The Princess and the Pea (Paperback)

~ Hans Christian Andersen (Author), Dorothee Duntze (Illustrator) "There was once a Prince who wished to marry a princess, but she had to be a real princess..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Intricate patterns and dreamy pastel hues mark Duntze's luxuriant ilustrations for this classic tale. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reS-Gr 3-Opaline von Highbredde of Lower Crestalia is not your typical princess. She wears grease-stained overalls and drives a tow truck to pass the time until she comes of age and takes the throne. That's how Prince Ralph of Upper Crestalia, out for a drive after all the princesses he had hoped to marry failed his mother's exacting tests, meets her. It's love at first sight, and the two immediately return to his castle so that the princess can take the tests everyone else has failed. Annoyed that Opal is able to do 100 double Dutch jumps on one leg and answer a riddle, the queen insists on one more test: the familiar pea under the stack of mattresses. The boldly colorful illustrations reflect Va's's background as a set designer; he captures the dramatic and broadly comical possibilities in a princess attempting yo-yo tricks, her face screwed up in concentration, or in the anxious looks on Prince Ralph's face as he awaits his mother's verdicts. Though this may not be the most engaging version of the tale available, the humorous twists and illustrations will be appreciated by all.

Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, Eldersburg, MD

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: North-South Books (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558583815
• ISBN-13: 978-1558583818
• Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,636,768 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an amusing modern twist to an old tale!, November 8, 2001

By	Rebecca Brown "rebeccasreads" (Clallam Bay, WA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Princess and the Pea (Hardcover)

In the beautiful land of Upper-Crestalia King Adolph, Queen Frieda, & their dear son Prince Ralph live & the queen is quite content until her son one day bursts into her chamber & declares that he wishes to marry.

The queen does not like this idea at all so she hatches a plan to prevent her son marrying & she makes sure that the few princesses who do audition for Prince Ralph's wife all fail.

Mad with grief, Prince Ralph tears off in his expensive car down to Lower-Crestalia & when smoke starts billowing out of his hood, poor Ralph is stranded.

To his great surprise & relief, an auto-mechanic pulls up next to him & a dirty young woman in overalls carrying a tool box, jumps out. They get to talking, & the Prince is smitten! Her name is Opal, & she is the princess of Lower-Crestalia.

On the spot Prince Ralph proposes & when her prince charming confesses that his mother has idiotic tasks in store for her, Opal only becomes more determined.

Opal passes the tests with flying colors & that's when the queen insists there be a third test which is the one from which the title of this hilarious book is taken.

Will Princess Opal pass the final test? Will the queen's crafty plan succeed? Read this enchanting book & find out!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Classic, January 30, 2005

By	D. Wetherhold "Weth" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Princess and the Pea (Favourite Tales) (Hardcover)

Despite the Politically Correct gone amuck reviews of some reviewers, This is a children's classic and our daughter loves the story. It is part of our bedtime storybook rotation.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Real Princess, November 29, 2001

By	Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Princess and the Pea (Hardcover)

PLEASE NOTE! This review is for the version that is illustrated by Dorothee Duntze. Everyone knows this Hans Christian Andersen story about the bedraggled princess who shows up looking for shelter on a stormy night. She might be a good match for the prince who's been searching for a "real" princess so the queen mother runs a little test...the rest is the subject of fairy tales! This version is simply told and beautifully illustrated. The pictures, executed in soft pastel colors, have a quirky Art Deco feel to them that I thoroughly enjoyed. The gowns of all the ladies in the book are done in a collage style and are covered in intricate patterns and designs. Lovely...the real thing!