Melisande

by E. Nesbit

Book Overview

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. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152531645
• ISBN13: 9780152531645
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt P
• Length: 41 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Great story, great artwork.

My very bright 7 year old daughter and her equally bright little sister sidekick adore this book. They have read it together multiple times, go around the house talking about it, and frequently draw pictures of Melisande with miles of hair. It cracks them up.

Bad Hair Day

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.

An excellant book that can touch areas across curriculum.

This is an excellent book. I have used it for medieval, folk/fairy tale, multiplication, critical thinking, and role playing studies. It is also just a wonderful story for read aloud at home or school. The illustrations are just beautiful.

A beautifully illustrated book, combining fairytale & logic!

Melisande is a wonderful combination of traditional fairytale and mathematic logic. It is a favorite of family, both children and adults. We are all very excited that it has finally been reprinted! Children and adults alike will note the allusions to Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel, and will enjoy the humorous trials the princess must go through before the spell is broken and she finally gets to marry the prince. As in all E. Nesbit's books, logic, and the unexpected things that happen when people don't think logically, play an important role in the plot.

A memorable tale

I first found this book in second grade at our school library. Now almost ten years later I still check it out from the public library at least 2-3 times a year! Melisande is amazing in the way she thought of her people first, and the Prince has brains. Her parents meant well and almost made it around that problem of forgetting to invite someone to the party. Unfotunately they end up proving that you can't make everyone happy. This book is well worth anyones time!