her his hand in marriage, which she wisely declines. "Why don't you make me prime minister, instead," she suggests.

The best word to describe the illustrations is sumptuous. Diane Stanley's greedy king with his elegantly styled coif bears a striking resemblance to Louis XIV, and the artwork mirrors the Sun King's opulence. The palace shines with gilded ceilings and elaborate tiled floors. On the palace walls hang masterpieces so famous that my six year old can recognize most of them --works by da Vinci, Van Gogh, Picasso.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great book with uplifting message and beautiful pictures, October 23, 1999

By A Customer

"I am five years old. I like this book because the pictures are beautiful, the story is fun, and there are no scary parts. My dad loves it, too"

I am the mom, and I love it, too. This book adds a new twist to an old tale.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Antidote To Grim Fairy Tales, November 27, 1999

By A Customer

When Rumpelstiltskin's daughter is captured by the same greedy king who imprisoned her mother, she is determined to save herself and teach the king a lesson at the same time. This she does with real flair, improving the king's economy and polishing his image until his subjects adore him. A funny and refreshing change from fairy tales that promise only rescue for the dainty heroine, this updating of the Rumpelstiltskin story features the sharp wit of Diane Stanley as well as wonderfully clever illustrations that will engage everyone from children to adults.