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72nd out of 294 books
—
459 voters
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
For generations, children have loved the enchanting story of the twelve beautiful princesses and the handsome young lad who solves the mystery of their tattered shoes.
Now Marianna Mayer brings to life all the splendor and romance of this beloved classic, from the dazzling forests Of silver, gold, and diamonds to a twilight palace where the bewitched princesses dance to hyp...more
Now Marianna Mayer brings to life all the splendor and romance of this beloved classic, from the dazzling forests Of silver, gold, and diamonds to a twilight palace where the bewitched princesses dance to hyp...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
March 24th 1989
by HarperCollins
(first published 1956)
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Jun 02, 2009
Abigail
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fairy Tale Fans, Anyone who loves Kinuko Craft
Review Temporarily Removed.
I have never really liked the Brothers Grimm's tale about twelve dancing princesses and their tattered slippers (die zertanzten Schuhe, The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes). There really is not all that much "magic" in the tale, and the princesses only admit their nocturnal escapades because they realise that their secret has finally been discovered. Furthermore, the fact that in the original tale, the suitors who are unable to discover the secret of the dancing shoes are executed by the king (and that t...more
Another recent re-read with Izzy. Like my goodreads friend Abigail this is one of those fairy tales that I've always known about, but have never been overly enthusiastic about. But this re-telling really won me over. I love that the hero is just a simple gardener (versus a prince), but he is kind and sensitive. He never dreams of forcing the princess Elise to marry him because he discovers her secret. And it is his very kindness that causes Elise finally fall in love with Peter despite his humbl...more
Apr 09, 2011
Crystal Marcos
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fairy tales readers, princess stories
I read this with a small head lamp I held in my hand and then looked at the pictures again in normal lighting later. Reading a picture book in the dark is not a normal practice for my but my daughter is teething and she wanted me near when she feel asleep. I am so glad I looked at the pictures in both settings. The illustrations are gorgeous and hold magic especially when looked at with the little light I rolled it around the pages, some several times. My favorite page to view this way was the o...more
Our girls like to look up books on our library's online catalogue. This weekend she looked up dancing. For fun, we borrowed a couple of versions of the Brothers Grimm story, The Twelve Dancing Princesses. This is a very elaborately illustrated and expanded version of the tale. It's a longer story overall than the other story we read and the intricate illustrations are gorgeous. We really enjoyed our little experiment.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the April 2011 Royalty-them...more
This book was featured as one of the selections for the April 2011 Royalty-them...more
Jan 04, 2009
Jasmine
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
every girl in the world
Shelves:
children
I can't remember a time when I didn't have this book. I was enchanted by the BEAUTIFUl illistrations!
I LOVE this book!
I LOVE this book!
The Twelve Dancing Princesses is, for some reason, a book with a landscape orientation, when normally fairy tale books tend to have a portrait orientation. I wonder if this book’s orientation is because there are twelve people who are featured in the story instead of just one. I also wonder if it has to do with their journeys through the woods, but I feel that it is more likely landscape in order to more easily show all twelve princesses at once. The illustrations are all very medieval looking,...more
*This* edition, significantly re-told by Mayer and illustrated by Craft, is the best I've read. I've always kinda liked this tale but been slightly dissatisfied. Mayer re-worked it to make sense and to have more fairy-tale magic. The princes don't get executed, the potion is still there but the princesses, though haughty, are not cruel, and the twilight world is more, well, plausible. Craft's art is perhaps a little overblown, but as a young girl I'm sure I would have loved it.
This has been one of my favorite children's books for over twenty years since I discovered it in my grandparents' local library and just HAD to read the book with such gorgeous illustrations. The illustrations are clearly the main draw of this book, but props should be given to author Marianna Mayer. The original fairy tale is problematic: the hero is unsympathetic, the princess is coerced into marriage, no explanation is given for why the princesses are running off into fairy land, etc. In this...more
Published in 1989 by HarperCollins
Interest Level: 4th-6th Grade
This retells the traditional tale of the 12 dancing princesses but this version by Mayer and Crafy go into specific details and explanations for each of the events and parts of the story. The story is entirely different from any of the other versions I have read. These illustrations are set in the past with strong oil pastel colors. The interesting part of this version was that some illustrated panels were on the side of the text and...more
Interest Level: 4th-6th Grade
This retells the traditional tale of the 12 dancing princesses but this version by Mayer and Crafy go into specific details and explanations for each of the events and parts of the story. The story is entirely different from any of the other versions I have read. These illustrations are set in the past with strong oil pastel colors. The interesting part of this version was that some illustrated panels were on the side of the text and...more
The story is a classic, and will always be. What makes this book unique is the illustrator. If you've seen posters, you've probably seen among them Kinuko Y. Craft's Titania. As far as art goes, I believe this book was the first art I ever fell in love with.
Thomas Kinkade - a pop artist of modern day is called The Artist of Light: I would call Kinuko: Artist of Souls. She captures the essence of the soul in the eyes. Her colors are incomparable... everything seems dipped in metallics, shiny, an...more
Thomas Kinkade - a pop artist of modern day is called The Artist of Light: I would call Kinuko: Artist of Souls. She captures the essence of the soul in the eyes. Her colors are incomparable... everything seems dipped in metallics, shiny, an...more
My 6 year old daughter loves the fairy tale of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" so I was very excited to find this version to give her for Christmas. Marianne Mayer's re-telling of the classic Grimm fairy tale is simply superb. Her writing is beautiful and compelling. The illustrations by KY Craft are stunning. It's one of the most beautifully illustrated children's books I have seen. Each illustration truly is a work of art. Even if you aren't a fan of the fairy tale it's worth checking out this...more
The king would like to know why his 12 daughters have shoes that looked as if they danced the night away when their doors are locked. He offers a deal that if a man can solve the problem in 3 days, that they will marry a daughter. If this doesn't happen, they will suffer death. The soldier is warned, given a cloak granting invisibility and told to act if he drank the wine and then snore. The soldier follows the girls and solves the problem. He marries the oldest princess the next day. The illust...more
this is possibly the best children’s version of this story i’ve come across. the pictures are beautiful with attention paid to detail. the illustrations are kind of reminiscent of classical art… whatever era that is, but you get the idea from the front cover. there’s a lot to look at in any case. the storytelling isn’t bad either. the author knows how to put a decent sentence together.
this story is probably what i would (in this day and age) consider to be a ‘classically told fairy tale. a must...more
this story is probably what i would (in this day and age) consider to be a ‘classically told fairy tale. a must...more
Mar 19, 2011
Lisa Vegan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who wants to read a version of this tale, this is the one to read
This has never been one of my favorite fairy tales, but this edition of it is one of six selected books for the Picture Books Club’s April “Royalty” theme over at the Children's Books group, so I read it again, for the first time since I was a young child.
The fact that I like it better than I did then is most like due to the amazing pictures. They are luminous, gorgeous, and lush, and all the pictures tell the story and fit the story so well. I also enjoyed that in this version the hero is a gar...more
The fact that I like it better than I did then is most like due to the amazing pictures. They are luminous, gorgeous, and lush, and all the pictures tell the story and fit the story so well. I also enjoyed that in this version the hero is a gar...more
An odd story I really wasn't expecting.
The king has 12 daughters that like to dance to the degree that they sneak "out" to do so. The king then set a challenge for someone to solve the mystery of them getting out...but if the gentleman can't solve it... they're put to death.
The princesses seem spoiled; they don't care about the consequence to the young men & keep sneaking out to dancing till finally one soldier soves the mystery. And the story abrupty ends.
The king has 12 daughters that like to dance to the degree that they sneak "out" to do so. The king then set a challenge for someone to solve the mystery of them getting out...but if the gentleman can't solve it... they're put to death.
The princesses seem spoiled; they don't care about the consequence to the young men & keep sneaking out to dancing till finally one soldier soves the mystery. And the story abrupty ends.
What a fabulous and elegant love story. Many children would enjoy reading for the fact of all the beautiful princesses. Children could also make connections like I have. The connection I made was how the princesses were trying to find the prince to marry and love which is a lot like Fiona. The illustrations capture the essense of a typical castly filled with royalty and poise. The detailed pictures range in color and glamour. Overall, a quite a swell story.
Only K.Y. Craft's marvelous illustrations saved this from being a one-star book. Normally, I absolutely love anything that has to do with fairy tales. This, however, is such a tepid retelling that I can't believe it's pretending to be the same story. There's no sense of menace or mystery. Only that everyone is very, very beautiful and spells can be broken in the dumbest of ways.
Not a fan at all. Except, of course, the illustrations are magnificent.
Not a fan at all. Except, of course, the illustrations are magnificent.
I remember reading this book when I was younger and loving the story so much that I would retell it to all the little girls I would babysit. I recently checked it out from the library to share with my children. It was a little longer than I remembered, but they enjoyed it and my seven year old has asked for it at bedtime every night for the last week. It was fun to be able to share a story that I loved with them and have them love it too.
wide reading for CI 546
grade level: elementary for reading level/content. possibly older grades for use in compare/contrast exercises.
genre: traditional folktale
format: picture book
themes: deception, honesty, family, temptation.
school use: I might have this in my classroom library but I would probably not specifically use it in my classroom. One possible use would be in presenting older students with various different retellings of folktales in a language arts unit focused on different writing s...more
grade level: elementary for reading level/content. possibly older grades for use in compare/contrast exercises.
genre: traditional folktale
format: picture book
themes: deception, honesty, family, temptation.
school use: I might have this in my classroom library but I would probably not specifically use it in my classroom. One possible use would be in presenting older students with various different retellings of folktales in a language arts unit focused on different writing s...more
This book is a wonderful read aloud like Cinderella, Snow White and many other classics. Because of the length of this book, I would recommended it for 2nd and upper grade students to read on their own since their attention span would be longer compared to younger grades. Plus, this book would be a great read aloud because the teacher can explain some vocabulary words students may not understand.
This was the first time i read this book and also the first time i herd this tale. I really liked that their is some what of a mystery to the story. Anther thing that i really enjoyed was that it wasn't like a normal princess story and only had the sisters involved. Also the imagination that this book creates and helos you create in your mind is really amazing.
A pleasing retelling of the classic fairy tale. I actually hadn't read it before this book, so I can't comment on how good the retelling is; to me, the story was compelling . The real draw, however, is the art. The paintings are absolutely gorgeous, with both people and scenery beautifully portrayed. The art definitely contributes to the fairy-tale feel of the book.
Though the story is a bit over-long, it is nicely told. This earns five stars, though, due to the absolutely exquisite artwork! Oh, wow! What a gorgeous presentation. From the sweet little borders to the full-page spreads, this is nothing but beauty-beauty-beauty! Rich and decadent, full of flowers and silks and romance. A highly recommended visual feast!
Sep 29, 2011
Parvathy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fairy tale lovers
Recommended to Parvathy by:
Gundula
This is a great fairy tale and each time I read this it feels like I am reading the book for the first time. But there is not much explanation given about the magical place the princesses visit at night and why they were specially chosen to inhabit them. Hey! but that is the beauty of a fairy tale. It defies explanation and makes you go with the flow
this version has a twist or two from the more common, and the illustrations are well done. the story is a bit longer, fleshed out with a bit more detail and character development. i feel that the ending exhonorates the princesses. usually they come off looking rather bad.
just recently saw the ballet by Callenwolde dancers, which was aslo very nice.
just recently saw the ballet by Callenwolde dancers, which was aslo very nice.
May 14, 2009
Raha
added it
I picked up this copy at my favorite book shop in Santa Cruz, right next door to a fabulous chocolate cafe and flower trolley. It's one of a series of books that I have purchased because of the stunning illustrations. The story is a classic, of course, and the artists' works unfold the magic of the fairy tale in such a marvelous way!
The artwork in this version of this story makes it more than worth reading. I think I could almost cite it as one of the the inspirations for my current career. The story itself has long been one of my favorites, and I like this telling of the story.
This book is a wonderful fairly tale about twelve princesses. Every night the twelve princesses wear down their new dancing shoes. However, the King does not understand how because he locks the door to their room every night so there is not way that they can get out, but every morning their dancing shoes are torn. Many men have tried to discover the secret however none succeeded. Until one young man discovers their secret, using magic. It is like many other fairy tales in which the characters li...more
Beautiful illustrations and a better take on the Grimm's original (less violence), but a little long winded to be a picture book for young children. Ideal for the good older reader, who just wants a quick fairy tale to read.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| What's The Name o...: Childrens / Princesses / Silver Forest [s] | 9 | 37 | Jan 25, 2012 07:10pm |
Marianna Mayer lives in Roxbury, Connecticut.
"I see folktales and myths as humankind's first stories," says Marianna Mayer. "They are a kind of collective dreaming, filled with timeless symbols and images we can all relate to, regardless of age or culture. And, much as an oyster must be disturbed by a grain of sand in order for the pearl to be created, I often choose to retell stories in which I...more
More about Marianna Mayer...
"I see folktales and myths as humankind's first stories," says Marianna Mayer. "They are a kind of collective dreaming, filled with timeless symbols and images we can all relate to, regardless of age or culture. And, much as an oyster must be disturbed by a grain of sand in order for the pearl to be created, I often choose to retell stories in which I...more
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Oct 15, 2007 02:04pm