The Principal's New Clothes - Softcover

Stephanie Calmenson is the author of over a hundred books for children. Her books have been called marvelous” (Publishers Weekly), lyrical” (School Library Journal), sweet, funny, and right on the mark” (Booklist). Among her most popular titles are Dinner at the Panda Palace, a PBS StoryTime Book, The Principal’s New Clothes, The Teeny Tiny Teacher, and Rosie, A Visiting Dog’s Story, which Smithsonian Magazine called one of the outstanding nonfiction titles of the year.” She has also collaborated with Joanna Cole, author of the Magic School Bus series, on many best-selling anthologies including Ready, Set, Read! and Ready, Set, Read and Laugh! Before turning to writing, Stephanie was an elementary school teacher, and a children’s book editor. She lives in new York City and considers herself very lucky to have found work that brings together her love of children, language, and laughter.

PreSchool-Grade 2-- An updated version of Andersen's classic story, with a snappily dressed elementary-school principal cast in the role of the emperor. Mr. Bundy wears a different suit each day of the month. Moe and Ivy, two trickster tailors, arrive and offer to make an amazing suit invisible to anyone who is either incompetent or stupid. Duped by them, Mr. Bundy wears his invisible new clothes to the school assembly. At this point the story deviates from Andersen's wonderfully ambiguous final scene of the emperor acknowledging reality but choosing to maintain pride and illusion. Calmenson's principal enters the auditorium clad in his underwear, and one kindergartner blurts out the truth. All the kids and teachers pass clothes up to the stage, and, finally, a sportily attired Mr. Bundy gives the kindergarten child a gold star for her honesty. The story concludes with the entire school agreeing that their principal is smart, competent, and "still the sharpest dresser." The cartoonlike watercolor illustrations reinforce the literal quality of the story, caricature the tricksters as Disneyesque villains, and stereotype the school genius as the quintessential "nerd." In this too-literal retelling and illustrating of a timeless tale, children are deprived of the necessity and pleasure of actively participating, imagining, and drawing inferences. Andersen said it better 150 years ago, and his version still speaks today.
-Pamela Miller Ness, The Fenn School, Concord, MA
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.