The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by Diane Muldrow (Adapted By), Fred Marvin (Illustrator), Jacob Grimm

Where do the king's beautiful daughter disappear to night after night?  And who can solve the mystery of the twelve pairs of dancing slippers, worn to shreds by the morning?

Internationally acclained illustrator Jane Ray brings to vivid life the fun-loving princesses of the classic Grimm fairy tale, as they boldly escape the confines of their father's castle.  Each one is a character in her own right--a loving sister and a not-so-dutiful daughter--enjoying their moments of freedom as well as their beautiful brocade ballgowns.

With its sumptuous detailed illustrations and gold and silver highlights, The Twelve Dancing Princesses is the latest jewel in the crown of Jane Ray's retellings of classic stories, which are themselves rapidly becoming modern classics.

Genres: Classics, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Short Stories, Childrens, Picture Books, Audiobook

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1812

About the author

Diane Muldrow grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She later attended Ohio University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Magazine Journalism and a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts: Dance. After her graduation, Diane moved to New York. She spent several years performing as an actress and dancer in New York’s downtown avant-garde performance scene. She also danced in a performance at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and had her own one-woman shows.

Diane has also had a successful career in publishing, both as an editor and as an author. She has written over 100 books for children. Diane lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she enjoys trying new recipes and eating in local restaurants.

Reviews

[Exina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of my childhood favorites. I read it many times, it's a lovely story.

[❆ Crystal ❆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. I like this story very much. I first saw the Barbie Movie of Twelve Dancing Princesses and loved it. I didn't know it was a Grimm fairy tale. :-) This story is very clever and imaginative.

[Lör K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating

I’m giving The Twelve Dancing Princesses four and a half stars out of five.

Genre

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a classic children’s faerie tale by the minds of the Brothers Grimm.

About the Book

This is the story of 12 princesses that wear their shoes down to holes every night and their father’s quest to find out what happens when the moon shines over the kingdom.

Why did I choose this book to read?

I have an app on my phone with all the Brothers Grimm stories on it. Coming along this app made me remember how much I had wanted to read the Brothers Grimm stories and to finally catch up on them like I have been trying for years, and I finally decided to start reading them. 

Pricing

Unknown. Read on a free app from the Apple Store. 

What did I think of it?

I think this was a sweet little story. I really enjoyed it and how it wasn’t all about romance. It was about having fun with a mysterious side to it. Of course, I saw the Barbie movie about this when I was younger, so I knew the story, but there was something refreshing about reading the original story and reading it as it was meant to be read.

Did I have any qualms with it?

The only reason I knocked half a star off, was the King just ‘here have my daughter, her opinion doesn’t matter in this’. Then again, this irks me, but I do understand that this was how things worked in the times the Grimm Brothers were writing.

Would I recommend it and who to?

Any classic faerie tale lover.

Overall opinion

This was a lovely little story about royalty, mystery and some form of romance. I really enjoyed reading this and actually read it twice. I think this is a glory of a classic and it should be enjoyed a lot more in today’s world.

[مروة الجزائري · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moment I lay my eyes on this fairy-tale, I remembered my dear friend Dhuha who loves this one and loves the fairy tale retelling of it.
It was lovely and I am so ready to read the adaptation or retelling of this wonderful girly fairy-tale.

by the way, the 12 princesses were so cruel to let someone die for them only so they can dance.

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

short, quick read
princesses letting men die so they can keep dancing. cleverly done

[Ame · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to check out the retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses as illustrated by Errol Le Cain, and anybody that picks up this copy will not regret it. The costuming of the princesses along with the magically celestial underground world they enter each night is gorgeous.

[ily · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Las Doce princesas fiesteras" sería un título más apropiado, creo yo. Me quedo con la versión de Barbie.

[Ginnie Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

growing up, this was always my favorite faerie tale

[Vaishali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too easy of an ending...

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but good.

[Cami · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pretty cute. I like the idea of this tale better than some of the other lesser known ones. I love that they place they went dancing was an underground castle with forests of gold and silver and diamonds. (Oh the splendor.) However, I felt bad for the oldest princess who the man chose at the end. Didn't sure already have her underground prince that she loved? :(

[ReadingSloph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite stories as it was more developed in the storyline and had more of a plot to it. The characters were very good and I enjoyed the trickery behind it as well as the magical element.

[Traci Segraves Price]

I read this because I wanted to read the house of salt and sorrows which is suppose to be based on the 12 dancing princesses. What an odd tale. But in the end, all fairy tales are odd and intriguing in a way.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

"graet" (i was 7 at the time)

[B.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this, but I always thought the prince was creepy and should have been with the youngest one.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a fan of Grimm tales I realize.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Grimm Fairy-tale, it is defiantly one of my favourites from this book.

[Amy Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection.

[Mie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always heard a lot about this fairy tale but never read. A fine and sweet one.

[411Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a cute story. I miss reading fairy takes like this.

[Anna Lefkati · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember watching a cartoon thingy when I was younger based on this story but I had no idea the Grimms' wrote it.

[Mercy Martinez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nunca creí decir esto.... pero prefiero la versión de Barbie, era como más mágica y mas divertida :)

[Christopher Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fairy tale with some merit. I appreciate the imaginative quality of the tale, and hope that my students will enjoy it.

[Katrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindof pointless, but not too bad

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

[Maisie Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was one of my fav childhood books. the illustrations were interesting and pretty. a nice story as well.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember i read this book when i was in elementsry school from my school's library. Such good times.

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, an okay story.

[Vaitiaré González · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mi película favorita adaptada en historia de Barbie, tengo que admitirlo pero aun así no me gustó mucho la historia porque está llena de machismo.

[Faris Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story but there's alot of unneeded waffle words when trying to read to kids lol