Socks: A Modern Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses

A cleverly-crafted tale, with a cast of fun-to-get-to-know characters, this modern retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses is highly recommended for 8 – 11 year olds, as per a 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review.

When the girls in Riverside Children's Home start falling asleep in school, their classmate Bobby decides to investigate the cause. He doesn't know how to help them, but then one day he does a good deed and is repaid by a totally cool gift of an invisible cloak. Hidden under his new cloak, Bobby sneaks into the girl's dormitory to find out where they are going during the night. He is surprised to find them all disappearing into the wardrobe, and with no other way to get to the bottom of things, Bobby follows Lotti and the other girls… and ends up in a magical world.

Can Bobby help the girls before Mr Rumble, the home's care worker, separates them all and sends them to new homes? This sweet fairy tale about family and friendship all started with socks, a wonderful first sentence for a children's book.

Accessibly written for 8 to 11 year olds, the author has done a remarkable job with the dialogue, making the speech between the girls sound so natural and often rather funny. It's the way the girls talk, and what they say, that best helps the reader to understand them. The story is so sweet and safe, it's perfect for parents and grandparents looking for a fun, exciting story for children to enjoy, without having to worry they'll get frightened or upset. There's a sort of warm, fuzzy feeling to the book, like putting on soft slippers.

All in all, this is a delightful read, well written and funny, particularly in the beginning. It's a perfect bedtime story, and the inclusion of the original story at the end adds a little historical context to the proceedings. Children will enjoy getting to know the young characters and trying to work out what the girls are getting up to!

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