Skip to main content

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin


Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
By Liesl Shurtliff
Alfred A. Knopf, 2013. Fiction.

Twelve-year-old Rump, who lived in town were your name determined your destiny, lived up to his name. He was short and unremarkable but he knew if he could figure out his true full name—the name his mother intended to give him but was unable to finish saying before she died giving birth to him—he could be somebody. One day he discovers his mother’s old spinning wheel and his ability to turn straw into gold. What he thought would bring relief to his dire conditions, giving him a way to provide for his sickly grandmother and to him, only brings complications when he has to turn his gold over for any price given—including a princess’s baby. When his grandmother dies, he goes in search for his real name and to find a way to end his curse of the gold to his mother’s homeland and comes across other interesting fairy tale creatures along the way that also get a bad reputation in fairy tales.

Humorous leisurely take on the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale that makes him the hero, not the villain. Fans of fractured fairy tales and Shannon Hale’s works will be pleased to add this to their reading list. Maxwell Glick’s narration has the perfect tone and pace for Rump’s character and is available to listen to on Overdrive.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Display: Out of this World Books Found Here

Hello By Aiko Ikegami Berkeley, CA: Creston Books, 2019. Picture book. In this wordless picture book, an alien visits Earth, makes friends with a little girl, and returns to his home planet to share his experiences. - Publisher We Are Definitely Human By X. Fang Toronto: Tundra Books, 2024. Picture book. When three mysterious visitors from "Europe" crash-land in Mr. Li's field, he does what any good host would: he invites them back to his farmhouse and offers to help fix up their "car". No, there's nothing strange about these guests at all. Just like other humans, they "make business", "play sportsball" and "wear hat". As the townsfolk also come to the aid of the visitors and the gathering turns into a little party, interplanetary relations reach an all-time high. - Publisher Greetings Floof! Written by C.J. Hong Illustrated by A.J. Smith Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2024. Picture book. Floof from planet Ploof has landed! And it...

If You Like...Dungeons and Dragons

Great news for adventurous, imaginative tweens: we are starting a Dungeons & Dragons program! Nine- to twelve-year-olds are invited to join a tabletop role playing quest in the Story Room on Monday September 14 from 6:30-8:00PM. All experience levels are welcome. Registration opens on September 1 at 9:00AM. In the meantime, here are some books to inspire your upcoming campaign!  The Lionharts Written and Illustrated by Mike Lawrence New York : Abrams Fanfare, 2026. J Comic. 233 pages. The Lionhart family is in the business of adventuring. Alder and Flynt are desperate to be included in the dragon-fighting and monster-slaying quests. When their parents Lenna and Gerard go missing after accepting a mysterious job, the boys set out to save them, soon followed by their famous questing Grammy and Baba to help keep Alder and Flynt out of trouble. The journey brings challenges and opportunities, magic and mystery, but it also reveals a troubling family secret that threatens to tear th...

Five Fives: Friendship

Friendship is such an important part of life! I love to have my friends to celebrate life's victories with. When I am having a rough time, I also rely on the strength of my friends. Picture books are a great way to talk to kids about friendships. With a new school year just around the corner, I think talking with kids about friendship and how to be a good friend is so important. These five books have friendships in them that might help facilitate discussions with your people! Love Grows Here By Amy Adele New York : Magic Cat Publishing, 2025. Picture Book. In this sweet story, there is a lovely garden that an elderly couple tends to with joy in their heart. When the woman is sent to the hospital for an extended stay, the animals that love the garden worry it won't be the same. But through grit and determination and teamwork, they work together and do what friends do best: take care of each other! The illustrations are absolutely amazing and will have kids enthralled with all of...