1987 Caldecott Honor Book

Zelinsky, Paul O. Rumpelstilskin. New York, NY: Puffin Books, 1986.
ISBN: 0525442650

Author:
Paul O. Zelinsky grew up in Wilmette, Illinois, the son of a mathematics professor father and a medical illustrator mother. He drew compulsively from an early age, but did not know until college that this would be his career.  His first book appeared in 1978, since which time he has become recognized as one of the most inventive and critically successful artists in the field. Among many other awards and prizes, he received the 1998 Caldecott Medal for his illustrated retelling of Rapunzel, as well as Caldecott Honors for three of his books: Hansel and Gretel (1985),  Rumpelstiltskin (1987), and Swamp Angel (1995).

Plot Summary:

The classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin is vividly brought to life in this new edition by Paul O. Zelinsky.  Rumpelstiltskin is one of the Grimm brothers' most popular tales.  In this retelling of a classic, Zelinsky tells the story of a poor miller who had a beautiful daughter. One day on the way to town he meets the king.  The miller was trying to impress the king which leads to the tale that his beautiful daughter can spin straw into gold.  The king was a greedy man and took the daughter to a room filled with straw.  He instructs the daughter to spin all the straw into gold by morning.  Of course, she can not and she begins to cry.  Suddenly, a little man pops into the room and offers to spin the straw into gold. 

                   

                                                                           
In trade for his service, the little man first takes her necklace, then her ring, but on the third night the daughter has nothing left to give him.  The little man tells her to promise him her first born child.  She is shocked but has no other choice.  The king marries her and life goes on as normal until she has her first child and who should appear? The little man wanting the child.  She does not want to give up the baby and begs him.  He agrees if she can figure out his name in three days then he won't take the child.  The tale continues for two days and the queen is frantic and sends someone out to search for the little man's name.  By luck, the servant hears the little man singing in the forest,
                                               
                               I brew my beer, I bake my loaves, 
                                             And soon the queen's own son I'll claim,
                                             O lucky me! For no one know 
                                             That Rumpelstiltskin is my name!
                                                  
   
The servant runs and tells the queen.  When the little man comes back and the queen tells his name, he jumps on a cooking spoon and flies out the window yelling, "The Devil told you that! The Devil told you that!" and was never heard from again.
                                                                                                               
                                
Critical Analysis:
Zelinisky keeps this tale very close to the original and makes it a pleasure to read. This book has beautiful oil painted illustrations.  The colors are rich and bold while each page has a glossy look adding to the feeling of richness.  The color gold is used throughout the book to emphasize the "straw spinning into gold".  The characters emotions show on their faces and are easily interpreted by the reader.  

Connections:
Read and compare:

• Zelinsky’s other fairy tales: Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel 
• Look at other stories of Rumpelstiltskin: Paul Galdone, Nick and Claire Page, Teodora
• The original Brother’s Grimm version

Awards/Reviews:

1987 Caldecott Honor Book, Redbook Award, Society of Illustrators and AIGA Certificates of Merit, Bratislava Biennale Selection, ALA Notable Book, SLJ Best Book, Parents' Choice Award, Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and White Raven Book selection of the International Youth Library. 

Richly hued oil paintings complement a story simply and gracefully told. "Children...love the story for its mystery, and its familiarity. Adults will find that, like most classic fairy tales, this one rewards periodic rethinking." --New York Times Book Review 

"Zelinsky's smooth retelling and glowing pictures cast the story in a new and beautiful light." -- School Library Journal

"Adult and child can delight together in the richness of color, gilt and detail...captured in such art. The story is palinly and gracefully told."--The New York Times Book Review "A lush and substantial offering." --Booklist