Skip to main content

Rumpelstiltskin


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zelinsky, P. (1986). Rumpelstiltskin. (First Edition). Dutton Books for Young Readers. ISBN-10: 0525442650

PLOT SUMMARY
Paul O. Zelinsky (1998 Caldecott winner) retells the classic fairytale of Rumpelstiltskin, staying true to the original tale from the Brothers Grimm collection in 1812. Rumpelstiltskin is an intriguing tale about a young daughter who was brought before the king in consequence of her father’s misleading promise that she “could spin gold out of straw”. The greedy king immediately locks her in a room full of straw demanding she turn everything into gold by morning time or she shall surely die. The girl is hopeless until a sneaky little man offers to help her in return of a reward. The same event repeats itself for two more nights until the daughter has nothing left to offer but her first born child with the king. The day arrives when she has to give up her only child, but only with one condition, she has to guess the little man’s name and she will be freed from her deal. The daughter has help from a messenger who reveals the little man’s true identity. When the daughter utters, “Rumpelstiltskin”, the little man reacts in a fury which results in his demise. The little man is split in two, putting an end to his existence.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Zelinsky’s illustrations add a beautiful and classic Renaissance feel to the story which is said to have been told several thousand years prior to the 17th century. Zelinsky takes people of all ages into the magical world of Rumpelstiltskin. Readers minds will soar through the carefully detailed illustrated pages. Zelinsky tactically places small text in each page, and lets the illustrations take over. The fantasy world of Rumpelstiltskin is eerie as well as intriguing and with the aid of such intricate illustrations, readers can visualize the setting and the characters will come to life. Zelinsky remains true to the overall central theme of the story which is boasting, greed, lies, and false promises.

EXCERPTS
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Here Zelinsky has retold the narrative himself; he has captured the magic and frightening wonder of the tale while incorporating elements from a number of 19th century Grimm versions. The spare story flows beautifully, and the illustrations are extraordinary. Incredibly detailed full-color paintings show the influence of careful study of styles and techniques of European portrait and landscape painters.” (1986)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Kindergarten-Grade 4 Zelinsky's painterly style and rich colors provide an evocative backdrop to this story. The medieval setting and costumes and the spools of gold thread which shine on the page like real gold are suggestive of an illuminated manuscript. Without overpowering the text, the illustrations give depth and background, providing exquisite texture and detail: the castle interior; subtle facial expressions; the foreboding landscape when Rumpelstiltskin is overheard to reveal his name. The imp himself is deeply fascinating, with his birdlike features, tiny agile body, and Rackhamesque hands and feet.” (1986)

NEW YORK TIMES: “Adult and child can delight together in the richness of color, gilt and detail…captured in such art. The story is plainly and gracefully told.” (1986)

CONNECTIONS
Home Activity: Students will analyze and recognize negative qualities that lead to bad consequences through the story of Rumpelstiltskin.

Library Activity: Students are encouraged to read more Caldecott Award winning fairytales by Paul O. Zelinsky.

·         Zelinsky, P. (1997). Rapunzel. (Caldecott Honor Book). 1st Edition. Dutton Books for Young Readers. ISBN-10: 9780525456070

·         Lesser, R. and Zelinsky, P. (1999) Hensel and Gretel. (1st Edition). Dutton Books for Young Readers. ISBN-10: 9780525461524


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Universal Design for Learning

As educators we are faced with making important decisions every day that will affect student learning. Educators need to keep in mind that we need to make learning accessible and accommodate to diverse learning styles. Each student brings their own knowledge, experiences, talents, and needs to the table. Educators should have a plan in place that will fit all students into the teaching and learning experience. That is were Universal Design for Learning comes into play.  Universal Design for Learning  is a curriculum system that provides unique and equal learning opportunities for all individuals.  As a teacher myself, I had heard of different theories similar to UDL before. After researching further into this designed system, I realized I have been using some of these methods in my classroom already. UDL is lead by three main principles that activate a learning in the brain: 1. Engagement: the WHY? Recruiting Interest Sustaining Effor...
2 comments
Read more

Podcasts

Podcasts are an excellent source of information for learning and sharing. Educators and librarians are looking into podcasts now more than ever. Podcasts have a wide range of usage which make them even more popular. Listeners can tune in at home, in their car, at the office, park, or even while shopping for groceries. The possibilities are endless when you can stream or play podcasts through almost any electronic device that has a connection. There are tons of ways that you can access podcasts; Blogs, websites, radio stations, apps, and more. Whether you are looking for a good podcast to listen to, or wish to create one yourself, read below to find out my top picks. My top picks for podcast creators: Podbean Podbean is a free website/app. It is accessible through website or a downloadable app. Creating an account and registering is simple and free, you can also sign up through a Google account which is great. There is a free basic account, or you can upgrade for more featu...
2 comments
Read more

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras

BIBLIOGRAPHY Tonatiuh, D. 2015. Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras . (Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Awards). Harry N. Abrams. ISBN-10: 1419716476. PLOT SUMMARY Duncan Tonatiuh is an innovative illustrator that integrates his art with tradition and culture to narrate historical events. In Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras , Tonatiuh incorporates his Mixtec-modern art with well-thought out, clear and concise, literary informational text about Don Lupe Posada’s life. The biography narrates Posada’s life in Mexico since the day he was born, followed by the most important and life changing events in his life. Posada gained public recognition for his witty art, which conveyed political and social depictions of people portrayed as “calaveras”. He achieved great success through working and training employees in various print shop businesses throughout his lifetime in Mexico. The calavera illustrations left a mark in the Mexican world...
Post a Comment
Read more