Ruth Sanderson

The illustrations carry this book. The tale is an old one by the Brothers Grimm. The illustrations are lavishly stunning. The story consists of princesses, magic spells, castles, quests, a poor man who longs for more.

The twelve dancing princess have beautiful gowns and lovely shoes to match. Each night they have beautiful shoes and each morning, the soles are worn. The King cannot understand what happens to the shoes. He makes an announcement that if any young man can discover why their shoes become worn, he has the hand on a princess. A young common man named Michael who was told by an older woman that she should look for a gardener position at the castle, she also gave him a clock that when worn, He became invisible.

Michael fell in love with Lina, one of the humble princesses. The other men who tried to solve the riddle were given a potion which rendered them silent.

One night Michael followed the princesses and hid under twelve beds. Eventually, the magical doors were opens and the 12 young girls were clothed in stunning outfits and beautiful shoes.

They went down to a small chamber, where they progressed to rooms of silver, gold and diamonds. Lina suspected she heard someone, but no one else did. A large lake with white swans transported the ladies to a magical palace where they danced with partners throughout the entire night until the soles of their slippers were worn through.

One night Michael took a gold-sprinkled branch. Lina confronted the garden boy Michael who confessed to learning their dancing secret. Later that night, Lina gave him an invitation to the palace where he danced with her. Her did not drink the potion in the cup. The next day they approached the King and were given permission to marry. Instead of a gardener, Michael eventually became a King.… (more)

Carle Museum horse exhibit

Rosa Bonheur (b. 1822) was a French artist who painted horses, and showed and sold her work in her own lifetime (e.g. at the Paris Salon exhibition in 1853). Her painting "The Horse Fair" is now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but her work was almost forgotten after her death, with the rise of Impressionism and Modern art (and because she was a woman). Rosa never married, but had a beloved lifelong partner, Nathalie Micas.

Rosa's life from childhood through the exhibition of The Horse Fair is covered in the book, with four more full pages ("More About Rosa"), an author's note, recommended drawing books, sources, and image credits.… (more)