The Emperor's New Clothes

by Hans Christian Andersen

Overview

In this hip hilarious retelling, Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairy tale is reimagined by an all-star celebrity cast. Among the writers are Academy Award-winning and -nominated actors and actresses and other personalities from the worlds of entertainment and popular culture. Each celebrity contribution is illustrated by artists who have created some of the most treasured classics of children's literature-Caldecott Medal and Honor winners, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists, New Yorker cover contributors, and many other esteemed talents. The contributors' creative gifts are outshined only by their generosity: All of the royalties from this book have been donated to Starbright, an innovative charitable foundation committed to improving the lives of seriously ill children. And on the enclosed compact disc, the book leaps into life-with music, sound effects, an original song, and all the humor and dramatic flair of the celebrity authors' finest performances -in a one-of-a-kind audio event for the entire family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781480019157
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	10/01/2012
Pages:	30
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.06(d)
Lexile:	650L (what's this?)

About the Author

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a prolific Danish author and poet best known for his fairy tales. His stories have crossed all limitations of time and space, having been translated into more than 125 languages,and have become an integral part of children’s literature worldwide. A master of the genre, his stories present lessons and entertainment for readers of all ages.

Virginia Lee Burton (1909-1968) was the talented author and illustrator of some of the most enduring books ever written for children. The winner of the 1942 Caldecott Medal for THE LITTLE HOUSE, Burton's books include heroes and happy endings, lively illustrations, and a dash of nostalgia. She lived with her two sons, Aristides and Michael, and her husband George Demetrios, the sculptor, in a section of Gloucester, Massachusetts, called Folly Cove. Here she taught a class in design and from it emerged the Folly Cove designers, a group of internationally known professional artisans. She is the author of many classic children's picture books, including MIKE MULLIGAN AND HIS STEAM SHOVEL and KATY AND THE BIG SNOW.

Date of Birth:

April 2, 1805

Date of Death:

August 4, 1875

Place of Birth:

Odense, Denmark

Place of Death:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Editorial Reviews

From Lewis (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, 1992, etc.), a plucky new treatment of the familiar tale. Here the emperor, everyone's favorite sartorial obsessive, is a preWW I dandy, but he is the same chump as always, duped by the two prankster weavers. Their cloth, "invisible to anyone who was unfit for his job or particularly stupid," has all the court's self-important retainers and grandees in a swivet: They can't see the cloth but dare not admit it in fear of being branded an incompetent or a fool. The ruse goes all the way to the top, to the emperor's self-doubts and conventionality, and his absurd procession: When exposed for the clown he is by a child's shout, the emperor remains calm" `If I stop, it will spoil the procession. And that would never do.' So on he stepped, even more proudly than before." The translation is fine and sure, and Barrett's artwork is splendid, full of lively vignettes and early-20th-century details, complete with a company of wise dogs and the impeccably expressive faces of bystanders.

Kirkus Reviews