Paul O. Zelinsky

Rumpelstiltskin was always one of my favorite fairytales. I think we discussed this in our fairytale and folklore unit, but I was always more upset by the fact that Rumpelstiltskin was the victim in all of this, not the miller or his daughter. While the promise of wealth and living comfortably would have been a dream come true for any poor family, the miller's daughter eventually ended up marrying a man (the king) who, if she hadn't been able to spin straw into gold, would have ended up show more killing her. I'm not quite sure what kind of message that sends to young readers. The line between good and evil is hazy at best. Personally, I think Rumple was pigeonholed as the "villian" because of his looks and his way of life; the king, on the other hand, because of his wealth, was cast as the "hero." I don't think the messaging in this fairytale is good, per se, but the story is interesting and I always enjoyed the way Rumple wanted to help the miller's daughter, and even though he asked for her first born child, in a way, I think perhaps he was in love with her and thought they could build a life and family together. I think this is an interesting story to read with young children and explore the idea of good and evil, and what that really means. show less

In this retelling of a Grimms' fairytale, a strange little man saves the miller's daughter's life by spinning a roomful of straw into gold. His price is the promise of the miller's daughter's firstborn. The king marries her, and soon after the birth of their first child, the little man comes to demand his payment. The queen is given just three days to discover the little man's name or lose her child forever.

This is the story my grandmother always told us at bedtime, and any retelling will show more suffer in comparison with her rendition. However, this story is beautifully illustrated. The rich colors and detail tempt the reader to linger over each page. I think my grandmother would have appreciated the charm of the illustrations, even if her version of the story was better! show less

I loved this story growing up but I had never read this version. This book surprised me. The illustrations were detailed and vibrant. The plot line was very traditional and had a great history at the end of the book that told the evolving tale of how fable came to be. What surprised me was my new take on the role of women in this story. Her rob is to make the king rich, that is what makes her worthy. He threatens to kill her if she cannot spin the straw into gold, yet she marries the man in show more the end. Is that what we want little girls to see as their role in life? Be beautiful, marry, and make your husband rich. It was a new perspective on an old fable that I had grown up listening and loving. I found discerning. In the classroom, you could use it to talk about ways in which women were interpreted throughout history in your curriculum. Have students share what the authors opinion of women might have been? You could also use it to discuss old fables that have lasted centuries and what makes them so engaging. If you were doing a unit on fairy tales or fantasy writing, this book would be great to incorporate. show less

This is the version I remember from childhood. It is the classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin, who weaves straw into gold for a young woman whose father boasted of her (nonexistent) skill to the king, in exchange for her firstborn. (Why she would want to marry someone who had twice threatened to kill her doesn't enter into it, apparently. Fairy tales are brutal.) She guesses his name and he flies off in a rage (a less violent end for him than in some versions, where he tears himself in half). show more Gorgeous, timeless, enchanting illustrations. show less