The Storytelling Princess (Picture Puffins)

Having survived a shipwreck, a princess tries to tell a prince a story whose ending he does not know and thus qualify for his hand in marriage. Jr Lib Guild. Reprint.

K-Gr 3-A prince who loves to read and a princess who craves adventure fly in the face of parental authority when informed of their arranged marriage, and declare that they will choose their own mates. Though the prince finally agrees to marry "someone who can tell me a story whose ending I don't know," the princess steadfastly proclaims, "I'd rather be washed overboard in a storm at sea." Fate (a storm at sea) intervenes and throws them together. They gradually come to admire one another, not knowing that each is the other's intended. Watercolor-and-pencil illustrations in subtle hues with highlights of gold and red cleverly capture the nature of the characters and the essence of the action. Broad borders frame the sweeping full-page scenes and extend the focus by incorporating complementary details. Small, jewel-like decorations ingeniously mirror the initial capital letter of key paragraphs within the text, underscoring the timeless tone of the tale. Recalcitrant princesses and princes who exhibit independence and spirit, such as these two, are becoming standard characters and are commanding their own niche in literature. Told in the language and structure of a traditional tale, the story has many motifs that will be familiar to readers who will, ironically, sense the ending to the story long before it is clear to the prince. That predictability is nonetheless genuinely satisfying, as there are enough elements of excitement and energy within the action and the telling to engage and maintain children's attention.

Starr LaTronica, Four County Library System, Vestal, NY

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