Princess Fidgety Feet

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Princess Bridget's fidgety feet want to run and jump and hop. Her favorite pastime is to look through the window of her tower room and watch children playing soccer. Every Thursday, her friend Ryan visits, tells her about the game he has just finished, and kicks a ball around with her. Noticing his daughter's excess energy, the king sends for Miss Posy, who instructs Bridget on how to stop fidgeting, keep her back straight, and walk with books on her head. On the teacher's day off, the king gives Bridget a special surprise and takes her to play soccer with Ryan's team. The princess is worried that her new lessons will keep her feet out of the action, but she soon shows her talents and realizes that she has actually improved because of Miss Posy's exercises, which have given her "discipline and control." In a bit of a stretch, it turns out that the woman coaches the soccer team (why didn't Ryan recognize Miss Posy?) and offers Bridget a position. Norman's energetic cartoons are done in bright oranges, reds, and greens. He makes the most of the humorous contrast between "princessy things" and the rough-and-tumble of soccer by having Bridget wear her royal cape and crown over her uniform. The story, although a bit belabored, has appeal.
Sally Bates Goodroe, formerly at Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX
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