Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805, in Odense, Denmark. A prolific writer, Andersen is best known for his fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages. By the time he died in Copenhagen in 1875, his work was known all over the world. Dorothee Duntze was born in Reims, France. She studied art at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Reims and the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Strasbourg. Among the other books she has illustrated for North-South are The Emperor's New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea, and Hansel and Gretel.
Even in the tropics, it appears, love conquers all: Stevenson cleverly sets her jaunty retelling on a balmy South Sea isle. From that idyllic spot a peripatetic prince journeys quite literally to the ends of the earth in his quest for a true princess--readers see him sitting astride a camel under the blazing desert sun, beckoning to monkeys in the jungle and contemplating an arctic yak. That he and all the prospective princesses (as well as the genuine article that eventually, of course, turns up) are rabbits further heightens the silliness and the fun. Floppy-earred, pudgy and arrayed in exotic costumes befitting their locales, this troupe is beguiling indeed. Stevenson's ( Christmas Eve ; Jessica the Blue Streak ) unaffected prose, expressively cartoony style and fresh pastels make this an accessible and entertaining version of Andersen's classic. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)
PreS-K-A retelling of the classic text revealing the test of a true princess. A lonely prince journeys far and wide searching for a bride, but comes home alone and disenchanted. Then one rainy night, a self-proclaimed princess knocks on the palace door. The queen decides to test the young woman's honesty by placing a pea under 20 mattresses with 20 quilts on her bed. The next morning, when the girl proclaims how horribly she slept, the couple is married, for only a true princess could be so sensitive as to feel the pea. Dusikova's pleasing illustrations of the countryside and royal court breathe new life into a well-told tale. Lovely pastels enhance the 18th-century-like setting and dress. The addition of two well-placed cats and touches of humor add to the delight. A gentle, gratifying addition to fairy-tale collections.-C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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