The Principal's New Clothes

by Stephanie Calmenson, Denise Brunkus (Illustrator)

In this version of the Andersen tale the vain principal of P.S. 88 is persuaded by two tailors that they will make him an amazing, one-of-a-kind, suit that will be visible only to intelligent people

Genres: Picture Books, School, Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Fantasy, Fairy Tales

40 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Stephanie Calmenson's many popular titles include concept books, funny school stories, poetry collections, books about dogs and, with Magic School Bus author Joanna Cole, anthologies and beginning reader chapter books.

Stephanie's books have been called "marvelous" (PW), "lyrical" (SLJ), "hilarious" (SLJ), "sweet, funny, and right on the mark" (Booklist).

Before turning to writing, Stephanie was a teacher, a children's book editor, and Editorial Director of Parents Magazine's Read-Aloud Book Club.

Website: my link text

Reviews

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to a first grade class today, and they were SILENT (except for the giggles and appropriate responses)! They were so into the book! While I don't love the repeated use of the word stupid (which we talked about), I love the message! So many good messages! At the end, I asked the kids what the moral of the story was. They said don't lie! Don't believe someone who says something is there when you can't see it! Tell the truth! Don't worry about what other people think! Don't trust people dressed like that! (Dressed like the tricksters. Who were dressed in nice clothes/suits too. Which as an adult I found funny!) And one student said it teaches us to never play tricks on other people!

I honestly didn't think they'd be as engaged as they were, so I was very pleasantly surprised! As soon as we were done and they had independent reading time, one girl immediately came up to me and asked if she could take this one back to her seat!

A fun twist on a classic. I think this is much more accessible to kids today than the old one about the emperor!

[Dalton Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the most fractured version of my fairy tale I was able to find. This story gives a more realistic and student related appeal to the iconic story. The goofiness of the school scenario is a fun take on the story and sure to be a favorite in any classroom.

[Bonnie Ferrante · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when an author and illustrator can update a traditional fairy tale and make it connect better with contemporary children. Calmenson and Brunkus have succeeded beautifully. Instead of a vain emperor, we have a clothes crazy principal. The two con artists, Ivy and Mo, appeal to the principle’s vanity. As in the traditional story, they pretend to create clothes that are invisible to anyone who is unfit for their job or is stupid. Everyone is afraid to confess they cannot see the cloth. The vice principal Ms. Moore, Roger the smart student, and finally the principal himself all pretend they can see fabric where none exists. When the principal walks to school and into the auditorium in his underwear, a kindergarten child, Alice, cries out, “The principal’s in his underwear!”

Here the author adds a special touch of her own. Instead of continuing to mock the foolish principal, the teachers and students provide him with shirts, sweatpants, and other clothing. Alice is rewarded with a gold star for telling the truth. Everyone agrees that Mr. Bundy is “still the sharpest dresser in town” even though his clothes are mismatched and ill fitting, especially the small pink sweatpants.

I love the idea that when someone makes a mistake, instead of making them feel worse, we have the option of supporting them with kindness.

Denise Brunkus’s illustrations are fun and expressive. But, I thought the smartest child in the school was unnecessarily clichéd.

It isn’t often that I can say I like an updated version of a fairytale better than the original. Highly recommended.

[Brooke Klamerus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about two people who trick the whole school that if you can't see a suit they are making for the principal, you are dumb or bad at your job. The suit does not exist and everyone realizes at the end of the book that they had been tricked and no one admitted it. This book is a great lesson for kids to always tell the truth and to not believe everything you hear.

[Madison Oelke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book, I remember reading it when I was younger. The message of not always believing what others tell you to believe is very important. The lies they told the principal and then the others, that they were bad at their jobs if they couldn't see it was silly, and I think this would make a great book for a lesson on not always believing others without checking it out for yourself first.

[Megan Clavenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable but I give it a 3/5 because of its length. I think it would be hard to read to a younger crowd of students, but it still taught a good message of being honest even when you think it might make you look foolish!

[Tommy Schlosser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was not my favorite retelling of this classic tale.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful illustrations by Denise Brunkus give this old tale a new twist

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my childhood favorites.

[Alexis Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a good book to teach students not to follow something just because you’re afraid of what others might think of you.

[Kaelee Bungard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book, and a good lesson about being honest. Also good for not assuming the worst in others, and not assuming that others will judge you based off of certain things.

[Darian - Books With A Chance · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter enjoyed the book, she thought it was funny he was tricked into “invisible” clothes. It was sweet in the end when all the children tried to help Mr. Bundy.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family Rating: 4.05

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid retelling of the Emperor's New Clothes.

[Josephina · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty funny

[IUS F19 Keisha Levi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute for a class read aloud.

[Jorie Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: The story of the Emperor’s New Clothes brought to school. A very finely dressed principal gets offered a suit by con-artists who say this material is special because only people who are smart and good at their job can see the material. The principal buys the suit and puts it on. Everyone in town has heard about the suit and so they all fake being able to see the suit so no one thinks they are stupid or bad at their job. A kindergartner points out that the principal is actually in his underwear and everyone laughs about pretending to be able to see the suit. The lesson is to always be honest.
Response: The students really enjoyed this class and were able to connect to with it because it is in a school setting. They thought it was hysterical that the principal was walking around in his underwear all day. Great re-take on an old story.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Emperor's New Clothes was never one of my favorite fairy tales, maybe because it seemed too silly. I just wish the word 'stupid' hadn't been used quite so freely, but that's also the word used in several of the translations I have on hand. One of the versions used the word 'foolish.'

Calmenson has extended the ending slightly, so the principal is fully attired before the book ends. (I'm not saying how this happens.)

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe today's schoolchildren would like this more than Hans Christian Andersen's original, but I found it to a bit more dumbed down, and with nothing that enriches or enhances the original.
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Reread for group. This time I noticed that the smart boy was made out to be an awkward geek... unfortunate stereotype.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a take on The Emperor's New Clothes. I rather like this version. It keeps close to the original story, substituting a principal for the emperor. A kindergartener is the one who calls out the principal is in his underwear. Cute.

I like the original tale and enjoy this rendition of it, although it is not stellar.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book. It is a modern version of the Emperor's New Clothes, and is a lot of fun to read. The only thing that I didn't like was the use of the word "stupid" throughout. I do not like hearing that word, and to see it so often in a children's story bothered me. The illustrations are fun to look at, and it is still well written.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The principals new clothes was about the new clothes that were only underwear and a shirt and shoes. My favourite character was mr. Bundy because he wore his underwear and that was funny. I loved it because the guy wore his underwear to school.
I would recommend this book to max and Isaac who think seeing underwear is funny.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

An up-to-date version of the Emporer's New Clothes.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting take on "The Emperor's New Clothes," with the Emperor being the Principal at an Elementary School. Entertaining and funny.

[Hira · Rating 5 out of 5]

great spin on an old story; makes the story more relevent; also good to promote persuasive writing

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different take on a classic tale. If memory serves me correctly, the best part of this was imagining your own principal walking confidently through the halls of the school in boxer shorts.

[Erin Banet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious spin in the emporors new clothes. Kids think its so funny that the principal is in his underwear!

[Mckenzie Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is alright. Very funny ending. Like of predictable. Good as a fun book to read.

[Sam - Spines in a Line · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short read, but a popular tale. A funny little story that I heard often as a kid about the principal who is tricked by his new tailors.

[Madi Welton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honesty is a great quality, even if it's not always what people would like to hear!