The Twelve Dancing Princesses

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 show more 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. show less

I enjoyed the pictures in this, but not so much the adaptation. This is one of my favorite fairy tales, though, so I tend to prefer the original story.

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 show more striking – Sanderson’s oil paintings are finely detailed, brightly colored, elegant depictions of the lavish scenes described in the story. show less

• In my opinion, this is a well written book. I liked this book because of the language and the how the author chose to write the plot. I thought the language was very descriptive and clear. When reading the text I had an easy time imaging the story. For example, when the author was describing Michael slipping into Lina’s boat I could visualize her dancing partner struggling to row the boat and Lina questioning his strength. My second reason for liking the book is the plot. I thought the author wrote the story well. The plot was organized and flowed nicely. The author took her time building the story so that it caused some tension when the story reached the climax. She did this when the sisters were deciding what to do with Michael, show more to have him killed or let him marry Lina. Adding this tension in the plot made the book more interesting. I think the main message of the story is that it’s okay to love someone from different socio-economic backgrounds. Lina chose to marry Michael even though he was just a peasant, she loved him regardless. show less

I enjoyed reading this story about 12 princesses who disappear each night to a fantasy world. I liked how there was a sense of mystery in the beginning. Every night the room where the 12 princesses slept was locked. “Every morning, though, their shoes were found to be quite worn through”, this leaves the reading with curiosity to find out what happens to their shoes at night. The king asked princes to come and try to solve the mystery but every time a prince would come, in the morning “the prince himself had disappeared”. Making the reader even more curious about what is happening to all the princes. I liked that the story began this way because it makes the reader want to keep reading to find out what happens.
I also liked the show more fun and imaginative setting of the fantasy world the princesses go to. The princesses passed through three woods to get to their destination. Each wood was a little different, one “where the leaves on the trees were spangled with silver”, the next “where the leaves were sprinkled with gold” and the last “where the leaves glittered with diamonds”. The detail and elegance of the woods added to setting of the fantasy world making it more interesting and special.
I think that the central message from this telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses is to go with your heart and not let titles stand in the way of true love. The youngest princess stopped the garden boy from drinking the cursed drink and married him even though her sisters teased her and told her that if she married him she would only be a “gardeners wife”. In the end the garden boy becomes king and instead of becoming a gardeners wife the princess becomes the queen. show less

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 show more 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. show less

The illustrations carry this book. The tale is an old one by the Brothers Grimm. The illustrations are lavishly stunning. The story consists of princesses, magic spells, castles, quests, a poor man who longs for more.

The twelve dancing princess have beautiful gowns and lovely shoes to match. Each night they have beautiful shoes and each morning, the soles are worn. The King cannot understand what happens to the shoes. He makes an announcement that if any young man can discover why their shoes become worn, he has the hand on a princess. A young common man named Michael who was told by an older woman that she should look for a gardener position at the castle, she also gave him a clock that when worn, He became invisible.

Michael fell in show more love with Lina, one of the humble princesses. The other men who tried to solve the riddle were given a potion which rendered them silent.

One night Michael followed the princesses and hid under twelve beds. Eventually, the magical doors were opens and the 12 young girls were clothed in stunning outfits and beautiful shoes.

They went down to a small chamber, where they progressed to rooms of silver, gold and diamonds. Lina suspected she heard someone, but no one else did. A large lake with white swans transported the ladies to a magical palace where they danced with partners throughout the entire night until the soles of their slippers were worn through.

One night Michael took a gold-sprinkled branch. Lina confronted the garden boy Michael who confessed to learning their dancing secret. Later that night, Lina gave him an invitation to the palace where he danced with her. Her did not drink the potion in the cup. The next day they approached the King and were given permission to marry. Instead of a gardener, Michael eventually became a King. show less