The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by Dorothée Duntze (Illustrator), Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm

Every night the king locks his daughters in their room. Yet every morning their shoes are full of holes. Where do they go night after night, and what do they do to wear out their shoes? Many princes have tried to solve the mystery, but all have failed. Now it is a poor soldier’s turn. Will he be able to discover the secret of the twelve dancing princesses?

Genres: Fairy Tales, Picture Books, Childrens, Classics, Fantasy, Middle Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t believe I’ve never read this fairytale before until today... the illustrations of this book is stunning and I love how there was an element of mystery surrounding this fairytale. However, I found the end to this tale to be abrupt.

[Rossy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't get it -_-

[Cris A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antes de leer este cuento, tan sólo había sabido de la existencia de esta historia por la película de Barbie (no me juzguéis, seguro que más de uno la ha visto).
Me ha gustado mucho, me parece una historia especialmente mágica.
Algo que me parece curioso es como en todos los cuentos ponen la figura de la anciana como alguien capaz de otorgar la solución que el protagonista necesita y siempre por medios que implican a la magia. Es una forma de retratar la sabiduría que dan los años, en mi opinión.
Lo único que me parece un poco chocante es la actitud del Rey (el padre de las niñas en este caso) ¿Cerrarles la puerta con llave cada noche mientras duermen? ¿Matar a cualquiera que no consiga averiguar dónde bailan sus hijas? Me parece una actitud un poco drástica. Sé que en la época los padres tenían muy controladas y reprimidas a sus hijas pero no puedo evitar mencionarlo y que me chirríe.
Es una historia diferente (no la típica príncipe conoce a princesa y se enamoran) y muy original y por eso le he dado una buena puntuación.

[Majo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recuerdo que me leyeron este libro cuando era un niña en los primeros años de las primaria. La señorita Mimí adoraba contarnos cuentos mientras nosotras (iba a un colegio solo de chicas) nos relajabamos en nuestros asientos. Era un ejercicio de imaginación, nos hacia cerrar los ojos y recostarnos contra el pupitre, cualquiera podría haberse dormido durante ese tiempo, yo aprovechaba para soñar.

Este, sin duda, es uno de mis cuentos favoritos. La idea de doce princesas bailando se me antojaba romántico, aunque, en realidad no hay gran romanticismo en el cuento. Mi personaje favorito es la hermana menor, la mas intuitiva, la única que noto que había algo extraño cuando el solado las siguio.

Adoro este reto... revivo tantas cosas, mucho más que el simple relato, me trae tantos buenos recuerdos...

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this as a kid and still do

[Jitendra Kotai · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice fictional tale for young adults. Although I couldn't help but think that the princesses go out at night to dance and come back in the morning. It is a subtle hint towards the party culture.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm with Anthea Bell (Translator), Dorothée Duntze (Illustrator) – A very pretty version of this fairy tale! Happy Reading!

[ياس مين · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought he would marry the youngest .. but never mind it is just a fairy tale.

[Mohammed omran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another grim tale from the Brothers Grimm! A frustrated king cannot figure out why his twelve beautiful daughters wear holes into their shoes each night while being locked in their bedchamber. The king decrees if a man is able to explain to him what is causing the holes he will be crowned king and awarded one of his daughter’s hand in marriage. However, if he should fail at discovering the secret of the holes in three nights stay he shall be beheaded. Many take on the challenge but in the end all faced the guillotine

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of twelve princesses. Twelve princesses who always have holes in their dancing shoes each morning. The poor King does not know how every morning, after locking the princesses in their room all night, the shoes are full of holes. He decides to give, any man that discovers the true mystery of the shoes, the chance to choose one of his daughters to marry and together they will rule over the land once the king has died. However, if after three days and three nights the man has not uncovered the mystery he is to be executed. Will the King ever discover the princesses’ secret?

I was not familiar with this folktale when choosing the book. I enjoyed the pretty illustrations and was entertained throughout the story and eager to find out the mystery of what was happening to the princesses’ shoes. While the book has beautiful bright pastel colored illustrations, I felt that I did not fully understand the story. When the princesses mention that soon the princes will be set free from the spell, I was not sure what spell they were speaking of. I interpreted it as, as long as no suitor tells the king what the princesses are up to the spell will be broken. But then I was left wondering who is the old woman and why does she help the solider discover the secret the princesses are hiding. At the end of the book I did not feel like I was any wiser as to what was happening and for that reason I cannot give it a higher star than three. I have not read this to my daughter yet and I’d be interested to see what her take is on the story, as well as others who have read this edition.

I would recommend this book just to be able to open up a discussion with fellow readers to hear what they have to say about this tale. Maybe I’m just missing the whole point.

[Jling · Rating 3 out of 5]

It just a traditional fairy tale. The soldier make the tape others gave to find the reason of princesses' holed shoes. I really like the colors of illustrations which makes me feel comfortable. Before I reading, I thought it remind me of childhood. But after reading it, I was confused. Why the princesses dancing every night? Why the soldier married the oldest princess?

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another grim tale from the Brothers Grimm! A frustrated king cannot figure out why his twelve beautiful daughters wear holes into their shoes each night while being locked in their bedchamber. The king decrees if a man is able to explain to him what is causing the holes he will be crowned king and awarded one of his daughter’s hand in marriage. However, if he should fail at discovering the secret of the holes in three nights stay he shall be beheaded. Many take on the challenge but in the end all faced the guillotine.

[Laura V.]

Doce Princesas bailarinas

Me gusta la película de Barbie, es mi placer culpable ♥
Es lindo saber de donde vino toda la historia.
Por cierto, no sé si cuenta como spoiler, pero.. hubiera preferido que se quedara con la menor. Se notaba cierta química(?)

[Manic D0ll · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a Grimm Brothers tale, but not one that most people know. It is about 12 princesses whose father is trying to solve the mystery of why they keep needing new shoes every day. He enlists a wandering soldiers help during the investigation, and he is able to solve the mystery. This would be a good one to have in a unit about fairy tales, so that you can include something that not every student has read or heard of.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love a children's book in which the unsuccessful suitors get executed, princesses locked in a room discover a secret underworld full of princes with whom to dance, and a lucky young soldier tells the king their secret to win the hand of one girl in marriage and the kingdom. The illustrations are lovely.

[iltatee · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I read this to complete my reading challenge for 2014. But it was beautifully illustrated, and I didn't remember all the details of this story. This was one of my siblings' favourite fairy tale as a child, and she had written on the princesses who has which of her friends. They were altered many times, but I think I got the honor to be the one who reads a lot. :)

[Emeebee · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of my favorite fairy tales but this version left something to be desired. The illustrations were not my favorite and seemed to be a jumbled combination of many different styles and I simply did not like it.
(read in February of 2015 but removed date due to its interference with reading challenge "book by year" function)

[Alyssa (The Shady Glade) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the version of this book illustrated by Dorothée Duntze, and it just didn't do it for me. The text was pretty much the standard tale, no surprising twists or turns, and the illustrations just weren't my favorite.

[Stephanie Barrios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nunca había sabido nada de este libro, cuando vi que estaba en el reto ni siquiera sabia cual era el nombre en castellano. A la final me gustó bastante este libro, es sencilla y divertida, me pareció también sarcástica. Recomendado.

[Amy M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bland retelling with really disappointing illustrations.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A revisited childhood classic. Creepier now that I'm older.

Also I'm a cheater 3

[Marianinna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not great

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't the exact version I read, but this is such a fun understated tale. It's not your typical princess story and is just involving enough to keep the reader interested.

[Jetzabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó, pero no está entre mis cuentos para niños favoritos.