Type of bind: Hardcover
EAN num: 9780152531645
ISBN number: 0152531645
Label: Harcourt Childrens Books (J)
Manufacturer: Harcourt Childrens Books (J)
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 41
Printing Date: 1989-10
Publishing house: Harcourt Childrens Books (J)
Age index: Ages 4-8
Sale Popularity Level: 478936
Studio: Harcourt Childrens Books (J)
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Cursed by an evil fairy at her christening, Princess Melisande grows up bald but finds herself facing another set of problems when her wish for golden hair is fulfilled.
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Rated by buyers -
Melisande very first appeared as a short story "Melisande Or, Long and Short Division" in her collection: Nine Unlikely Tales for Children. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1901. It is a humorous and thoughtful satirical adaptation of classic fairy tale themes.
Borrowing themes from Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Gulliver's Travels and other classic fairy tales, Nesbit's story takes a mathematical approach to one of her often-used themes of magic wishes taken literally and going tragically wrong. In Melisande's case she is cursed at birth with baldness by a wicked fairy but her real problems begin when her mother uses another fairy's powers to wish she has "hair a yard long, and that it would grow an inch everyday, and grow twice as fast every time it was cut."
This 1990 ALA Notable Book is beautifully illustrated in full colour by Patrick Lynch.
Rated by buyers -
A century-old thoughtful twist on the fairy tale genre by a classic Children's writer (would love to see reviews of some of her other works). Melisande is a princess subject to the usual misfortune: a wicked fairy not invited to the christening casts an evil spell on her--"The Princess shall be bald." Not to worry the King has a wish he was given by his fairy godmother locked in his safe, the Princess may use it however she wishes when she comes of age. At that point, the Queen says,
"Dearest, for my sake, wish what I tell you to." "Why, of course I will," said Melisande. The Queen whispered in her ear, and Melisande nodded. Then she said, "I wish I had golden hair a yard long, and that it would grow an inch every day, and grow twice as fast every time it was cut..."
"Stop!" cried the King..."You've done about enough." For he had a mathematical mind and could do the sums about the grains of wheat on the chessboard...
You can imagine what happens next. According to the formula, they promise the Princess's hand in marriage to the Prince who can solve this problem. One unfortunate endeavor leaves her growing into a giant a la Alice in Wonderland. The final solution is very clever and I won't spoil it for you. There is a great deal of humour throughout and it is illustrated very well, though I'm not an uberfan of Lynch's caricatures.
Rated by buyers -
From one irritated, uninvited guest comes the gift of baldness. From one poorly worded wish comes out of control hair. Add one prince determined to find the solution. Mix in Melisande's need to rescue her island home. How does it turn out? It adds up to an enchanting tale that delights both young and old. I've used the book in elementary classes as well as college classes--both were mesmerized.
Rated by buyers -
...Nesbit writes beautifully and is clever and unpredictable enough that without going over the kids' heads, the reading adult can enjoy it too. The illustrations are excellent; I just wish the hardcover version was available!
Rated by buyers 
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I remember this book from middle school. I told people the story, and everyone thought I made it up! I'm glad to see that it's in print, and not just a figment of my imagination. If you love fairy tales, you'll like this book. A little strange, but worth the read.
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