Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky

Bibliography
Zelinsky, Paul O. 1986. Rumpelstiltskin. New York: Dutton.  ISBN 0-525-44265-0

Plot summary
A miller brags to the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold.  Being a selfish and greedy king, he demands that the miller's daughter must turn a room full of straw into gold or she will be put to death.  Crying and locked into a room alone, the miller's daughter is distraught until a funny little man appears and tells her that he can spin the straw into gold for a price. Eventually, having nothing else to give, the little runt of a man demands her firstborn child.  The miller's daughter agrees to the price and the king marries the girl and makes her Queen.  One year later, the imp comes back to demand his payment.  What will the Queen do to keep her son?

Critical analysis
In this beautiful variant of the Grimm Brother's Rumpelstiltskin, Zelinsky's writing and illustrations evoke a world in which magic still lived.  While the writing is simple and true to the original Rumpelstiltskin, it's the illustrations that make this a book a child or adult would want to own in their personal library;  especially if one is a collector of Rumpelstiltskin stories. In addition to winning a 1987 Caldecott Honor, Zelinsky's, Rumpelstiltskin has received numerous other awards and honors, including the Redbook Award, Society of Illustrators and AIGA Certificates of Merit, Bratislava Biennale Selection, ALA Notable Book, SLJ Best Book, Parents' Choice Award, Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and White Raven Book selection of the International Youth Library.
The illustrations are oil paints over watercolor underpaintings and are reminiscent of Renaissance paintings, while the miller's daughter has a look of the Pre-Raphaelites. Rumpelstiltskin is portrayed with bulbous eyes and a hawkish nose, looking curious and cheeky.  The King does not look evil enough for one that says "if you have not spun this straw into gold by morning, you will die." The back cover has a gold coin portraying Rumplestiltskin in his wide, pointy hat with the name of Zelinsky's wife, Deborah, written in a Latinesque format which is a fun ending to this wonderful fairy tale gloriously portrayed by Zelinsky.

The book works well for independent readers and for a group read-aloud.  Just make sure the students have time to savor the illustrations so they can gain a feel for the land and time in which this story takes place.

Review excerpt(s)
One of the most exquisite picture books of the season, Zelinsky's Rumpelstiltskin  will have strong appeal for children and for adult picture-book collectors alike...Here Zelinsky has retold the narrative himself; he has captured the magic and frightening wonder of the tale while incorporating elements from a number of 19th century Grimm versions. .... Rumpelstiltskin is a tour de force by an immensely talented artist. Zelinsky is that rare practitioner who can create sophisticated work that adults will marvel at, and that children will joyfully embrace. -- Publishers Weekly

...Zelinsky's exquisitely detailed illustrations perfectly capture the splendid beauty of the late medieval period, as well as the unique qualities of each character. -- Children's Literature

Connections
*For students who will enjoy Zelinksky's illustrated fairy tales, here are two more books by the Caldecott award winning illustrator.
     1. Rapunzel.  ISBN 978-0525456070. (Caldecott Medal Book)
     2. Lesser, Rita. 1999. Hansel and Gretel. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-          0525461524
*Traditional literature often teaches us right from wrong, with the good winning against the bad.  The story of Rumplestiltskin is ambiguous on who is good and who is evil. This book allows for a great opportunity to discuss right from wrong with students.  Questions you may want to ask your students:
     1. The miller brags to the king about his daughter and tells a lie.  Does this story show us how lying can hurt us or the ones we love?
     2.  Is the King good or bad?
     3.  Is Rumplestiltskin good or bad?  What makes him good? What makes him bad?
     4. Rumplestiltskin does a service for the miller's daughter; he spun the straw into gold so she wouldn't be killed by the king. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
      5. When someone does a service for us, we pay them with money.  Was Rumplestiltskin right in asking for payment to spin the straw into gold?
     6.  The Queen made a promise to Rumplestiltskin, yet she broke her promise.  Is it ever ok to break your promise to someone?
     7.  Many people think Rumplestiltskin is bad because he wants the Queen's child.  Why do you think he wants the child?  What do you think he do with the baby once he has him?
* On Zelinsky's website, there is a link to lesson plans based on the book.  The lesson plans were written by his wife, Deborah Hallan. Review the website and talk to the students about the authenticity of the plans.  Do students think that this lesson plan might be better than other plans because the wife of the reteller and illustrator created them?  http://paulozelinsky.com/rumpelstiltskin_lessons.html