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I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this book. It is definitely a children's chapter book; it took me maybe 20 minutes to read. Overall though it was a very good read.
This book tells the somewhat classic tale of a princess locked up by her evil father. Any price who comes to woo the princess is given an impossible task to perform, in order to win her hand in marriage. That is until a minstrel comes along and with the help of an elven/dwarfish prankster, tricks the old king in his own game.
This was a great classic fairy tale with some humorous quirks thrown. It is cleverly written and would sound wonderful read out-loud. The characters are a bit stereo-typed but each have their own unique quirks. There is a sharp sense of humor throughout the book. The pictures throughout are down in a dark medieval style that somehow still has a bit of humor in it.
Overall I think everyone would enjoy this book; no matter what your age. Kids will enjoy the castles, knights, and general fairy tale aspects of it; adults will enjoy the clever word play and interesting plot. I am glad I read it and it is a book that I will keep on my shelf to read to my son when he gets old enough to sit still for 30 minutes at a time :-)
This book tells the somewhat classic tale of a princess locked up by her evil father. Any price who comes to woo the princess is given an impossible task to perform, in order to win her hand in marriage. That is until a minstrel comes along and with the help of an elven/dwarfish prankster, tricks the old king in his own game.
This was a great classic fairy tale with some humorous quirks thrown. It is cleverly written and would sound wonderful read out-loud. The characters are a bit stereo-typed but each have their own unique quirks. There is a sharp sense of humor throughout the book. The pictures throughout are down in a dark medieval style that somehow still has a bit of humor in it.
Overall I think everyone would enjoy this book; no matter what your age. Kids will enjoy the castles, knights, and general fairy tale aspects of it; adults will enjoy the clever word play and interesting plot. I am glad I read it and it is a book that I will keep on my shelf to read to my son when he gets old enough to sit still for 30 minutes at a time :-)
James Thurber's grasp of language in this book is masterful. It is in no way a children's book alone, anyone will appreciate his wit, his prose, his characters, his obvious attention to detail.
This story is about the cold Duke, the lovely Princess Saralinda, the prince who seeks her hand, the unexplainable Golux and the dreaded Todal. It is a classic tale, nothing extraordinary in the plot, but the writing is beautiful. It is worth reading, and worth reading twice a year.
This story is about the cold Duke, the lovely Princess Saralinda, the prince who seeks her hand, the unexplainable Golux and the dreaded Todal. It is a classic tale, nothing extraordinary in the plot, but the writing is beautiful. It is worth reading, and worth reading twice a year.
I got this for my daughter, or at least that was the excuse. What a wonderful little book! I loved the games Thurber plays with language and the illustrations by Simont fit it perfectly. The near poetry in it I'm sure Gabi will love too (I used to read, and still read, John M. Ford's "The Man In the Golden Mask" to her to get her to sleep). Beautiful and I'm sorry I didn't know about it earlier.