The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by Emma Helbrough, Anna Luraschi (Illustrator)

Princesses are supposed to be quiet and well behaved, but the 12 princesses in this story like to have fun. When their father finds out they've been sneaking off at night to go dancing, he's furious. Ages 5+ years.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1990

About the author

Emma Helbrough is a children's book author associated with Usborne publishing.

Reviews

[Fourth Grade · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to the story, the 12 princesses are disappearing in the night and no on know's where there going. The King is furious. He does not want the princesses to dance in-fact every night he locks them into a high tower, and that makes the King even more furious. One morning the King puts up posters that say, Find Out Were My Daughters Go And You Will Receive A Large Award. Well, many princes volunteered which is good, but what the King said to them was not so good. He said if you fail you will not receive the reward, and you will have your head chopped off. Many princes volunteered and all of them failed, until a magician came upon one of the kings posters and he thought, "I can do this." So the king said to him, "If you do find out where my daughters are, you will receive a large award. But if you fail you won't regret it."

[Krisz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember the original tale, I confess, but somehow I think the princesses actually wanted to marry those princes who took them to the other side of the river, so it seems kind of cruel that only the youngest could marry, as well as that their father never let them dance again . This is not a logical or fairy tale ending, so I tell a different end when I read this to my daughter.

[Betsy Gant · Rating 5 out of 5]

You dance, girls, you dance. Don't let that mean father stop you.

[Fenco Chen]

Lexile®: 550L, 1323W, 90%, 6y3m

[Reham · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 Dancing princesses by Tenant Redbank 5-7
I like this story so much. What I noticed is that the good relationship between sisters was very good which will give a good massage for children about what does it mean to have a good relationship with their siblings and family. I like also the picture of the princesses surrounding their father while he was sick, it gives a very good massage to children about caring for a sick father or anyone for that matter. Also I like the idea when the princesses use their imagination and dreams; I think it will encourage the children to use their imagination and follow their dreams too.
We can use this story in class by giving the children some chores to do in the classroom like organize the play area, clean up the lunch table. Talk about when someone is sick what should we do when we visit them. Also if there is an emergency who should we call. Also girls can play princesses role and boys can play show maker role. Teacher can make cards with numbers from 1- 12.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize that this is an easy reader but please can we try to get a good story. The author kept the beheading but got rid of the old woman and made the young man into a magician. It felt wrong. In the original tale it is ha ordinaryness that makes him a great character. There's no ban on dancing. And the magic kingdom where money actually grows on trees is ignored at the end. Nothing new. Nothing that adds to the original, not even the illustrations.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara (who is two years old) really loved this story!