The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be - Hardcover

Grey, Mini

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0375826262 ISBN 13: 9780375826269

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2003

Synopsis

When it comes to sorting out a Real Princess from a Fake Princess, the famous pea-under-the-mattress test is tried-and-true. But for those of you who may have wondered how anyone could feel a tiny garden-variety pea under the weight of twenty mattresses, this book will put that question to rest once and for all.

This witty spoof was shortlisted for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in the UK. It was Mini Grey's first book and a worthy predecessor to such favorites as Traction Man is Here!

About this title

About the Author

Mini Grey was given her name after being born in a Mini Cooper automobile in Wales. She studied art and then worked as a theater designer and elementary school teacher before devoting full time to writing and illustrating picture books. In addition to The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be she is also the author of the wildly popular Traction Man is Here! and Traction Man Meets Turbodog.

From the Inside Flap

When it comes to sorting out a Real Princess from a Fake Princess, the famous pea-under-the-mattress test is tried-and-true. But for those who may have wondered how anyone could feel a tiny garden-variety pea under the weight of 20 mattresses, this book will put that question to rest once and for all. Mini Grey s clever picture book reveals the inside story of the famous Princess and Pea fairy tale through the memoirs of the unlikely heroine, the Pea. The setting is contemporary (with a Queen who must surely be related to the current monarch of England), but the humor is timeless. This witty spoof introduces Mini Grey who, we predict, will grow on you!

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 3-The "real story" of the Princess and the Pea is finally told from the pea's point of view. It begins its story in the palace garden, nestled in a pod with its brothers and sisters. It just knew it was destined for greatness and was not surprised when it was picked from the pile of shelled peas and taken to the queen. The prince has just returned home after a year of fruitless searching for a bride and the queen is not happy. She places an ad in the newspaper for REAL princesses and spends months testing young women with the pea-under-the-mattress trick. One stormy night, there is a knock on the door and there stands a young woman with a basket of fresh veggies. Without a chance to say a word, she is whisked off to a bedroom and placed on the top of 20 mattresses. The little pea recognizes her as its beloved gardener and decides to take action. All night long it whispers into her ear, "There is something Large and Round and very Uncomfortable in the bed under you." The rest is history. This story lacks the zing and energy and cohesiveness of other spoofs such as Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs (Viking, 1989). The gardening touches in the quirky illustrations add an element of fun, but even the queen's carrot nose and pea eyes cannot save the rambling tale. Readers are left hoping for more "inside dirt" than is delivered here.
Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0375826262
• ISBN 13: 9780375826269
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32