Eloise: A Book for Precocious Grown Ups

I purchased this book for my granddaughter, and almost couldn't give it to her because I wanted to keep it for myself! It has the traditional Eloise stories, which are great, but the real jewel here is the back section of the book. In this section you'll find photos of many of the Eloise products through the years, and a lovely history of the little girl and how she grew to be America's most precocious, most lovable six year old.

I loved the original Eloise and was so happy to be able to share it with my granddaughter. She also loves Eloise. It's nice to pass good reading experiences on.

This is a book that parents will either love or hate. I can certainly identify with the parents who gave this book 1 star. It is true that you'd be horrified if you had a child that acted like Eloise - she's naughty, rude, demanding and disrespectful. This book was written in 1955 and yes, one illustration shows the nanny smoking in front of Eloise. The text is written as a reflection of Eloise's internal dialogue, so no, it is not always grammatically correct. The text reminds me a little of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day. It is also true that the parents are nowhere to be seen in this book. Eloise has essentially been 'abandoned' by her parents and is cared for exclusively by the nanny. Her day is spent roaming around the Plaza Hotel. Why the 5 stars then? Because this is a very funny book with extremely engaging 1950s style illustrations. Eloise endears herself to you despite her naughtiness. There are many things in this book that you could use to teach your child a moral lesson if you wished to. It is a VERY CLEVER book despite what to some might seem major drawbacks. I do agree with the other reviewers though that 4 - 8 years is a totally inappropriate age group. The dust cover of the book itself states for 7 years up which is far more on the mark. The book is more of an `early reader' for a 7 or 8 year old - it's not a bed-time story for a younger child. I can see how little girls would absolutely love it! This is a book that you really want to borrow from the library before you buy it - what other reviewers have said is true in this case I think - don't rely on reviews - see the book for yourself.

A few weeks ago, I took a friend and her two 5 year old twin girls to dinner. There was a 45 minute wait, and we went to the bookstore next door. I was dreading the prospect of entertaining two 5 year olds for 45 minutes until I saw a copy of Eloise, which has been out of print for many years. I sat down and started reading to them. The time flew by. A few older women walked by and smiled. I like to think that they had read the book when they were little girls. The 45 minutes went by all too soon for me. What can I say about Eloise? We named our DOG Eloise when I was a boy. It is both literary and true to children. It is one of the books (like Charlotte's Web or Black Beauty) that stays in your heart from childhood. Give it to your children.