What do you think?
Rate this book
The Emperor's New Clothes
Everyone agrees that the emperor is charming, clever, and works very hard . . . at shopping! Showing off his expensive clothes is all he cares about. So one day, a pair of swindlers decides to profit from the emperor's vanity. They offer to make him a splendid suit cut from a magical cloth that cannot be seen by anyone who is lazy or stupid. Who will be brave enough to tell the emperor that he's really wearing nothing at all? Illustrations as zany and entertaining as the emperor himself enhance this ageless tale, "re-cut, pinned and stitched" by illustrator John A. Rowe. Rowe's eccentric and vivid interpretation of the Hans Christian Andersen story puts new "garb" on an old favorite.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2004
About the author
Hans Christian Andersen
6,539 books3,313 followersHans Christian Andersen (often referred to in Scandinavia as H.C. Andersen) was a Danish author and poet. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. Andersen's popularity is not limited to children; his stories — called eventyr, or "fairy-tales" — express themes that transcend age and nationality.
Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films.
Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 23, 2019
The Emperor's New Clothes, illustrated by John Alfred Rowe.
Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale of a fashion-conscious emperor who falls victim to two swindlers, who convince him that they can weave cloth invisible to the stupid and professionally unfit, is adapted and illustrated here by John Alfred Rowe, whose quirky style is unmistakable. A red-cheeked emperor (a doll, a clown?), is attended by mice and monkeys, while the two cheats are depicted as sly foxes. Bright, contrasting colors, and humorous details - the monkeys cover their eyes with their hands when the emperor is trying on his new "clothes," the emperor himself cavorts about naked (backside only, parents!) - create an energetic, entertaining visual counterpart to the text.
Unfortunately, although I liked Rowe's artwork here, his retelling was somewhat less pleasing. Three of the first four sentences end with the words "new clothes," a deliberate repetition that serves as an early warning of a narrative trying just a little too hard to be winsome and fresh. The conclusion goes a little further than the original, having the emperor clown around in his birthday suit in front of the crowds (thereby winning their approval), and declare "The Emperor's No Clothes Day." These changes felt unnecessary and forced to me, adding little to the appeal of this retelling. All in all, an adaptation sure to appeal to the artist's fans, thought perhaps not to Andersen's.
Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale of a fashion-conscious emperor who falls victim to two swindlers, who convince him that they can weave cloth invisible to the stupid and professionally unfit, is adapted and illustrated here by John Alfred Rowe, whose quirky style is unmistakable. A red-cheeked emperor (a doll, a clown?), is attended by mice and monkeys, while the two cheats are depicted as sly foxes. Bright, contrasting colors, and humorous details - the monkeys cover their eyes with their hands when the emperor is trying on his new "clothes," the emperor himself cavorts about naked (backside only, parents!) - create an energetic, entertaining visual counterpart to the text.
Unfortunately, although I liked Rowe's artwork here, his retelling was somewhat less pleasing. Three of the first four sentences end with the words "new clothes," a deliberate repetition that serves as an early warning of a narrative trying just a little too hard to be winsome and fresh. The conclusion goes a little further than the original, having the emperor clown around in his birthday suit in front of the crowds (thereby winning their approval), and declare "The Emperor's No Clothes Day." These changes felt unnecessary and forced to me, adding little to the appeal of this retelling. All in all, an adaptation sure to appeal to the artist's fans, thought perhaps not to Andersen's.
January 24, 2019
The Emperor's New Clothes, illustrated by Anne Rockwell.
Originally published in 1837, as part of his Eventyr, fortalte for Børn (Fairy Tales, Told for Children), The Emperor's New Clothes is one of Hans Christian Andersen's most popular original fairy-tales. It also one of his most humorous, and this little miniature retelling, based on the nineteenth-century translation of H.W. Dulcken, and illustrated by Anne Rockwell, taps into that pointed hilarity. With colorful, appealing illustrations that stop just short of being cartoons, and a somewhat shortened text, this adaptation would be ideal for younger children.
Originally published in 1837, as part of his Eventyr, fortalte for Børn (Fairy Tales, Told for Children), The Emperor's New Clothes is one of Hans Christian Andersen's most popular original fairy-tales. It also one of his most humorous, and this little miniature retelling, based on the nineteenth-century translation of H.W. Dulcken, and illustrated by Anne Rockwell, taps into that pointed hilarity. With colorful, appealing illustrations that stop just short of being cartoons, and a somewhat shortened text, this adaptation would be ideal for younger children.
March 12, 2014
Probably not the best translation of this story but the story itself is a good one, the pictures are a little dated. I read one translation with animals pictures and then when the emperor had no clothes it was. My kids thought it was funny when they could see his butt. So we read it again. The moral of the story is that we shouldn't be so worried about what other people think... But the ending of this version sort of downplays the lesson.
July 31, 2009
good book - interesting pictures and an interesting take on the story
February 27, 2015
An odd conception, somewhat cartoon-like. The slight change to the ending isn't an improvement.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews