Eloise: Book Review

Eloise: Book Review

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Thompson, Kay. Eloise. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Reader’s,1969. ISBN 067122350X

Knight, Hilary. 1969. Eloise. By Kay Thompson. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Reader’s. ISBN 067122350X

PLOT SUMMARY

This story tells the tale of a mischievous, yet endearing, little girl named Eloise who lives at the Plaza Hotel in New York. Eloise spends her days entertaining herself, though at the expense of the irked (yet tolerant) hotel staff. From spending time with Nanny, tormenting her tutor, using her imagination and playing, making several elevator ride trips, to attending events held at the Plaza Hotel, Eloise fills her days with fun, imagination, and mischief.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Imaginative, and slightly naughty, Eloise captures the reader’s heart from the very beginning of this story. This story of a typical day in the life of Eloise at the Plaza Hotel is written in such a way as to mimic the language that a six-year-old may use in telling of their daily activities, and truly brings her character to life. She plays may games, spends time with Nanny, torments her tutor, and “helps” the hotel staff in a variation of ways. This suggests that she is in need of interaction and people to pay attention to her. Though she has interactions with adults such as Nanny, her tutor, and the hotel staff, it is clear that her mother is not in the picture much and that she must create fun for herself independently.

The illustrations provided by Hilary Knight serve to further provide insight into the interesting life of Eloise. The imagery is vivid and playful, keeping the reader’s interest while showing the many activities that Eloise experiences within a day. There are several instances where there are images outlined in red that depict what is going on inside of Eloise’s mind, allowing the reader to fully understand the situations and stories that Eloise is living out in her imagination while she is playing. The images showing her room contain several items that should not be in a young child’s room, such as a bottle of gin, a hammer and nails, a saw, and a large pair of scissors. This imagery is symbolic of the relationship that exists between Eloise and her mother, one that is neglectful and allows Eloise to proceed in life unsupervised.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

School Library Journal’s Top 100 Picture Books

From Common Sense media: “This book is sheer delight for children, whose giggles pile one on top of another as the pages turn.”

From The New York Times: “Far from [just] a neglected child, Eloise is a gleefully liberated one.”

CONNECTIONS

Parents may use this book to teach their children about being independent and creating appropriate forms of fun for themselves.

Can be used to teach of what is good and bad behavior to use when staying at a hotel.

This book can be used in a book club, reading the book to children and then playing the film adaptation and having them compare the two.

Read more Eloise books by Kay Thompson such as:

•  Eloise at Christmas Time. ISBN 0689830394
• Eloise in Paris. ISBN 0689827846

Read more books illustrated by (and written by) Hilary Knight such as:

• A Firefly in a Fir Tree: A Carol for Mice. ISBN 0060009918
• Cinderella. ISBN 0375814221