
The Secret of the Tattered Shoes
£12.99 (hardback)
UK only
PRODUCT INFO
The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is a fresh interpretation of the beloved fairytale The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is a fresh interpretation of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tale about twelve princesses who are locked in at night, yet whose dancing shoes are still worn down by morning. A young soldier is tasked to discover their night-time adventures. But unlike the story told by the Brothers Grimm, this soldier seeks a different ending. Jackie’s dark and poetic text updates this well-known tale and shows how stories evolve and adapt over time.
Beautifully illustrated by Ehsan Abdollahi, who has created stunning puppet-like illustrations in rich and delicate detail, this unique illustrative style brings the story to life and perfectly encapsulate the beauty and melancholy of the story.
One Story Many Voices book bundle
Five books: Cinderella of the Nile, Quill Soup (paperbacks), The Phoenix of Persia, The Secret of the Tattered Shoes, Under the Great Plum Tree (hardbacks)
£45
UK only
Activities
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Poster
Download a free poster with beautiful artwork from this book!
Watch the book trailer
Meet the author and illustrator
Jackie Morris is an internationally best-selling illustrator and author who lives in a small cottage on the Pembrokeshire coast. Her illustration of The Lost Words was recognised by UK booksellers who voted it the most beautiful in 2016, and won her the Kate Greenaway Award in 2019. Originally from Birmingham, Jackie visited Pembrokeshire over 20 years ago for the weekend and never left.
Ehsan Abdollahi is an illustrator, animator and teaches at Tehran Art University in Iran. Ehsan creates handmade and hand-coloured paper in his collages. Ehsan has illustrated When I Coloured in the World (2015), A Bottle of Happiness (2016) and Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me (2018).
Read an interview with Ehsan Abdollahi
Read more about The Secret of the Tattered Shoes:
- Yippee! The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2021!
- Books to bake: Can you guess the SECRET INGREDIENT in this Books to Bake recipe?!
- Read a review: Wonderfully inviting book which is a new telling of the classic Twelve Dancing Princesses – Let Them Be Small
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is one of the Guardian’s best books of 2019!
- Read a review: A Magical Retelling of a Brothers Grimm Classic!
- The Sunday Times picks The Secret of the Tattered Shoes as Book of the Week!
- Hurrah! The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is featured in BookTrust’s Great Books Guide 2020!
- BookTrust loves The Secret of the Tattered Shoes!
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is featured on Evanston Public Library’s Great Books List for 2020!
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes on SLJ’s list of the best books 2020!
- Read a review: The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is a fairytale retelling with a twist!
- Read an article: Books for Keeps examines representation in The Secret of the Tattered Shoes
- Read a review: Five stars for The Secret of the Tattered Shoes – Teacher Bookworm
- Read a review: The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is a rich and vibrant tale – LoveReading4Kids
- Read a review: A fresh, dark and poetic retelling – Fairy Tale News Blog
- Mathew Tobin gives The Secret of the Tattered Shoes a five star review!
- The English Association is won over by The Secret of the Tattered Shoes!
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is one of the most sumptuous fairytales! – School Library Journal
- James Mayhew features The Secret of the Tattered Shoes as Book Illustration of the Day!
- Read Jill Bennett’s review – The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is infused with mystery
- Read a review: FIVE STARS for The Secret of the Tattered Shoes!
- FIVE stars for The Secret of the Tattered Shoes – Youth Services Book Review
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes sets your imagination alight! – Dolphin Booksellers
- A truly magical retelling! – Library Girl and Book Boy
- Activities: Check out fantastic activities from Lovemybooks!
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is one of Lovemybooks’s top books of 2019!
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes would make a great addition to any classroom! – Books for Topics
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is fresh and beautiful – BookBairn
- Eagle Primary School picks The Secret of the Tattered Shoes as Book of the Month!
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is mesmerising! – Patricia Nozell
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is simple, evocative, and different – LoveReading4Kids
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes is a magical re-imagining – Laura Loves Books
- The Secret of the Tattered Shoes has a supreme and surprising twist! – MinervaReads
- Read Jackie Morris’ blog post about The Secret of the Tattered Shoes
- Read an interview with author Jackie Morris
- Watch the trailer for The Secret of the Tattered Shoes
- Read a review: A compassionate retelling of a difficult fairytale – Books For Our Children
- Read a review: Find joy and inspiration in The Secret of the Tattered Shoes – LovemybooksUK
Reviews
The Sunday Times
A celebration of love and living to the full!
The Bookseller
A dark, poetic take on The Twelve Dancing Princesses
BookTrust
Transfixingly beautiful... absolutely breathtaking