The Dinosaur's New Clothes: A Retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen Tale - Hardcover

A traditional tale with a twist--and, thanks to Caldecott Honor artist Diane Goode's lavish illustrations, a wonderful new book. In this umpteenth retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story about an emperor with a fashion passion and the weavers who dupe him, the costumes (except, of course, the invisible "new" clothes) are spectacularly Louis XIV. And, all the characters wearing this ornate plumage are dinosaurs. Gloriously complicated outfits include fish-ridden trousers, brocade jackets splashed with mermaids, pink lace cravats, and powdered wigs. Think Marie Antoinette. Think stegosaurus. It's a great combination. Predictably, the emperor (a Tyrannosaurus rex) winds up leading the procession, naked but for a hat and a blush. As traditional fairy tales go, this is one of the least gruesome, and, especially in this fanciful setting, a good one for introducing children to the moral language of Hans Christian Andersen. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by Diane Goode. Used by permission of Scholastic Inc.) (Ages 2 to 8) --Richard Farr

PreSchool-Grade 4 Despite its all-dinosaur cast of characters, Goode's retelling of Andersen's familiar story is firmly rooted in 18th-century France. Faithful to the original plot, two swindlers arrive on the scene, here at the court of Versailles, where they pretend to weave magical cloth for the vain Emperor, a Tyrannosaurus rex. Despite the pretenses of the court and royal ministers, a young dinosaur watching the procession innocently proclaims that the monarch "has nothing on." The Emperor goes on, too proud to acknowledge his own foolishness. Goode has pared down the original text, making this a clearer, more readable version for today's audiences, but unlike more modern treatments such as Stephanie Calmenson's The Principal's New Clothes (Scholastic, 1989), she has maintained the spirit and essence of the creator's words. Her story flows easily and her language gives a sense of the formality of the elaborate setting. Young readers will delight in Goode's humorous images of the prehistoric giants festooned in extravagant costumes and the dinosaur images peeking down from the gilded moldings of the palace's sumptuous rooms. The frequent two-page spreads give a real sense of the vastness of Versailles and the relative sizes of the various types of dinosaurs. While the story will appeal to independent readers, it will be a bigger hit as a read-aloud. A delightful addition to standard fairy-tale collections. Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.