The Well at the End of the World - Hardcover

San Souci, Robert D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1587172127 ISBN 13: 9781587172120

Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2004

Synopsis

Princess Rosamond isn't your typical princess. She prefers good books to good looks and keeps both the royal accounts and the castle drawbridge in working order. When her greedy stepmother and stepsister scheme to spend the royal treasury and her father, the king, falls ill, Rosamond must set out in search of the one thing that can cure him -- the healing waters found in the magical well at the end of the world.
In the spirit of The Talking Eggs, award-winning author Robert San Souci has once again created a feisty heroine whose generosity and courage save the day combined with Rebecca Walsh's vibrant paintings. This is an adventure story that readers will turn to again and again.

About this title

About the Author:

Robert D. San Souci has retold numerous traditional tales and legends, including The Talking Egg , and The Faithful Friend , both of which received Caldecott Honors and Coretta Scott King Honors. He lives in Northern California.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 4–An author's note indicates that this story is loosely based on the British tale "The King of Colchester's Daughters." Princess Rosamond helps her father manage his kingdom. She's smart, but not much of a looker. All is well until the widowed king marries a beautiful yet greedy woman who also has a daughter. The two spend his treasury on clothing and jewels then demand that he tax his people at a higher rate. When the unhappy king falls ill, Rosamond takes off to find a magical well that contains healing water. She is kind to those she meets along the way and is amply rewarded with wealth, beauty, and love. When the stepmother and her daughter learn about her success, they attempt to collect some of the well's bounty. The selfish stepdaughter is rewarded in kind, with horrible ugliness. Upon her return, she attempts to fool a handsome prince into marrying her, but Rosamond saves the day and she and the young man live happily ever after. Done in a mixture of acrylic and watercolor, the richly hued illustrations vary in size from smaller vignettes to two-page paintings. They expand the narrative by imparting a fairy-tale setting and show lots of action and expression. Young viewers will enjoy the numerous small details. Consider purchasing this nicely paced story where fairy tales are popular.–Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
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About this edition

• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1587172127
• ISBN 13: 9781587172120
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Walsh Rebecca