Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter

I think I have a weakness for Rumpelstiltskin stories. Fairy tales in general can be so much fun, but these ones in particular fascinate me. (Cinderella tales are my other favorite.) I've read some great variations with good and bad little men, mean to mediocre kings, and assorted supporting characters. The book that hooked me into the story the most was The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde. She wrote six different variations on the story trying to answer the parts of the story that had never made sense to her.

Now here is another variation, this one written and illustrated by Diane Stanley, called Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter. She doesn't focus on the flaws inherent in the original story; she tells the initial story much in line with the traditional version--until Rumpelstiltskin asks for the child on the third night.

He explains he wants the child because he's always wanted to be a father, and that he'd sing lullabies, read stories to the child, and "even coach Little League." Well, the miller's daughter liked the sound of that. She told him she liked his parenting ideas and that she'd rather marry him than the king. So they escaped together and started a home of their own far away.

They had a daughter who grew up into a young lady as clever and lovely as her parents. They'd let her go to market sometimes taking a bit of gold her father spun up to buy things they couldn't make or grow. Rumor and gossip spread its way back to the same king the miller's daughter had escaped many years ago.

The next time Rumpelstiltskin's daughter went to town, the guards were waiting for her. She saw the impoverished condition of the people during the carriage ride back to the palace. The king was as greedy as ever and demanded that she spin him more gold. But since she was a smart lass, she made a plan that might have a chance to improve conditions across the kingdom and even change the king himself.

If you need a charming story to read to your kids where wits and kindness can overcome greediness, this may be the book for you. The illustrations just add to the whimsical tone. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (I haven't even read it to my son yet.)