Eloise

Written by: Kay Thompson

Illustrated by: Hilary Knight

Published by: Simon and Shuster, 1955

ISBN 0-671-22350-X

Plot Summary:

Eloise, a six year old young lady, spends all of her days in the Plaza Hotel in New York City. She has a dog (who looks like a cat) named Weenie and a turtle (who wears sneakers) named Skipperdee. Eloise lives a carefree life at the Plaza with little parental supervision, except for her Nanny, and she finds mischief on every floor. Eloise, Oh my Lord, has so many things to do around the hotel that she barely has time for naps. From riding the elevators, to attending weddings, and helping in the mail room, Eloise has many special jobs to fulfill. And, of course, at the end of the day… there’s always room service.

Critical Analysis:

Eloise is a wonderful and enchanting book for children and adults alike. Although this picture book is rawther  long, the witty phrases and jokes make the book fun for all ages. The author creates an interesting story by including all of the unusual things six-year-old Eloise does to fill up her days in the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The amusing and imaginative illustrations are a perfect fit for the story. The only colors used in the illustrations are black and reddish-pink, and these colors lend themselves flawlessly to Eloise’s character. Although the plot of this particular story only covers the span of one day, there is plenty of content to keep the reader enthralled. A special bonus for the reader is the few French phrases learned while reading the story. Readers would be wise to heed Eloise’s advice throughout the story, and, of course, always remember “Kleenex makes a very good hat.”

Connections:

Most children are enchanted by the idea of staying in hotels for an extended period of time. After sharing this book in a storytime for older children, have the readers create a collaborative book. The prompt: One thing I would love to do while staying in a hotel. Have each participant write and illustrate one page. The illustrations can mirror Knight’s art by having the students use black pens and one additional color. After completing all of the pages, bind the book together and make an “Eloise” themed display.

This book (and the other Eloise books) can be tied in to language lessons. Before translating Eloise’s French in the book, invite the children to guess at what she may be saying. Find a coworker or friend who speaks French and help the children translate their favorite expression into French. After all, everything sounds fancier in French.