The Twelve Dancing Princesses

By Lucy Corvino

Welcome the newest addition to John Cech’s widely-praised Classic Fairy Tale Collection.

Every day, twelve princesses mysteriously wear out twelve new pairs of shoes—and neither the king, nor a series of hopeful suitors, can figure out how. Then a simple soldier, with a little magic on his side, gives it a try. Will he succeed where others have failed? Lucy Corvino’s illustrations capture the princesses’ graceful dancing world.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Union Square Kids
• Release date: Nov 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781402798207

Book preview

Reviews for The Twelve Dancing Princesses

[shakelawilliams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly, I loved reading The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Ruth Sanderson for a few reasons. One, I thought the illustrations were the highlight of this story. Each oil painting had such rich, muted colors with intricate details. I think that the illustrations successfully recreate the 15th century time period. Each princess has an elaborate hairstyle, with delicate yet beautiful dresses. I also think that the writing flows, and is well organized. For instance it says, “ Finally the princesses crossed a third wood, where the leaves flittered with diamonds that sparked in the night.” In my opinion, the writing is smooth and elegant to represent that time period. The lesson of this story is about dreams and determination and how that can produce the outcome you want. I think that this is important for children to know that with hard work and determination they can achieve anything.

[athena.j · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book's genre is fairytale. It tells the story of twelve princesses who every night, have new worn-out shoes, and their father, the king, doesn't know why. He declared that whoever discovered their secret could choose one of them as a wife. A poor boy was determined to find their secret, and followed them one night concealed by a magic cloak. They went to an enchanted land and a castle, where they danced all night with all the previous suitors, who were now under an enchantment. By and by, the boy, Michael revealed his secret to the youngest princess, and brought all the princesses and the princes back to the castle, destroying the magical land. The king allowed Michael to pick a wife, and he picked the youngest daughter, Lina.

[kdangleis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a beautifully illustrated story retold from the Brothers Grimm. The oil painted pictures are detailed, including light reflected off the princess’ gorgeous 15th century costumes (dresses, shoes, headpieces, petticoats, etc.). This German folktale is full of magic, complete with an enchanted castle, a love story, and a hero who breaks the spell of the frozen hearts. The princesses secretly dance all night long in an enchanted castle, wearing out their shoes. Each morning the king finds the worn shoes and inquires the reason for this, only to find no answer. The king offers a reward, the pick of one of the 12 for a wife, to any man able to discover the cause of the worn shoes. Many try unsuccessfully to figure out the princesses’ secret, and are given a drink by the eldest princesses causing their hearts to freeze and only love dancing. Then a man named Michael comes to work at the palace as a gardener, aided by the magic of an old woman and an invisible cloak, and is able to solve the mystery. In the process, Michael falls in love with Lina, the youngest princess, and she with him. Her sisters tease her that she will be a gardener’s wife. Once Lina confesses to the oldest sister that Michael has learned the secret, the princesses decide to keep Michael from telling their secret by throwing him in the dungeon and plan to give him the same drink as the men who tried to discover their secret. Just before the Michael is to drink the enchanted mixture, Lina stops him declaring her love for him. In the end, the spell is broken, the enchanted palace crumbles, and the king makes Michael the heir to his kingdom.

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This picture book contains a re-telling of a Grimm brothers’ tale of 12 beautiful princesses who are locked in their room each night, but their shoes are inexplicably worn out each morning. The king declares that whoever can solve the mystery will win the hand of one of the princesses. While many princes come to solve the mystery, it is of no avail. Then along comes Michael, the gardener’s assistant, who figures out the mystery with the help of a magic cloak. I’m not usually a huge fan of fairy tales because I find them silly (and not in a good way), and this story is no exception. However, I did love this book as a child, and I think it was the element of enchantment about it that I enjoyed. Also, the illustrations are absolutely striking – Sanderson’s oil paintings are finely detailed, brightly colored, elegant depictions of the lavish scenes described in the story.