Plot Summary:

In this, “One of Grimms’ most popular tales” retold, the miller’s daughter is tasked with spinning straw into gold after her father boasts (falsely) about her prowess with a spinning wheel. Threatened with the loss of her life if she fails, she is forlorn and ready to give up when a tiny man shows up and makes her give something for accomplishing the task for her. After a couple of similar nights with increasing tasks, she has nothing else to give and he makes her promise her firstborn child. What will happen when he shows up a year later to claim the child?

Critical Analysis:

Mr. Zelinsky’s oil paintings accompany this retelling of the Grimms tale of Rumpenstünzchen. His rendering of the beautiful miller’s daughter and the funny looking tiny man are a wonderful juxtaposition of each other. He has created beautiful images that show the vastness of the piles of straw, wonderful interiors of the castle with views of the kingdom from the windows and balconies. Mr. Zelinsky has maintained the integrity of the original story and explains in an end note that he has based this text mostly on the 1810 version of the tale with some dialogue from the later versions. He has also included some elements from earlier versions “to create text best suited for a picture book.” 

Review Excerpts:

Caldecott Honor Book 1987

Redbook Award

Society of Illustrators and AIGA Certificates of Merit

ALA Notable Book

SLJ Best Book

NY Times Book Reviews- “The story is plainly and gracefully told, unmarred by cuteness or stylistic tics that might obscure the power of the original Grimm.”

Kirkus Reviews- “Zelinsky’s illustrations are opulently painted, full of classical architectural detail, fantastic distant landscapes, and that early use of perspective which gives a raked stage effect.”

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