Book Description

William Shakespeare was the son of a glovemaker, a small-town boy with a grammar school education. Yet he grew up to become the greatest English-speaking playwright in the world. Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare is both his story and that of a great art rediscovered in the modern world.

Drama had been forgotten since the days of ancient Greece, but it reemerged in Elizabethan London with the building of the first modern theater. Its impact can still be imagined today. There were the theaters, open to the weather and featuring neither sets nor curtains, but equipped with dramatic special effects. There were the companies of actors--the leading men, the comedians, the boys who played women's roles--and the playwrights who gave them all lines to say.

Best of all, there was William Shakespeare, who rubbed shoulders with noblemen and royalty as well as with the rowdy crowds at the foot of the stage. He was suspected of involvement in a treasonous rebellion, and his last play literally brought down the house when cannon effects set fire to the famous Globe theater and it burned to the ground.

Award-winning collaborators Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema have once again created a feast of words and pictures to celebrate the life of a remarkable person from the pages of history: William Shakespeare, a man for all time."

Reviews (3)

Watch for this Author she's a Gem!
This author was new to us and we will be looking for her from now on. The pictures are sooo wonderful they transport you. The information is well done and clear, yet not watered done. This is someone that REALLY understands writing books for children that adults can enjoy using as teachers or parents. I recently bought alot of books on Shakespeare, for use in the school room this year and we have found 4 authors that made the grade on this subject! This is a keeper!

Diane Stanley Is The Queen Of Longer Picturebook Biographies
Stanley is a masterful writer/illustrator when it comes to creating longer picturebook biographies (with heavier text). Her bios on da Vinci, Cleopatra and Shakespeare are fabulous. It amazes me that she has not won a Caldecott Honor yet! I can't wait to see her bio about Michelangelo!

Excellent children's biography
Our family has recently discovered the wonderful Peter Vennema/Diane Stanley biographies. They are vivid, engaging, and thorough, yet short enough for younger readers to sit through (my daughters are 4 and 6). Bard of Avon and Good Queen Bess are our favorites so far, and they go very well together since neither Shakespeare nor Queen Elizabeth would have been the same without the other. Unlike other histories or biographies for children, this book makes a destinction between what we know about Shakespeare's life and times and what are only guesses. It is nice for children to see that the study of history is not just memorizing facts and dates, but piecing together clues in the context of what is known about a time period. As a former high school English teacher, I wish that I had had this book when I was teaching Shakespeare plays because it would have been a wonderful introduction. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is a fact filled, beautifully illustrated history.
My son borrowed this book from the school library and loved it so much we're buying it.

Great use of illustrations and information on Cleopatra
The authors brought out a different side to Cleopatra and portrayed her as the brilliant, intelligent and beautiful women she was. With the use of her power she planned on joining the world under her Egyptian rule. It is full of information, yet it has a natural flow and easy to follow. It has a number of stories within the story telling her enjoyful, tragic life. It starts off with giving some information on her family background and slowing moving into her reighning years as Queen of Egypt. It also mentions her personal love life as well as family members, but not too in detail just enough to give you some kind of idea on her values and strength as a women. There are beautiful illustrations on each page that show you her lifestyle and her riches as a powerful Queen who was loved by many people. The language usage is easily understood and one doesn't seem to get lost in the text. It also has plenty of other useful information on other historical people and events that occured during her life time. This biography of Cleopatra is full of life and is sure to educate children. It is great for readers who are first learning of Cleopatra and the Egyptian form of ruling. Finally there is a great bibliography which could also be very helpful when researching a little bit further on this courageous and charmful ruler. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Sleeping Ugly.
I liked this book because the prince kissed the right girl.I also liked this book because it had a happy ending. Miserella is very beautiful on the outside, but she's ugly, ugly, ugly on the inside! Plain Jane has a name to fit what she looks like. She has a crooked nose and teeth and her hair is short and messy. But Jane is very kind and beautiful on the inside. Which one do you think the prince chose?
This book reminded me os Sleeping Beauty because it was based on that book. If you like retold fairy tales you'll like Sleeping Ugly!

GREAT!
I didn't encounter this book until I was 20, and I regret all the years this wasn't one of my favorite children books. Written by the ever amazing Jane Yolen (check her out, folks. She ROCKS!), this "fairy tale" is a riot, a romance, and a sweet little read. Whether you use it to entertain children (which it will) or to keep your college roommate entertained at one in the morning as she pulls her hair out, anyone and everyone will enjoy the book.

Sleeping Ugly
My mom used to read me this book when I was little. It teaches young girls that beauty is on the inside. I think more girls need to be read this story.

Childhood Favorite
I remember borrowing this book from the library over and over and over as a small child. I was so struck by the idea that the beautiful princess didn't win the prince (never mind that he was the youngest son of a youngest son with no jewels or wealth or property to speak of), but that she lost him to an orphaned "Plain Jane". It was only recently that I read the opinion of some "enlightened" reviewer that labeled this book as "feministic." What is so feministic about the idea that someone would look past the lovely facade of one to see the inner beauty of another? I read this book to my class of five-year-olds, and I had just said, "The end" when they began chanting in unison, "Read it again; read it again!" At the end, continuing in the strain of humor that flows throughout this tale, is the story's moral: "Let sleeping princesses lie, or lying princesses sleep . . . " while in truth, it teaches something far more important.

personal worth
In a time when we are swamped with superficial ideas, it is wonderful to see a book that shows children and ADULTS how to appreciate a girl or woman for her personal worth instead of just her looks. ... Read more

Book Description

Born in 1452 to a peasant woman and a country gentleman, Leonardo da Vinci was one of the most amazing people who ever lived. He grew up to be a great painter, sculptor, architect, scientist, and inventor.

As a boy, Leonardo was apprenticed to a famous artist. But he quickly became more skillful than his teacher, and his passionate interests went far beyond art. Fascinated with the human body, he carried out his own experiments in secret. He filled thousands of pages with plans for incredible inventions including a submarine, an air-cooling system, "glasses to see the moon large," and even a flying machine!

In this magnificent addition to a distinguished series that includes Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, and Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare, award-winning author-artist Diane Stanley blends wonderful storytelling with gorgeous illustrations to convey the

A 1996 ALA Notable Book
A 1997 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book for Nonfiction
A 1997 Orbis Pictus Award
A 1996 Publishers Weekly Best Books Award

00-01 Land of Enchantment Book Award Masterlist (Gr. 3-6)

Reviews (6)

His name is Leo
Leonardo Da Vinci is, in many ways, the perfect subject for a children's biography. Above and beyond his myriad of accomplishments (scientist, inventor, artist) his life is one of adventure and interest. The illegitimate son of a leading man of Vinci, Leonardo went into the artistic life precisely because he was considered too base for a, "noble profession".

This book is a combination of good artistry and confounding problems. On the one hand, Stanley has drawn beautiful accompanying pictures for each point in Leonardo's life. On the other hand, these pictures sometimes take liberties with the few details of the artist's life we know of. When the text states that Leonardo, "found a loving friend in his young uncle Francesco", the accompanying picture shows the boy piggyback on his uncle. It would be nice if such facts were given appropriate footnotes, but all sources are listed in the end of the book without any references to pages. Also, the aging of Leonardo is a little haphazard. One moment he's a young man writing a letter. The next moment he's bearded and about to slice up a corpse. The Duchy of Milan is described as having black hair and dark skin, but appears to be more of a slightly tan Italian. These are tiny details, but they distract from an otherwise interesting text.

Undoubtedly, the actual drawings and sketches Leonardo made in his lifetime are some of the best parts of this book. It would have been nice if Stanley had included more of them in the story. Leonardo's paintings are nicely presented, but they're usually seen from a distance. At no point do we get a detailed and close look at any art that Leonardo created. Finally, a timeline would have been helpful in this story, but it has not been included.

None of this is to say that Stanley hasn't taken a difficult subject and made an interesting book out of it. The final product is a bit too advanced for those children accustomed to reading picture books, but older kids may shy away from the type of book they would consider "babyish". Open minded children may be the best audience for this piece of non-fiction. For those of you who would like something a little more in depth and interesting, I recommend "Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer". In interesting book that suffers from an array of tiny nagging problems.

Leonard Da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance Man
The cover of this excellent juvenile biography of Leonardo Da Vinci is quite interesting because it shows him as a young man in front of the background from his most famous painting, the "Mona Lisa." I saw a story once that compared the face of the "Mona Lisa" with the famous red ink drawing of Da Vinci as an old man, which did size comparisons and argued they were the same. In other words, the "Mona Lisa" is really a self-portrait of Da Vinci. This makes a bit of sense since the artist worked on it for years, obviously with the benefit of a model. Diane Stanley's cover painting, intentionally or not, references this intriguing hypothesis.

Stanley does some fascinating things with the art throughout this book. She puts reproductions of Da Vinci's actual paintings into her own works and includes various drawings by Da Vinci to complement her text. Young readers will learn about the highlights of Da Vinci's life, both as an artist and as an inventor. Consequently, they will see not only the painting of "The Last Supper" but the flying machine he designed. In a fascinating postscript Stanley details what happened to the grave of Da Vinci and what few of his paintings remain. Stanley provides an excellent introduction to the life of the original Renaissance Man.

A typical Diane Stanley Book!
For those who do not yet know, Diane Stanley writes the best kid-level biographies out there, and Leonardo da Vinci is no exception. She carefully traces his life from birth (including alluding to the legitamacy question) to death. Worked into the illustrations are many of Leonardo's works (so that you needn't buy a separate book for your child to appreciate them). A wonderful book that should be mandatory reading!

A Man of Vision.....
Meet Leonardo da Vinci, a man of vision who was centuries ahead of his time. Born April 15, 1452, and raised in his father's house, Leonardo was the illegitimate son of Ser Piero, "...an important man, a leading citizen of Vinci." and a peasant girl. Because of the circumstances of his birth, he was not entitled to an upper class education in banking, medicine, or law, and "what little schooling he got probably came from the parish priest and was limited to reading, writing, and simple arithmetic. He later described himself as an omo sanza lettere, a man without education." As a boy, Leonardo showed talent for drawing, and was sent to Florence to apprentice with the famous artist, Andrea del Verrocchio. And it was there that the course of his life began to take shape. Though his superb artistic talents were quickly recognized, and Leonardo was commissioned to paint many important works during his lifetime, he had a short attention span and was always restless, often failing to complete his pieces. His imagination, his interests and genius went far beyond art and painting. He was fascinated with anatomy, engineering, science, and music, and filled thousands of pages in his now famous notebooks with his ideas, plans, drawings and inventions. He was employed by kings, princes and popes, and was the friend of Machiavelli, Cesar Borgia and King Francis I, of France. But throughout his life he never married, and was a very solitary man..... Diane Stanley brings Leonardo da Vinci to life in this beautifully written and well researched, introductory biography. Her easy to read, conversational text is entertaining, engaging and intelligent, and packed full of history, drama, mystery, fun facts, anecdotes, and sketches from Leonardo's notebooks. Her graceful and elegant illustrations complement the story line beautifully, and really capture the essence of the artist and his times. With an introduction detailing the Italian Renaissance, and a Postscript to enhance and complete the narrative, this is an informative and spellbinding biography. Perfect for youngsters 9-12, Leonardo da Vinci is a wonderful addition to Ms Stanley's highly acclaimed biographical series, and a book that definitely shouldn't be missed.

LEONARDO DAVINCE REVIEW
This is a wonderful book that provides and enormous amount of information. I would recommend this book to parents, teachers, and children. By reading this book, I have learned many new and interesting things about Leonardo's life, work, and passions. I recently used this book in a class project. Wonderful!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Against the fascinating tapestry of Frances history during the Hundred Years' War, Diane Stanley unfolds the story of the simple thirteen-year-old village girl who in Just a few years would lead France to independence from English rule, and thus become a symbol of France's national pride. It is a story of vision and bravery, fierce determination, and tragic martyrdom. Diane Stanley's extraordinary gift to present historical information in an accessible and child-friendly format has never been more impressive, nor her skillful, beautifully realized illustrations (here imitating medieval illuminated manuscripts) more exquisite.

Reviews (5)

A superb illustrated juvenile biography of Joan of Arc
I was sold on Diane Stanley's juvenile biography of "Joan of Arc" after reading her two-page prologue, "A Hundred Years of War," in which she explains the political situation in France when King Charles VI of France died two months after King Henry V of England. If you remember the end of Shakespeare's "Henry V," then you might be familiar with the agreement that was put into place following the Battle of Agincourt, but how many young readers have really studied that particular bit of English history by the Bard? However, in these two pages Stanley explains why the 19-year-old dauphin, Charles VII, was still uncrowned when Jeannette d'Arc in the small town of Domremy began receiving heavenly visions.

Stanley tells the familiar story of Joan of Arc in considerable detail, but always with one eye towards understanding what was happening from the perspective of a seventeen year old girl who road into battle and was proclaimed the savior of France and the other on the historical context of these events. She also pays attention to the details, listing the specific charges for which she was tried and the "confession" that she signed, which are often omitted from similar juvenile biographies, and at the end of her story she pays as much attention to the aftermath of her martyrdom as she did to setting up her life.

Throughout the book Stanley makes nice use of historical texts, dropping a lot of quotations and specific lines from the trial transcript and other sources. The text is accompanied by Stanley's illustrations, which are done in the style of the illuminated manuscripts of the time. As a result young readers will get a solid understanding of life of times of the woman called Joan of Arc by history, and be able to inform their friends that the new hit show on CBS should really be called "Jeanette (or Janet) of Arcadia."

Diane Stanley does it again!
A beautiful book! Diane Stanley carefully traces the life of Joan from her humble beginnings to her tragic end. The book even comes with a pronunciation guide to help those of us who haven't been to France. Although the language is at 8+ year old range, my 5 year old daughter loves it anyway!

Wonderful for kids
Not only was this an accurate portrayal of Joan of Arc's story, it was wonderfully written and illustrated. I would recommend it for anyone who is starting out in learning of the saint. It is educational and enjoyable for a child.

A role model for girls
This is a beautiful book that I purchased for a seven year old girl. I am a medievalist and the depictions in this book of the clothing, etc. are true to fact. The next copy I buy will be for myself as I collect good children's books on medieval times. Every year I publish of list of children's book on this time period that I recommend in our group's newsletter and this book is high on the list.

MY DAUGHTER LOVED IT
My 8 year old daughter devoured this book in one sitting, which is amazing considering that she hardly ever reads non-fiction. (She was not pleased at the not-so-happy ending, however!)

Beautiful illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

She was a queen whose strong will, shrewd diplomacy, religious tolerance and great love for her subjects won the hearts of her people and the admiration of her enemies.

Elizabeth was born into an age of religious strife, in which plots and factions were everywhere and private beliefs could be punished by death. When she became queen, her counselors urged her to marry quickly and turn the responsibilities of governing over to her husband, But she outwitted them by stalling, changing her mind; and playing one side against another, as she steered her country to the glorious era of peace and security that would be called the Elizabethan Age.

Elizabeth's forceful personality, colorful court, and devoted subjects come vividly to life in this stellar picture-book biography. When it was first published, Good Queen Bess was named a Notable Book in the Field of Social Studies, an American Library Association Notable Book, a Booklist Editors' Choice, an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, and an IRA Teachers' Choice.

In this welcome reissue, celebrated author and illustrator Diane Stanley and her husband, Peter Vennema, paint an impressive portrait of the remarkable queen who loved her people so dearly and ruled them so well.

Reviews (5)

Great overview for young people of Queen Elizabeth's life
Diane Stanley's biography of Queen Elizabeth I of England follows the great Queen's life from her father's divorce of Catherine of Aragon, to Elizabeth's death in 1603. Without bogging down in the details of Elizabeth's seventy years, Stanley has created a broad look at the important events in the Queen's life.

Stanley's artwork accurately shows the clothing and styles of the time. Anyone familiar with the portraits of the various members of the royal family will easily recognize them in Stanley's illustrations.

Stanley does an excellent job of taking two very complicated but highly significant subjects, the formation of the Church of England and why Henry VIII desperately wanted a son, and explaining them in a simple enough manner that someone with little or no historical background can understand them. Children will be able to read this biography without becoming lost in the multitude of people in Elizabeth's life, or confused about the meaning of the important events.

Beautiful, historical and perfect for kids
Like all the Diane Stanley books that we have my children and I loved this one. The illustrations are colorful and very fitting for the time. I have always been interested in history and have searched for books that my girls can relate to. The story of Queen Elizabeth is something all children should be familiar with. I think Ms. Stanley has a wonderful way of making history interesting for young readers.

Enchanting Start to a Lifetime Love of History
I first read this book when I was in third grade and I must have checked it out from the library 100 more times. I was fascinated by the beautiful illustrations and by the true story of Elizabeth I. It really got me into history. Now I read 800+ page books about Tudor history and I can't help but think back to the days when i used to recreate the illusrations using my own crayons and muse over every sentence in the book. Starts a lifetime love of history, and for me, an obession with the Tudors. The illustrations are perfect and the content isn't too dumbed down, but it isn't too hard. Recommended for any child who ever wanted to be a princess or ever showed any interest in history.

Literally changed my life
When I was seven years old my mother gave me this book for Christmas. That was nearly nine years ago and I've since become an Elizabethan "buff" I read everything on her I can get my hands on. This is a wonderful book for any kid who has ever shown an intrest in history or being a queen or a king. Superbly adapted for the younger set this well written and engagingly illuatrated book on Elizabeth I's life is historically acurate. And for me anyway what looks like a life long fascination.

This book should be in print!
Many texts used in the Children's Literature classes I have been taking refer to this book. I had to borrow it from my professor because I couldn't even get it from the library. It is a wonderful book and I want to add it to my library. Queen Elizabeth I is made very real for young readers in Diane Stanley's work. I hope to see it on the list of reprints soon. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Michelangelo Buonarroti, one of the greatest artists of all time, wasnot exactly a noble and humble man. Irritable, arrogant, and impatient, hisperfectionism and expectations drove away many potential friends, and evenprovoked one would-be friend to hit him in the nose, crushing it "like abiscuit." However, what's truly important for us today is that this manultimately became an artistic genius, mastering the three arts of theRenaissance: sculpture, painting, and architecture. From his early years, whenhe created the Pieta (at age 25), to his 40 years of tormented work on amonumental tomb for Pope Julius II, to his greatest masterpiece, the paintingsin the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo astounded people with his almostotherworldly talent.

Diane Stanley's well-researched, vivid narrative captures the life of thecreator of some of the world's most beautiful, heart-wrenching works of art. Herillustrations are fantastically elaborate and include details of many ofMichelangelo's sculptures and paintings. Michelangelo is a perfectintroduction to art and art history, with plenty of compelling backgroundinformation about the Renaissance and life in 15th and 16th century Italy.Stanley has written many other award-winning picture-book biographies, includingLeonardo da Vinci andCleopatra. (Ages 9 to 12)--Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Wonderful Biography of Michelangelo
Our homeschooling family is currently interested in studying art and artists. This book is very much about Michelangelo's personal life. I always think of the Sistine Chapel when I think of him, so it was nice to be reminded that he preferred sculpture. It did provide beautiful pictures of his works and just the major ones were covered. I thought this was perfect for beginning learners. The book was long for my 9 year old, but my 11 year old could sit through it easily and enjoyed it. A nice biography.

Entertaining for my five-year-old daughter
With popular culture grabbing my daughter's attention so powerfully, it was nice to have some high brow material that could compete with the Disney genre. My favorite part was when my girl asked, "Why doesn't God just stretch his finger a little more like this [stretched her finger] to touch Adam?" The whole book is a single bed time reading for a parent to a child. It reads a bit like a cliff hanger with the reader along for the ride through Michaelangelo's challenges and accomplishments.

The Life and Times of Michelangelo.....
Born March 6, 1475 in the little stonecutter's village of Caprese, about fifty miles east of Florence, and left in the care of a nurse, Michelangelo "fell asleep to the odd lullaby of chisel striking stone. Years later he remarked that his love of sculpture must have come to him along with his foster mother's milk." From an early age, Michelangelo wanted to become an artist. His father, ashamed that his son wanted to enter such a lowly profession, tried to literally beat the idea out of him, but the headstrong and determined child would not give in, and in 1488 was apprenticed to the famous painter, Domenico Ghirlandaio. After only one year his unrivaled talent was noticed by Lorenzo de'Medici, a great and generous art lover and patron. He brought Michelangelo into his palace and treated him as one of his sons, encouraging his art. But upon Lorenzo's untimely death, Michelangelo was sent back to his father's house, and cast in the role of family breadwinner, "a role he would play for the rest of his life." And so it was that the difficult and disagreeable, perfectionist Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces, The Pieta, David, and the paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, were commissioned works by patrons and popes..... Diane Stanley's intriguing biography takes the reader on a compelling and suspenseful journey as she details the life and times of the greatest artist of the Renaissance. Her easy to read and engaging text is rich in history, art, drama, and anecdotes, and complemented by her ingeniously creative and innovative illustrations. Together word and art captures the essence of the arrogant and tormented artist, and brings Michelangelo and the Renaissance to life on the page. Perfect for youngsters 9-12, Michelangelo is a well researched and spellbinding introductory biography, and another marvelous addition to Ms Stanley's superb series.

Beautifully illustrated, well researched, and fascinating
Award-winning author Stanley presents a stunning picture book biography of true Renaissance man Michelangelo Buonarroti, who came to master the arts of sculpting, painting and architecture in fifteenth and sixteenth century Italy. Stanley blends information about Michelangelo and his life as an artist with historical detail to set the scene, and then introduces a fascinating cast of personalities that include his first master Domenico Ghirlandodaio, the Warrior Pope he offended, and his contemporary Leonardo Da Vinci, who was Michelangelo's envy and rival.
Stanley reproduces and discusses Michelangelo's greatest works (David, the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta) then adds details such as fresco painting techniques and the gruesome necessity of dissecting cadavers to study anatomy. Quotes from Michelangelo's own letters enrich the text; it is a tragedy that he destroyed many of his personal papers before his death.
A full-page illustration to exemplify the narrative compliments each page of text; the text pages are decorated with period coins, coats of arms, stonecutting tools, portraits, sketches and reproductions. The illustrations are an unusual mix of paintings which feature scanned images of Michelangelo's works of art, including drawings and sketches, sculpture and paintings.
Stanley's paintings (which show the housing, dress and goods of the poverty stricken as well as the palace-dwellers) seem flat when paired with Michelangelo's dimensional artwork, and the contrast is a bit awkward. Her paintings imitate the style of the times in color, layout and subject, while still following the narrative. A richly-hued historical map of Italy explains the government of the time as well as the layout of the country, while the author's note opposite gives a defines the Renaissance. Bibliography & permissions are provided; the absence of a timeline and glossary may disappoint teachers.

I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!
While browsing through a local bookstore I chanced upon Michelangelo by Diane Stanley. What a beautiful book! Not only were the pictures captivating, but the information was excellent. Michelangelo's famous picture of the creation of the moon and stars that graces the Sistene chapel is on the cover. My children were enthralled as I read how Michelangelo spent many hours dissecting human cadavers at a local morgue, becoming so familiar with the human body that he was able to make his works come alive with breathtaking detail. I will look for more books by this same author. Children(and adults)will read this book over and over. A great addition to your home library! ... Read more

Book Description

Forty years before the boy was born, a horde of bloodthirsty barbarians thundered out of the west and conquered his native land. They had succeeded because his people, ever at war with one another, had not fought together to defend their cities. In time the boy was destined to become the very leader that was needed, a man with the courage and vision to unite his people and face the most fearsome and brilliant warrior of the age.

The time was the twelfth century; the barbarian horde was the armies of the First Crusade; the great warrior was Richard the Lionhearted; and the leader was Saladin. This is more than the other side of a familiar Western story, the Crusades. It is the tale of an extraordinary man, remarkable for his generous and chivalrous ways, a warrior who longed for peace. Courageous in battle and merciful in victory, he would be revered even by his enemies as the "marvel of his time."

In her vibrant narrative and magnificently detailed illustrations inspired by the Islamic art of the time, Diane Stanley presents a hero whose compassion, piety, tolerance, and wisdom made him a model for his time -- and for ours.

Reviews (2)

Great Book
Great book, pretty good for kids. The book did overlook the fact that Saladin was also a physician and chemist (or alchemist as they used to be called back then). But over all a very good book.

Excellent introduction to a hero of Islam
This is a fine book for young readers who seek an introduction to a hero revered to this day in the Arab and Islamic world and highly respected by historians of the Crusades. Diane Stanley shows how compassionate Saladin was with his enemies even after tens of thousands of civilian Muslims were massacred in cold blood in Jerusalem by the Crusaders (who were fighting for the cross as directed by that era's Pope). His rise to power, struggle to unite Muslims of Greater Syria and Egypt, cunning military leadership and passion to liberate Jerusalem are well explained to the young audience. His adversaries (like King Richard) invovement in the Crusades are well covered, while illustrations that acompany the book are of high quality. Overall, a recommended book for those who would like to know about an enlightened Muslim leader and legend. ... Read more

Book Description

0nce upon a time a miller's daughter was given an impossible task by a cruel and greedy king. She had to spin straw into gold. And who should show up to help her but an odd little man named Rumpelstiltskin.

According to tradition, the gold-bedazzled king and the miller's daughter are wed. But wait just a minute! This king is definitely not husband material, and there's someone else who is -- a hardworking guy who's supportive and nice looking, and who really comes through in a pinch.

Why not marry Rumpelstiltskin?

In Diane Stanley's merry rethinking of the traditional tale, Rumpelstiltskin and the miller's daughter are wed...and then sixteen years later their only daughter is stuck in the same dilemma: She's been locked in a room full of straw to spin for a greedy king! She could call for help from her father, but this fairy-tale heroine has some canny plans of her own.

How Rumpelstiltskin's daughter sets things to rights in the troubled kingdom, while achieving a unique place for herself, makes for a wise and witty tale of kindness and cleverness rewarded. Diane Stanley's wickedly funny text and zesty illustrations put a delightful new spin on a classic fairy tale.

Rumpelstiltskin's daughter may not be able to spin straw into gold, but she is more than a match for a monarch whose greed has blighted an entire kingdom.

Reviews (7)

Well illustrated children's story
This children's story is 29 un-numbered pages in a large format. The cover size is 9 x 12 inches. It is well illustated with large, full-color illustrations.

It is a delightful retelling of the story of Rumpelstiltskin. In this version, the miller's daughter finds Rumpelstiltskin more attractive than the greedy king, and escapes with him to take up a new life on a farm. But, later, the king discovers their daughter, and kidnaps the daughter to try to force her to spin his straw into gold.

The daughter is certainly not attracted to a greedy old king in his dotage, expecially one that her mother had already rejected when he was younger. But the daughter has plans of her own for rescuing the kingdom, and she is a lot smarter than the king.

Like many good children's stories, this one has gone out of print. One could hope that the publisher will reissue this one.

FANTASTIC!!!
I *love* this book! And so does my 3 year old daughter. The artwork is beautiful and so wonderful to look at. The story is *awesome* and just great for little girls [and boys!].

The author has a superb wit and a gift for storytelling. This has quickly become one of our very favorites and my daughter spends lots of time now pretending to be "Rumplestiltskin's Daughter" [who also had a name!]. I'm very happy with the impact this tale has had on her sense of what it is to be a woman.

This tale encourages girls to be clever and self sufficient without being tedious or overbearingly feminist. [And without being anti-male]. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

Wonderful!
This book has a great message for young girls (and boys!), and the illustrations are very clever. I think I enjoy this book as much as my daughters do! It makes a great gift.

Wonderful story, stunning illustrations
Sometimes I run across a book that has such a well-crafted story and such exquisite illustrations that I just sit back and say, "Wow!" This book by Diane Stanley is one of those "wow" books. In this version of Rumpelstiltskin, the miller's daughter, Meredith, is not a brainless wench who jumps at the chance to marry the king. Rumpelstiltskin is not an evil child-snatching gnome. In fact, he's a sweet soul who only wants one thing in life -- a child to love and care for. No wonder Meredith decides to ditch the king and marry Rumpelstiltskin. Besides, she has a weakness for short men. Rumpelstiltskin and Meredith marry, work on their farm, and raise their daughter. Although the family could use Rumpelstiltskin's talents to become exceedingly rich, he only spins a small amount of gold to buy those things they can't make or grow themselves. The rest of the people in the kingdom are not so lucky. The greedy king has rooms full of gold while his subjects are penniless and starving. No wonder he needs a contingent of armed guards who have elevated teeth-gnashing and sword-clutching into an art form.

When Rumpelstiltskin's daughter is sixteen, her parents let her take the odd bit of gold into town to exchange it for coins to buy necessities. Eventually the old greedy king hears about this, kidnaps Rumpelstiltskin's daughter, and locks her in a tower filled with straw. "Rumpelstiltskin's daughter looked around. She saw a pile of straw the size of a bus. She saw a locked door and high windows. She gave a big sigh and began to think. She knew her father could get her out of this pickle. But she had heard stories about the king all her life. One room full of gold would never satisfy him. Her father would be stuck here, spinning, until there was not an iota of straw left in the kingdom. "After a while she climbed the pile of straw and thought some more. She thought about the poor farmers and about the hungry children with their thin faces and sad eyes. She put the two thoughts together and cooked up a plan. . ." Instead of spinning straw into gold, Rumpelstiltskin's daughter puts her plan (which Ms. Stanley develops so cleverly that you really should read it for yourself) into action and saves the kingdom by teaching the king some simple lessons in economics and public relations. By the end of the story, the king offers her his hand in marriage, which she wisely declines. "Why don't you make me prime minister, instead," she suggests.

The best word to describe the illustrations is sumptuous. Diane Stanley's greedy king with his elegantly styled coif bears a striking resemblance to Louis XIV, and the artwork mirrors the Sun King's opulence. The palace shines with gilded ceilings and elaborate tiled floors. On the palace walls hang masterpieces so famous that my six year old can recognize most of them --works by da Vinci, Van Gogh, Picasso.

A Wonderful Antidote To Grim Fairy Tales
When Rumpelstiltskin's daughter is captured by the same greedy king who imprisoned her mother, she is determined to save herself and teach the king a lesson at the same time. This she does with real flair, improving the king's economy and polishing his image until his subjects adore him. A funny and refreshing change from fairy tales that promise only rescue for the dainty heroine, this updating of the Rumpelstiltskin story features the sharp wit of Diane Stanley as well as wonderfully clever illustrations that will engage everyone from children to adults. ... Read more

Book Description

For a giant, Otto is embarrassingly polite. While all the other giants are studying Cursing, Growling, and Stomping, Otto just wants to play with his pet hen, Clara. Then one terrible day a wily human named Jack climbs up a magic beanstalk and steals her away! Knowing only the thief's name, Otto must find Clara and rescue her from the land of fairy tales and nursery rhymes. The only problem is, there seem to be an awful lot of Jacks down there....

Diane Stanley, author and illustrator of goldie and the three bears and rumpelstiltskin's daughter, once again brings a fresh vision to a beloved story. Readers will delight in recognizing their favorite Jacks as Otto travels throughout the kingdom to find Clara. With great humor and beautiful illustrations, Diane Stanley creates a satisfying tale in which Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, and Otto all live happily ever after.

Reviews (2)

Or "A tale of five or six Jacks"
If you like the Stinky Cheese Man, you will love this book.Now, at last, the untold story behind the well-known tale of Jack and the Beanstalk is finally revealed.No, the giant is not really a blood-thirsty monster who wants to eat Jack, and no, he doesn't have the hen because he is greedy.Otto is that rare, gentle giant (although possibly not the brigthest).

To recover his precious hen, Otto travels through five or six different fairy tales in search of the elusive Jack.Older readers will recognize the "other" Jacks immediately, and everyone will get a chuckle out of the giant's quest.

A fun version of an old story, which gives new meaning to the phrase "...and they lived happily ever after."

A Giant Pleasure to Read
I thought that this book was really cute. Although I am a little old for it, I loved it! Otto was really funny and his quest to save clara the hen was really sweet. It shows the giant's side of the story instead of the one we usually hear.

I happened to really like this book, and fairy tales and classics really aren't my thing. This book was right up my alley. My dad dislikes kids books and classics, and he thought that this story was as cute as he's ever read.

My little brother hates reading, but he reads this book all the time, around three times a day.

We found out about this book from the teacher at my brother's school because she wanted him to read. He loved it, and had me read it to him a few times.

THIS IS THE BEST SORT OF CLASSIC I HAVE EVER READ IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A fun read for everyone!
I have read this book to three different classes at the elementary school where I work as a reading instructor. In every class the children loved it. It has such quirky humor. The illustrations are great. I used props to illustrate the letters and what the teacher was telling the students about the alphabet and math such as 1+8 doesn't make 9, but 18. I kept this book so long that the library almost had to sell it to me.
I enjoyed using character voices to make the book come alive for the kids. I can't wait to get my hands on the 1st book in the series (saving sweetness). I highly recommend this book.

Raising Sweetness
My daughter found this book at her school library. My daughter is in first grade and enjoys a healthy sense of humor. She and I found this story to be hysterical. Laugh out loud funny. You can't help but fall in love with entire cast of characters. We enjoyed it so much we had to buy "Saving Sweetness". Now our only disappointment is that we can't find anymore books in this series.

A heart warming and hilarious story
The Sweetness of the title is a plucky little orphan who looks a lot like Tatum O'Neal in "Paper Moon," without the cigar.

She and seven other orphans have been adopted by the kind, but addlebrained, sheriff of Possum Trot. He had rescued them from Mrs. Sump, the evil (naturally) head of the orphanage, in Stanley's previous book, "Saving Sweetness."

In this funny sequel, the Sheriff takes to housekeeping like a fish takes to a pile of sawdust; that is, he is sorely lacking in the home arts. He serves tuna fish soup and pickle and banana pie and washes the windows with butter. The orphans, with Sweetness at the fore, decide to domesticate him. First, they need to learn to read so they can decipher a letter from the Sheriff's long-lost love, Lucy Locket, and then find a way to get them hitched.

The twangy Texas lingo is snappy without being laid on too thick, helping rather than hindering when the book is read aloud. The mixed media illustrations, combining scribbly colored pencil drawings with collages of wallpaper, cut paper and masking tape, perfectly match the warm absurdity of the text. A heart warming and hilarious story.

Lighten up Austin!
This sequel to Saving Sweetness is a chance to romp in Possom Trot one more time. Stanley's adoptive father may be inept but he's a hoot, and Sweetness(his ever resourceful adopted daughter) is the perfect heroine. If you teach K-6 your students will love the colorful language and silly idioms, especially when read aloud.

funny and "sweet"
The orphans love living with the sheriff and are getting along fine, however his cooking leaves A LOT to be desired. When a letter comes to the house, no one can read it. Sweetness heads off to school to learn her letters and decifer the mail. And what a surprise the mail delivers! It bothers me a little that the kids think the sheriff would be better off married not because he needs someone to love but because they hate his cooking, cleaning and hygiene. The emphasis on learning to read could be stronger as well. ... Read more

Book Description

When Sweetness, the ittiest bittiest orphan in Ms. Sump's orphanage, runs away, it's up to the sheriff to find her and bring her back. The only problem is, Sweetness doesn't want to be saved. She'd rather take her chances with Coyote Pete, the nastiest desperado in the Wild West, than face going back to Ms. Sump. So each time the sheriff catches up to her, she runs away again! How the sheriff finally finds a way to save Sweetness-for good-makes for a hilariously heartwarming story that's sure to please.

"Very funny indeed." (The Horn Book, starred review) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Read Aloud Story for Parents and Teachers
When the sheriff of a dusty western town "rescues" Sweetness, an unusually resourceful orphan, from nasty old Mrs. Sump and her terrible orphanage, neither the sheriff nor Sweetness know what they are getting into.Sweetness is quite the unlikely hero, but she succeeds in rescuing the sheriff time and time again, even while the sheriff believes that he is the one doing the rescuing.

A great story for children to hear or read, as they will enjoy the fact that Sweetness is the real hero.The language and illustrations of the story will mesmerize kids.Adults will have a lot of fun reading the book with an accent.

Perfect For Reading Out Loud
This book is the most fun to read out loud! What a treat for both parent and child ... teacher and students. I read it to my 8-year old girl and we both laughed out loud throughout the story. The subtle messages make for some great discussion as well. Themes such as : "Sometimes adults can use help from children", "Children have more power over situations than we sometimes give them credit for", "What goes around comes around", "Do unto others as you would have done unto you", etc. It is also a good book for discussing adoption/foster care. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Totally charming!
This is the best of the California Young Reader nominees in it's catagory this year. I thought it was a real hoot, and I am adding it to our school library. It is funny and has a good message about adoption. I really think the children are going to have fun with this one.

A delightful read aloud book for a wide range of ages.
From the moment you begin this book, you will want to read it aloud and get caught up in the rhythm of the language..."Mrs. Sump doesn't much like seein' the orphans restin' or havin' any fun, so she puts 'em to scrubbin' the floor with toothbrushes. Even the ittiest, bittiest orphan, little Sweetness. So one day, Sweetness hit the road." Children appreciate the humor in the sheriff's attempts to rescue Sweetness from the perils in the desert.The illustrations are an interesting blend of mediums.This book is just plain, good ole fun.

Best funny read aloud this year.
Saving Sweetness is a very entertaining read-aloud. Children love the characters and are delighted with the humor. Some childrens comments have been:"I like the way that Mrs. Sump starts to say something about the orphans and then changes her mind and says it in a nicer way."" Ithink its funny that the sheriff thinks he is saving sweetness." The Illustrations are an extremely integral part of the story.In fact, the pictures add a dimension by presenting an aditional point of view. ... Read more

Book Description

In this spirited new version of "Goldilocks," we meet a determined heroine with a mind of her own. Goldie knows exactly what she likes -- and what she doesn't. Can she help it if everyone she invites over is too bossy or too boring or too snobby or too rough? What she desperately wants is a friend who is just right -- someone she can love with all her heart. Then one day, Goldie gets off the bus at the wrong stop, walks to a nearby cottage to find help, and opens the door. . .

Diane Stanley, author and illustrator of Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter, once again takes an old tale and gives it a fresh spin that is funny as well as perceptive. Readers will love accompanying Goldie on her up-to-date adventure and discovering the clever, heartwarming surprise at its end.

Reviews (1)

Great retelling with a much happier ending
My twin 2.5 year olds love when we tell them the story of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. We took this out of the library and it has been a HUGE hit. The pictures are endearing and engaging and the story charming. It has enough aspects of the original tale to make it familar, yet adds just the right amount of modernity to make it really relatable. My girls are always pointing out details in the pictures and are excited by the happy ending which I also find much more fulfilling than the original. A great deal of humor makes it enjoyable for Mom and Dad to read over and over again too. ... Read more

Book Description

Charles Dickens is one of the world's greatest and best loved writers. To read Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, or Nicholas Nickleby is to be drawn into a society that still seems fresh and real today: nineteenth-century London with its extraordinary extremes of wealth, progress, poverty, and despair. Dickens captures it all in plots that are by turns wildly comical, wonderfully melodramatic, and tragic to the point of tears. In his writing and later, in his dramatic readings, Charles Dickens was a master showman, mesmerizing the whole world.

His novels are stuffed to bursting with unforgettable characters like Mr. Micawber, Ebineezer Scrooge, and Little Nell. Most affecting are his portraits of children abused and abandoned by the Industrial Age. David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and Tiny Tim are mirrors that reflect the twisted values of their time.

The twists of Dickens's own life encompassed childhood suffering as well as international acclaim. When he was twelve, his father was consigned to debtors' prison and Charles to working in a blacking factory. Not twelve years later The Pickwick Papers would propel him toward literary stardom.

In their lovingly researched, incisively written biography, illustrated with a lushness and attention to period detail of which Dickens would have approved, Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema illuminate his inspirations, his impact on nations of readers, and his gleaming genius that has only brightened with time.

Reviews (1)

the book review
i thought this book was really good. its a biography about the life of charles dickens. it would be great for younger kids to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Peter the Great, crowned tsar of Russia at the age of ten, believed that whatever he wanted he should have -- and the sooner the better. What he wanted most was to bring his beloved country into the modem world. He traveled to the West to learn European ways -- the first tsar ever to leave Russia -- disguised as a common soldier.

He explored the West with excitement and curiosity and returned home ready to undertake a series of momentous social reforms. And to satisfy his boyhood dream of a Russian naval port, he began to build, on a freezing swamp, a glittering new capital to be named St. Petersburg.

In this welcome reissue of Diane Stanley's acclaimed picturebook biography, her meticulously researched text and sumptuous illustrations capture the fabulous world of seventeenth -- and eighteenth-century tsarist Russia and the greatness of its larger-than-life leader -- a man of huge stature and tremendous spirit whose impatience and vision, insatiable curiosity and boundless energy transformed half a continent.

Reviews (1)

Just a great book!
I learned so much from this book. It is absorbing and I would love to share it with my students. Peter the Great is a very interesting figure and I wish I had been introduced to him earlier in my life. ... Read more

Book Description

It started with jelly worms...

Kids all over the country are acting strangely after reading the latest books in the mega-popular Chillers series. First, it's the seemingly innocent Jelly Worm fad. But it quickly turns sinister, with exploding headaches sweeping the nation, and then a serpent surprise that lands several kids, including Franny's little sister, in the hospital.

Franny is convinced that I. M. Fine, author of the Chillers books, is behind it. With the help of her friend Beamer, she is determined to track down the mysterious author and find out once and for all if the books really are causing all the trouble. After all, a book can't be that dangerous, can it?

Reviews (3)

THE MYSTERIOUS MATTER OF I.M. FINE
The Mysterious Mattter of I.M. Fine is really a mystery book. It is about a girl named Franny and her friend Beamer who are trying to find out where this mysterious author lives. They have to do lots and lots of research to find out where the author lives. They are trying to find I.M. Fine because she is putting spells in the books she is writing. People get sick or go crazy every time they read her books. Finally, Franny and Beamer find nout where I.M lives. They thought I.M was a man but when they went into I.M.'s house they found out she is a woman. They also found out that I.M had a twin sister that was their teacher in the sixth grade. The twin then talked to I.M and I.M promised to not put anymore spells in her books,but there was just one problem, nobody would buy her books anymore. I thought it was a good book, what about you?

I'm surprised, I really enjoyed this mystery
When two children, Franny and Beamer become concerned with the behavior of the children at their school, they decide to investigate the mystery behind the children's behavior. What is the connection? Is there a connection? Why are so many children doing the same thing?

I read this book with my son as part of his Summer Reading Program. My son enjoyed the copy we borrowed so much that we had to buy our own. It made him think about what and why children do the things they do. It was a fun read for him. I must admit that I'm surprised I actually enjoyed it. The photo on the cover appeared to be very chilling. Once we started reading the book we found it to be very thrilling, full of suspense and humor.

A clever and entertaining parody.
Franny and Beamer just don't get the whole I.M. Fine thing. Sure, I.M. Fine's Chillers books are a hit with kids everywhere. But what's so great about them? Something, apparently, because I.M. Fine has become the best-selling children's book author in the country. When jelly worms are featured in a Chillers book, suddenly kids everywhere go crazy, buying tons of jelly worms. That doesn't seem so bad. But then everyone who reads the next Chillers book, about an exploding head, gets a horrible headache that lasts for several days and is cured by nothing. Franny and Beamer are suspicious of I.M. Fine, but they have no proof that the books are causing the strange behavior. Then a Chillers book about ghosts causes kids to think they see ghosts, and one about snakes causes its readers to act like snakes. Franny and Beamer now know I.M. Fine is to blame. They have to stop him or her, but first they have to track this mysterious author down. This was a clever, spooky, and entertaining parody on kids and how they react to fads. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A very worthy true story with terrific illustrations
Fay Stanley's very worthy true story, "The Last Princess," is the tale of the life of Princess Ka'ilulani of Hawaii (or "Hawai'i" as it's more correctly spelled throughout the book). The book is illustrated by Fay Stanley's daughter, Diane Stanley, and this mother-daughter team has come up with a captivating and sad true story about a portion of history little of us know anything about.

Princess Ka'iulani was the niece of the king of Hawaii when she was born towards the coming of the 20th century. Great rejoicing attended her birth, as the king himself had no children. By all accounts, Ka'iulani was cheerful, beautiful, polite, kind, intelligent, and more than worthy of taking over the throne when the time came. Unfortunately, Americans intervened and little by little usurped the king's power. By the time Ka'iulani returned to the island after her schooling in England, the Hawaiian islands were an entirely different place--and not for the better.

Ka'iulani appealed to President Grover Cleveland's better nature and although he did his best to help her, upon leaving the White House after his presidency, Ka'iulani now had no American political friends. It was far more in America's interests to annex Hawaii to America than it was to help this charming, serious princess regain her rightful access to the Hawaiian throne.

This is a terrifically absorbing tale. Ka'iulani is presented beautifully by the illustrations, which show different aspects of her personality while always emphasizing her dignity and popularity among the Hawaiian people. The two Stanley ladies have taken a little-known subject and presented it to us with power and handsome decoration, and the end result is highly compelling.

Educational, full of history and culture, nice pictures!
Gives children a real look at the history of Hawaii. A beautiful, sad and true story. Would like to buy a bunch more and give to children for gifts. ... Read more

Book Description

In a picture-book biography acclaimed for both its accuracy and beauty, Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema describe how Shaka, a brilliant military strategist, rose from humble beginnings to lead a mighty people nearly two centuries ago. It is an unforgettable story."Stanley presents the life story of Shaka, a Zulu military genius who became king of his people in the eighteenth century....The illustrations are full-color paintings that convey a quiet intensity in their portrayal of Shaka and his people."--Booklist ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good story book for little kids.
Good drawings and great story especially if your a little kid ... Read more

Book Description

Liz, Lenny, and Grandma are back for another time-traveling adventure. With the Fourth of July fast approaching, there's only one thing for them to do ...

Join the Boston Tea Party!

With the help of Grandma's magic hat, the twins journey back to Boston in 1773. From powdered wigs and petticoats to Indian pudding and chamber pots, Liz and Lenny get a firsthand look at life in colonial America. But best of all they actually join the "Mohawks" as they dump tea into Boston Harbor and help begin the American Revolution.

Diane Stanley once again blends humor and historical detail in this exciting second installment of the Time-Traveling Twins series. Featuring word balloons packed with comedy and lots of information, and Holly Berry's inviting illustrations, this book will make readers jump at the chance to join the twins as they learn about history by living it!