A Book of Princes and Princesses (Fairy Tales by Ruth Manning-Sanders)

Every fairy tale ever told promises the same thing: a happy ending.

As Manning-Sanders writes in her foreword to this beloved collection, these stories come from many different countries and were told long ago by simple people who may never have known of each other’s existence — and yet every one of them ends the same way. The brave are rewarded. The wicked are defeated. And the prince or princess at the heart of each tale finds their way, at last, to happiness.

In this award-winning collection, Ruth Manning-Sanders gathers thirteen fairy tales from across the world — Africa, Yugoslavia, Serbia, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, Brittany, France, Italy, Sicily, Kashmir, and the distant northern region of Archangel. Princes and princesses from these many lands battle ogres, dragons, wizards, and enchantments of every kind. But these are not the familiar fairy tales you already know. There are no Cinderellas or Sleeping Beauties here. Instead, you’ll discover stories that have been told for centuries yet remain wonderfully fresh and surprising.

Meet the brave young prince Maran, who must rescue his sister Niassa from the clutches of a horrible ogre in Africa. Gallop alongside a prince and his sky-blue filly across the wilds of Yugoslavia. Follow an enchanted prince in Hungary, trapped by dark magic, and discover what it takes to set him free. Cheer for Princess Felicity from France, whose name promises joy but whose journey is anything but easy. Marvel at a wizard king in Russia whose powers are as dangerous as they are dazzling. Laugh at the cleverness of a frog in Ukraine who is far more than she appears. From the dragons of Serbia to the magic belts of Brittany, from a she-bear in Italy to a boy called Stupid Head in Kashmir, each story is a complete adventure with its own world, its own magic, and its own deeply satisfying ending.

Manning-Sanders retells each tale with her celebrated warmth, wit, and precision with not a word wasted, yet every page shimmering with wonder. The award-winning Robin Jacques provides delicate illustrations that bring each prince and princess vividly to life.

Stories include: Niassa and the Ogre (Africa) • The Prince and the Sky-Blue Filly (Yugoslavia) • The Princess’s Slipper (Archangel) • The Wizard King (Russia) • The Enchanted Prince (Hungary) • The Frog (Ukraine) • The Magic Belt (Brittany) • The White Cat and the Green Snake (Brittany) • The Prince and the Dragons (Serbia) • The She-Bear (Italy) • Princess Felicity (France) • Rags and Tatters (Sicily) • Stupid Head (Kashmir)

Perfect for read-aloud sessions, bedtime storytelling, birthday gifts, and young readers ages 6–12 who love tales of royalty, adventure, enchantment, and the promise that good always triumphs. A treasured volume in Ruth Manning-Sanders’ celebrated “A Book of…” folklore series.