Publisher: The Viking Press
Copyright: 1973
Number of Pages: 127(whole book)
Age: 12+ years
Genre: Fairytale
Summary of: The Twelve Dancing Princesses
In this short story it was about a king and his 12 daughters. Every night the king locked his daughters in their room before bed, and every morning when we went to get them he saw that the soles of their shoes were worn in but he didn't know why. So the king sent a message to all that whoever could figure out why the princesses had worn out shoes in the morning would have one of his daughters to marry. Many came but because none prevailed they all died as a result of not having an answer within the three days time.
Not too far was a soldier coming home and he didn't know what to do with himself. He ran into an old woman who asked him what he was doing and he responded that he was wandering around finding what to do. The old woman told the soldier of the kings request. The soldier thought that it would be a fun adventure to take part in. So the old woman told him "do not drink the wine the princesses bring you, it will put you to sleep. Take this cloak, its invisible so you can follow the girls." The prince did as he was told and that night he pretended to fall asleep. Once the princesses thought was out they said "oh we have cut the heads off of so many men, this one surely will die too!" as soon as the princesses were done snickering they escaped out of the castle and took a small boat to the near by castle where they met other princes and danced the night away. While this all was happening the soldier was following in his invisable cloak. He had figured out their secret. So he ran back to the castle before the princesses came back so they would see he was still asleep. The soldier wanted to keep going back so he used all of his 3 days and on the third day he told the king. The princesses could not deny what they were up to, so the soldier took one of the princesses to marry.
Who would benefit from this story?
I would say girls because it has the princesses in it but I don't think so because it shows the nasty characters that they have. I would just say anyone 12 and older.
What problems might this book cause?
I think this book could cause girls to see the princesses differently. Young girls see princesses as wonderful characters and in this story it shows that princesses aren't wonderful but rather a little bit evil. That could destroy a young childs admiration of a princess.
My reaction:
I really enjoyed this story actually because it was again different then other stories that I have read. It kept me guessing what was going to happen and when it did happen it took my by surprise.
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