The Ultimate Edition Eloise - all four books in one fabulous volume for the most demanding of fans. If you love love love Eloise (who doesn't?). And you cawn't cawn't cawn't get enough of her (who can?) Then you simply Must have this absolutely enormous book. It has everything Eloise not just The Absolutely Essential and jolie Paris and fa la la la la Christmastime and dear gray Moscow, and a lovely new jacket by Mr. Knight. Even if you have all the Eloise books you need this one too. So charge it please and Thank You Very Much.

The Ultimate Edition Eloise - all four books in one fabulous volume for the most demanding of fans. If you love love love Eloise (who doesn't?). And you cawn't cawn't cawn't get enough of her (who can?) Then you simply Must have this absolutely enormous book. It has everything Eloise not just The Absolutely Essential and jolie Paris and fa la la la la Christmastime and dear gray Moscow, and a lovely new jacket by Mr. Knight. Even if you have all the Eloise books you need this one too. So charge it please and Thank You Very Much.

Kay Thompson was a singer, dancer, vocal arranger and coach to many MGM musicals in the 1940s. The Eloise character grew out of the voice of a precocious six-year-old she used to put on to amuse her friends. Collaborating with Hilary Knight on what was an immediate bestseller, Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight became literary sensations when the book was first published in 1955. More than 2 million copies have been sold to date and there are 3 more to be reissued my S&S!

2004-08-19 Oooooooooooooooo I Love This Edition of Eloise Best!

This is the book about Eloise that Eloise would buy. As you may remember, Eloise is the six-year-old who lives on the top floor of The Plaze Hotel in New York City with her English Nanny, pug (Weenie), and turtle (Skipperdee). Here are some of the ways that Eloise has been characterized: "Holden Caulfield for kindergarten girls"; "a mini-Auntie Mame -- a protofeminist"; and "independent and saucy."

Contained in this volume are the original Eloise story, the Scrapbook by Marie Brenner (containing the origins of Eloise and the story, and biographies of Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight, and how readers responded to the stories as they appeared), and the three sequels (Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, and Eloise in Moscow). Each of the four stories contains the deluxe fold-out drawings from the original books, and the Scrapbook has many wonderful photographs and drawings that will delight those who would like to know more background about Eloise and her creators.

With one exception, the material is outstanding. The story, Eloise in Moscow, is very poor in its humor and plot line. But having the story in this collection will allow you to savor those parts of the story that happen to appeal to you.

The reproduction is also superb, except for the frontispieces of the four stories. These should simply have been omitted.

I usually avoid recommending expensive editions, but this one is a good value. It contains all the best material about Eloise, and you may have trouble finding the same versions by buying the books separately. Also, this edition is likely to be a hand-me-down item from one generation to another and another. The cost per reader is probably going to be quite small as a result.

To me, the best of the four stories is still the original. Reading the Scrapbook adds a lot to my enjoyment of that story. Of the sequels, I like Eloise in Paris best. Some people will not like Eloise at Christmastime because Kay Thompson's rhymes are not the best. I can enjoy fractured verse, so I found it appealing instead.

Space does not permit me to review each of these sections in detail here, but you can read my reviews of each story elsewhere on Amazon for the individual books. I gave five star reviews to all but Eloise in Moscow, to which I gave a two star review.

After you have enjoyed this book, I suggest that you grab a partner who also loves Eloise and write a new Eloise story that brings her into the 21st century in a locale and at a time of your choice. Then find a young person to read that story to, and draw some illustrations together. That will add to your enjoyment of this book and of your love of Eloise.

J'aime beaucoup Eloise . . . toujours!