The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie

If you are like me, you may have overlooked George MacDonald's classics, The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie. These classic fairy tales have an enduring appeal, a Christian worldview and a timeless message.  

We begin the story with Princess Irene as a little girl, living with her king-papa, in a gorgeous castle.  She is a typical princess--sweet, kind, caring and content. She loves the flowers, birds, servants and especially her nurse, Lootie.

One day, Princess Irene is exploring the castle and ends up following a mysterious set of stairs to the rooftop, where she meets her beautiful great great grandma. Her great great grandmama is mysterious as well, and appears at various times as an old woman at a spinning wheel, or as a younger maiden.  Grandma Irene dotes on the little princess, and gives her a magic ring which will lead her by a thread if she is ever in trouble. The little princess is enthralled, but very disappointed when she returns home and Lootie doesn't believe her adventure. Instead, Lootie scolds Princess Irene for hiding and making up stories.

One night the princess becomes frightened, and her ring leads her to Curdie, a brave miner boy who has been spying on the goblins in the mountain, hoping to prevent their evil schemes. PLOT SPOILER AHEAD:  The princess and Curdie have many adventures, and ultimately thwart the goblin's despicable plans. Through it all, Princess Irene must keep her faith in her great great grandmama, even when others doubt her very existence.

In The Princess and Curdie,  Princess Irene has grown into a young lady, and Curdie is called on by the queen (Grandma Irene) to assist the princess and her ailing king-papa. Curdie wisely uses the gifts he is given by the queen, and proves his faithfulness and bravery with the help of an assortment of unexpected creatures.

What I Like:  MacDonald writes fascinating fairy tale adventures, sure to appeal to boys and girls alike. While girls will be taken with the little princess, boys will enjoy watching Curdie defeat the goblins with bravery and a sense of humor. There is enough action to keep readers turning pages long after bedtime.

I also like the numerous allegorical parallels in the books. Princess Irene's faith in her great great grandma, despite others skepticism, can help us talk about what it means to believe in Jesus, even when others doubt his existence. Also, the great great grandma appears in many forms, including a Queen, an old lady, a servant, and the Lady of the Silver Moon. These various aspects of the great great grandma mirror different aspects of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. There are many more parallels to be found, if readers look for them.  

I enjoyed reading the books because George MacDonald was one of C. S. Lewis' primary influences.  Lovers of Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia will quickly recognize the writing style and themes present in MacDonald's books.

What I Dislike:  Very little, but I should mention some of the scenes and creatures are a bit scary for younger readers late at night. PLOT SPOILER AHEAD: Readers may be disappointed that the last couple paragraphs in The Princess and Curdie take us from a happy ending to a sad ending again.

 Overall Rating:  Excellent

Age Appeal:  8 and up, though younger readers may enjoy the books as read-alouds.

Publisher Info: Puffin Classics, 2011; ISBN:97801413332482; Paperback, 272 pages, $4.99

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Princess with a Purpose

If your little girl loves princesses, Christian publishers offer a variety of offerings targeted directly to her. One of the more important princess books, though, is Princess with a Purpose by Kelly Chapman.

In this book, we meet 8 year old Caroline, who loves everything princess. One day her grandma (whom she's lived with for years) sends Caroline to Princess Prep School. This, Caroline says, will be her second most favorite day. (Her first most favorite day being when she asked Jesus into her heart.)

But classes get off to a rocky start when Prissy Crissy tells Caroline: "Don't you know that you need a king as your father and a queen as your mother to be a real princess?" After that, all Caroline can think about is that she can't be a real princess like the other girls because she doesn't have a father.

That night, Caroline dreams she's at Princess Prep School again when the King's helper, Constant, appears. He invites them to the castle for tea. Prissy Crissy points out there's no room for Caroline in the beautiful horse drawn coach, but Constant allows her to ride in the driver's seat with him. This gives him a chance to tell Caroline all about the Prince of Calvary.

When they arrive at the castle, their teacher Miss Lily is there. She asks: "Can anyone tell me what it means to be a rel princess?" Prissy Crissy says, "That's easy-schmeasy! A real princess belongs to a royal family. Her parents are the king and queen of the universe, and she has a gazillion maids who do whatever she wants...A real princess wears a pretty crown and lovely dresses. And she is beautiful - just like me!"

Miss Lily gently tells her she's incorrect: "A real princess has a heart full of love for her King and others. That's what makes her truly beautiful."

Caroline asks if a real princess must have a father. Miss Lily comforts her by saying it is our heavenly father who makes us real princesses. "You became a real princess the moment you believed Jesus died on the cross for your sins and was raised to life again," she says. "And since He is the King of kings and you are His daughter, that makes you his [princess]." Overjoyed, Caroline says she wants to know everything about how to be the princess Jesus wants her to be. Miss Lily is so pleased, she gives Caoroline a crown.

When Caroline wakes up, her entire attitude has changed. "I really am a princess!" she cries.

The last three pages of the book give information on how to become a daughter of the King (complete with quotes from the Bible), a prayer for asking Jesus into your heart, and a proclamation that can be personalized to show your little girl is now a part of God's family.

What I Like: This story is touching and easy for young girls to relate to. The illustrations by Tammie Lyon are expressive and full of lots of princess-y things. Most importantly, Princess with a Purpose helps girls understand there are real princesses - and if you're a girl or woman who loves Jesus, you are one.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8

Publishing Info: Harvest House, 2010; ISBN: 978-0736924351; hard back, $15.99

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Special Info: The publishers also offers a wide variety of go-with material for this book, including an activity book, a music CD, a curriculum DVD, and a curriculum kit.

His Little Princess

If you have a little girl - even if she's only an infant right now - you'll want to buy her His Little Princess by Sheri Rose Shepherd. Yes, yes, I know. You're probably sick of all the princess stuff that's everywhere for little girls these days. But trust me; this book shouldn't be missed.

The premise of His Little Princess is simple. On each two-page spread, one side features a "letter from God," while the other side features a "letter from the princess." The letters from God are biblical, while the letters from the princess are really model prayers. Here's how the book begins:

"My Chosen Daughter,

You are not a pretend princess, my child. You are a real princess, and I am your God, the King of all kings. I chose you before you were even born to be my princess. You are very important in my kingdom. I have chosen you to do something special that only you can do. I have amazing plans for you, both now and for when you grow up. Remember, a crown and a palace do not make you a true princess - it is your love for me and for others that will make you special. If you read my words every day in the Bible, I will teach you all you need to know about living like a daughter of the King.

Love,
Your King and Father in Heaven."

And the princess' prayer:

"Dear God, thank you for choosing me to be your princess. I feel so special knowing I belong to you. Help me to remember to act like I am yours, because I need help. I'm glad you are my King who can make me shine for you! I pray in Jesus' name, amen."

Elsewhere, God tells the princess that he's her Daddy in Heaven, that he made her just as she is and she's beautiful that way, that he will always love her no matter what, what sort of attitude a true princess needs, how important respect is, that he will always forgive her, that words must be chosen carefully, that she should never be afraid because the King is with her, how to deal with disappointments, that she should have the courage of Queen Esther, how important love is, how to deal with anger, how to learn to apologise, how important it is to resist temptation, how to deal with rejection, how to be thankful, how to honor the elderly, the importance of dressing modestly, how important perseverance is, how to avoid jealousy, how to be patient and truthful, how important it is to tell people about Jesus, and much more.

Each letter is written in loving, beautiful prose, and each of the princess' prayers is an excellent example of how to pray.

Each page is full color, with feminine backgrounds and small illustrations by Lisa Marie Browning throughout.

What I Like: I cried when I read this book, because even though I'm over 30, there are parts of me that are still an insecure little girl. This book is an excellent way to help your daughter learn timeless truths about who she is and what God wants from her. It's also an excellent way to instill true self-esteem (which is the knowledge that God created your daughter just as she is, and loves her just as she is...no matter what).

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Multnomah, 2006; ISBN: 1590526015; hard back, $13.99.

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Special Info: You may wish to take a look at the author's website. And if you know a little boy who could use a masculine version of this book, take a look at our review for the author's His Mighty Warrior.

Princess Grace and the Little Lost Kitten

Princess Grace and the Little Lost Kitten is a one book in the Princess Parables Series, which is written by Jeanna Young and Jacqueline Johnson. The series focuses on five princesses: Grace, Joy, Faith, Charity, and Hope. This story is about Princess Grace, and is based on Matthew 18:12-14, which is the parable of the lost sheep. The illustrations by Omar Aranda are vibrant and eye catching.

Princess Grace discovers five kittens inside the stairwell closet and is attracted to one curious gray kitten. She begs her father to let her keep all of them, and he agrees, as long as she promises to make sure they don't get into any trouble. She names the curious kitten Poppy.

The princesses enjoy playing with their kittens every day, but one day, Princess Grace realizes with dismay that Poppy is missing. After looking everywhere imaginable in and outside of the castle, Grace confesses to her father that Poppy is gone. The king sends his best horses and trusted riders to assist the princesses in their search:

"You are each important to me, even when you get into trouble. Search everywhere for our lost kitten. Bring her back safely to the castle. Go now, with my blessing."

The princesses' search takes them into the scary Black Woods, but even then they don't give up. Princess Grace was filled with joy when she found her beloved Poppy hiding under a hollow log.

The story ends with a letter from Princess Grace to the reader of the story, which ties her fictional story to the parable of the lost sheep.

What I Like: The letter at the end from Princess Grace was my favorite part of the story. It really made the lessons of the story clear, and tied it into the Biblical parable.

What I Dislike: Although my girls loved the story and the bright illustrations, the story seemed a little contrived to me. My daughters definitely didn't mind!

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2011; ISBN:0310716403 ; Hardcover, 32 PGS., $12.99.

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Additional Info: We've reviewed another book in this series!

Where the Jewels Are

"How do you say 'no' to a Princess who has everything and wants more? This Princess has a wise Father who sends her on a journey to find the one thing she doesn't know she's missing ..."

Where the Jewels Are is the first of ten books in the "Tales from the Throne" series by Diana Symons. It introduces readers to a princess and her servant Winifred. The two girls are about the same age and once were great friends, but as the princess grew, she acquired a sense of superior entitlement, relegating her dear friend to the shadows of servanthood. When the princess spots a glorious star through a powerful telescope, she desires to have a jewel just as beautiful. When she asks her father for such a jewel, he says she may have it, but only if she gets it herself. This will require a long, difficult journey to a strange country. The king insists that Winifred accompany her on the trip. The princess balks at his proclamation, but finally agrees.

As the two girls travel, the princess learns much about her own pride and selfish nature. She slowly learns to value the wisdom and humility of her simple friend. Throughout the journey the princess discovers she doesn't need a spectacular jewel because she already possesses the greatest treasure of all: friendship.

The book ends with a short Q&A section that encourages readers to think more deeply about the themes and lessons within the text.

What I Like: My daughter really likes this book. It's one of the first chapter books she has completed entirely on her own. Anything that gets my kids to love reading is a "top pick" in my house! The chapters are short, but filled with wonderful details and a stretching vocabulary. I love the illustrations. There aren't many and they are black and white, but they exhibit true skill and detail. Very well done.

What I Dislike: This book doesn't follow the standard rules of capitalization. The author consistently capitalizes "princess," "father" and "king" as if these were the characters' given names or as if this were an allegory and these terms referred to deity, which it isn't and they don't. This bothers me because (1) it's distracting and (2) it sets a poor example for emerging readers (like my daughter) who are still learning the proper rules of writing, capitalization and sentence structure.

Also, while I appreciate the Q&A section at the back, I wish the author hadn't supplied all the answers so freely and specifically. I would have liked a little more space for the readers to speculate and come to their own conclusions.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 7-12, though my 6-year-old enjoyed it immensely. I would say 6-10 depending on the child's personal reading skills and maturity.

Publisher Info: Gold Pen Press, 2010; ISBN: 1934995029; Paperback; 54 pages; $5.99

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A Little Princess in the Making

If you have a daughter whose swept up in the princess craze, A Little Princess in the Making by Emilie Barnes may be just the book to help teach her good manners.
The book begins by introducing a young girl who calls herself a princess. "Would you like to start your princess training with me?" she asks. Then, every four pages features one attribute: caring for the "castle," being a good friend, meeting strangers and traveling through the kingdom with good manners, being pretty on the inside and the outside, dining, and having a grateful heart. In a conversational manner, our young princess explains the best way to behave, often reminding us what God desires of us in these areas. For example, when discussing caring for the "castle," she says:

"When I'm at home in my castle, I have lots of chances to use the magic kingdom words. I say these words when I need something or when someone does something nice for me or when I do something wrong. (Even princesses goof up sometimes!) And these magic words always work! They make me feel happy, and they make everyone around me feel happy, too. Are you ready to learn them? Here they are -
Please
Thank you
Excuse me
I'm sorry
...And did you know that every princess has a special rule she follows? It even has a royal-sounding name! It's called the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

What I Like: Barnes makes learning good manners fun by incorporating playtime activities many girls enjoy, like tea parties and playing princess. Michal Sparks' watercolor illustrations show lots of fun costumes, and the last two pages of the book are actually paper dolls. (If you don't want to cut up the book, you could easily make color copies of these pages.)
What I Dislike: While the author does a pretty good job of bringing up biblical principles where appropriate, I wish she'd included Bible references and quotes, too. And although the Golden Rule is mentioned a few times, the author never explains that it comes from the Bible. Too, all the girls in this book are conspicuously Caucasian (although I do appreciate that they have healthy figures).
Overall Rating: I've hemmed and hawed whether to give this book a "Good" or "Very Good" review. For my daughter and me, it's somewhere in-between. She likes princess things only somewhat. If your child adores princesses, however, this is probably an ideal book for her.
Age Appeal: 4 - 8
Publisher Info: Harvest House, 2007; ISBN: 0736918558; hardback; $14.99
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Special Info: Some parents will be put off by the mention of "magic" words in this book, as quoted above. Also, there is a boy's version of this book: A Little Hero in the Making."

The Three Gifts of Christmas

The Three Gifts of Christmas, a follow-up to Jennie Bishop's popular The Princess and the Kiss, tells the story of a wealthy princess who learns the true meaning of Christmas. The princess, who has grown ungrateful, is sad when her parents decide to give her only three gifts for Christmas this year. They also ask the townspeople not to bring gifts to the castle, for themselves or for the princess.

When Christmas dawns, the princess slowly goes downstairs, but is pleasantly surprised by the beauty and thoughtfulness of the gifts, (which parallel the gold, frankincense, and myrrh the Wise Men brought to the Baby Jesus). As the princess and her family celebrate the twelve days of Christmas, the princess is given the chance to bless a fatherless girl, a beggar, and a new mother and child with her gifts. She realizes the truth of Acts 20:35, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

The story is warmly illustrated, with different shades of rose, and Christmas greens, by Preston McDaniels. You can almost smell the feast, and feel the warmth of the fire or the cold of the snow.

The book includes an audio CD, which is narrated in a soothing woman's voice, with background music suited to the events on the page. The music is happy and cheerful during the feast, sad and somber when a little girl's father is killed, and peaceful as the princess learns lessons about giving. The narrator does a nice job changing her voice for the different characters in the story.

What I Like: Everything! I like the message of the story, the illustrations, and the CD. My kids also love the book and have been listening to it every night before bed. It seems a particularly fitting message for this year, when many families may be on a tighter budget for Christmas than in the past.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 6 and up (but my 5-year-old loves it)

Publisher Info: Warner Press Kids, 2009; ISBN: 978-1-59317-378-4; Hardcover, $15.99

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Check out our reviews of Jennie Bishop's other books here.

The Princess and the Three Knights

A bestselling adult fiction author writing a book for children is nothing new. Neither is a princess story with a modern twist. But it's rare when the resulting picture book is actually worth the space it takes on your child's bookshelf, as the new Karen Kingsbury title The Princess and the Three Knights certainly is.

The princess in this book is not unlike princesses found in traditional fairy tales. She's the fairest maiden in the land, and every man would love to marry her. But her father, the King, wants to make sure her husband is worthy - that he recognizes and cherishes the beauty within his daughter's heart. So the King stages a competition "to determine which knights possessed great courage and strength, deep loyalty and kindness, and most of all a deep faith in God."

Three knights make it through this tournament to the final, most important test. The King asks them to pretend the princess is riding with them on their horse. They are to then ride as fast and hard as they can toward a cliff. "We will see which of you can take the princess closest to the cliff without going over the edge," the King says.

The first two knights push away their fear and come shockingly close to the edge of the cliff. The third knight remains calm and whispers "I can do everything through God who gives me strength." But when the King asks him to perform the test, he says "Your majesty, I love the princess. She is more precious to me than anything in the kingdom...I wouldn't take her anywhere near that cliff."

"'That,' the king shouted, 'is the right answer!'"

"For the knight was brave and strong, loyal and kind. But most of all, his faith in God had taught him that true love always protects..."

Which ties in perfectly with the Bible verse quoted at the beginning of the book: "Love is patient, love is kind..." (1 Cor. 13:4, 7)

What I Like: Readable and offering a pointed message to young girls about what they should expect of their suitors, there's nothing to dislike in Kingsbury's text, and the illustrations by Gabrielle Grimard are gorgeous. Appropriately fairy tale like and romantic, they are also rich and vivid.

What I Dislike: My only complaint is that Grimard depicts the two knights who don't win the princess's hand as obvious villains. I'd rather see them at least as handsome as the knight who marries the King's daughter, since looks usually don't expose the beauty or ugliness of a person's heart.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz, 2009; ISBN: 978-0310716419; hardback, $16.99.

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Special Info: See the author read this book (and show the illustrations).

The Way Home: A Princess Story

Another offering from Max Lucado, The Way Home: A Princess Story is an allegorical fairy tale specifically geared toward girls. It takes place long, long ago in a majestic kingdom. There we meet Princess Anna. She was not born to the King, but rather was adopted. He found her in the woods and made her his own. Now she is grown and staring out her window wondering what life is like beyond the castle walls. She knows her father loves her very much and he wants what is best for her. He has told her the outside, where the Lowlanders live, is a horrible place ruled by the evil Olbaid. But Anna has heard rumors that all they do is play and have fun! In spite of her father's warnings, she still wants to explore the outside. In the meantime, three servants of Olbaid named Ima, Gunnah and Getcha hatch a plan to trap Princess Anna. Their master, Olbaid, has given them only one chance to capture her. The next day while the princess is wading in the creek, Ima, Gunnah and Getcha succeed. Dressed as harmless old people they tickle Anna's curiosity and draw her deep into the woods. Once inside the dark forest they run faster and faster. Anna is frightened and turns to go home but the path is gone. She's lost. Her dress is torn; her hair matted. The princess is alone and shamed by her choice to disobey the King.

When the King hears of Anna’s disappearance, he decides to leave his kingdom to find her. A battle is waged in which the King alone fights all the servants of Olbaid. He is killed, but does not die (if that makes sense). As he jumps to his feet he proclaims: “You have no power over me or mine.” The King then takes Anna by the hand and shows her the way home.

What I Like: My daughter is really into princesses! I like having a Christian alternative to the many Disney princess stories. The author does a wonderful job showing the love and concern the King has for his children. It is sometimes difficult for children (and adults) to understand how much God wants what is best for us. This book illustrates it very well. Speaking of illustrations, Tristen Elwell does a fantastic job with this picture book. His paintings are perfect for this enchanting fairy tale.

What I Dislike: The book crams too much into a children’s story. It is long – way too long for preschoolers. I feel the story would be more effective if the author had focused on one aspect of salvation, perhaps creating a series, instead of putting everything in one book. The content is too heavy for a book this size; definitely too heavy for the age group the publisher recommends. Furthermore, the main character is boring and kind of whiney; certainly not a character I would want my children to admire. Finally, and this is minor, the illustrations of the Lowlanders were better than those of the “majestic kingdom”. Personally, I was more drawn to them than I was to the servants of the King. It should have been the other way around.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 4-8 (according to the publisher) ... I would recommend 6 and above. Preschoolers are really too young to sit this long, much less understand the story.

Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson, 2005; ISBN: 1400305543; Hardback; $16.99

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Princess Joy's Birthday Blessings

Princess Joy's Birthday Blessings is one book in a brand new series released just this week. Written by Jeanna Young and Jacqueline Johnson, The Princess Parables introduce readers to five daughters of the king -- Joy, Grace, Faith, Hope and Charity -- whose adventures prove to be parables of lessons Jesus taught. Joy's story reflects Luke 14:12--14.

Joy's sisters are planning a surprise birthday party for her, but when all the princes and princesses of the lands offer rejections and excuses, they aren't sure what to do. Joy, having overheard the plans and the disastrous outcome, is devastated, but with her father's guidance, she comes up with a better plan. Joy asks her father if they can invite "children who don't live in a castle or a nice house ... who don't have a fancy bike or big birthday parties." The king, delighted with her decision, assures Joy that she will be blessed by this birthday party more than any other.

Invitations are sent again. This time everyone wants to come! On the day of the party village children arrive, arms laden with gifts from the heart. Some have hand-painted items or homemade goodies; others bring wildflower bouquets. Then Joy has another idea. When her father and sisters bring their gifts into the room, Joy decides to give all of her fancy gifts to her guests instead. It becomes "the grandest birthday part of all time!"

The book closes with a personal note from Princess Joy to the readers. She explains that while things don't always happen the way we plan, sometimes that brings the best blessings. In this story she learned to serve others instead of feeling sorry for herself. Joy then explains that this reminds her of a true story her father reads to her from the Bible. The next page provides Luke 14:12--14 quoted from the New International Reader's Version (NIrV).

Illustrated by Omar Aranda, the book features computer generated images saturated with color. As expected, the princess are beautifully adorned with ballgowns, tiaras and lots of feminine features; all characteristics that instantly appeal to most girls within the target age range.

What I Like: My daughter (6 years old) really likes this book! It's a sweet story that puts flesh on the teachings highlighted. I appreciate Joy's note at the back and the inclusion of Scripture. These two features together make the story personal and applicable to readers. Well done.

What I Dislike: At first glance, this book feels like another instance of marketing people capitalizing on a cultural craze, trying to "Christianize" it for a profit. The authors made a valiant effort to keep the story distinct from popular Disney themes, but the illustrations, while of excellent quality, draw me right back to my initial skepticism. It seems to lack originality.

Overall Rating: Because my daughter likes it so much and because it is solidly based on truth, I do recommend it. Therefore: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4-7

Publisher Info: ZonderKidz, 2011; ISBN: 031071639X; Hardback; 32 pages; $12.99

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Special Info: If you like this, you may also like Princess Grace and the Little Lost Kitten, a second book in the series.

The Princess Twins Play in the Garden

Part of a continuing line of early reader books about "the princess twins," The Princess Twins and Play in the Garden by Mona Hodgson is a great little story for any child who tends to dislike getting messy.

This "I Can Read!" Level 1 story centers around Emma, a rather prissy little princess who thinks it's vital to stay clean and beautiful. She screams when a ladybug lands on her dress and lets her sister Abby have all the fun during a playdate with two peasant girls. While they ride the pony, make sand castles, and play soccer, Emma sits to one side. "I don't want to get dirty," she says. "A princess must look pretty."

When one of the little peasant girls accidentally kicks the muddy ball straight into Emma's dress, Emma is upset at first. When the little girl apologizes with tears in her eyes, however, Emma hugs her and finally decides to join in on the game. When the peasant girls' mother comes to fetch her children, she calls Emma and Abby "lovely girls." Just then, a ladybug lands on Emma's dress...and she smiles. "Thank you, God, for a lovely day," she says.

What I Like: This is a simple story any girl can relate to, even if she's more of a tom-boy than a prissy princess. The illustrations by Meredith Johnson are in her typical style (Johnson also illustrates the popular "Gigi" books) and show whimsy on every page.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2009; ISBN: 031071608X; paperback; $3.99

Special Info: Read our other reviews of books by Mona Hodgson and Meredith Johnson. Visit Hodgson's website for information about her girl's retreats. Visit Johnson's website for a peek at her illustrative style and obtain information about school visits.

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The True Princess

Perfect for the little girl in your life, The True Princess examines the true meaning of being a child of the King. Moving beyond the stereotypes of spoiled, pampered princesses, Angela Ewell Hunt places the archetypal storybook princess within a situation that requires a new set of skills and a fresh approach to life. When the princess is taken into hiding during her father's time away from his kingdom, she learns to care for herself and complete useful tasks. Upon her father's return, he recognizes her not because of fine clothing or jewelry, but because of her loving servant's heart. This simple, moving story effectively illustrates the character traits of humility, love and servitude for children.

What I Like: The illustrations by Diana Magnuson are luminous! Her use of light is marvelous; a golden glow seems to emanate from nowhere and everywhere simultaneously. Bright, clear jewel tones, royal robes and colorful dresses make this title a feast for the eyes.

Many little girls are princess lovers; my 5 year old adores this book, and will look at it for lengthy periods of time, "reading" her own version of the story. Rather than encouraging children to emulate a "prima donna" attitude as other princess stories might, the focus is placed upon attitudes of the heart that God wishes us all to develop. Hunt's story reads like a fairy-tale, and I believe it will become a classic within literature for Christian children.

What I Dislike: The Christian aspects of the story are subtle. While a passage from the Bible is included at the back of the book, adult explanations may be needed for younger children to make the connection between the story and how God wants His children to behave.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Charisma Kids, 2005; ISBN: 1591856337; hardcover

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Special Info: Angela Hunt is also the author of some excellent Christian fiction for adults. If you are looking for some reading for yourself, her other titles are wonderful. Titles worth looking into include Doesn't She Look Natural? Fairlawn Series #1, She Always Wore Red Fairlawn Series #2 and Magdalene.

Gigi, God's Little Princess: The Pink Ballerina

The Pink Ballerina is the newest book in the Gigi series, written by Sheila Walsh, which follows a little girl who knows she is God's princess. In this book, Gigi is on a mission to praise God. Her memory verse (Psalm 149:3) encourages her to do this through dance. When she and her best friend, Frances, join a ballet class, Gigi's tiara and feather boa cause some trouble. Gigi is devastated. She thinks if she can't dance well, she can't be God's princess. That night her father puts those fears to rest. "... you are God's little princess because He chose you, not because of anything you do or how well you do it." He goes on to explain how she can show God she loves Him in lots of different ways.

Illustrated by Meredith Johnson, the Gigi books are perfectly feminine. Each character is full of expression. There's not a ton of color -- it is done mostly in greyscale and pink -- but the illustrations are excellent. They add tremendous value to this book.

What I Like: The story is delightful, reaching out to the princess-crazed generation with a new message. In a wonderfully simple way, the author addresses the security of believers. She instills in young girls the truth that God loves them no matter what they do or how they look. He loves them because He chose them. The Scripture emphasis is great. I love the illustrations! The book would not be the same without them.

What I Dislike: It's a little long and seems to lose focus at some points. Also, some details are lost if readers are not familiar with the series. For example, the story references Tiara and Lord Fluffy, but readers may be lost,not knowing these are the names of Gigi's pets.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 9-12, according to the publisher, but I would say much younger ... my three-year-old loves it!

Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson, 2007; ISBN: 1400308046; Hardback; $12.99

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Gigi: The Perfect Christmas Gift

The Perfect Christmas Gift is Book #3 in the Gigi, God's Little Princess Series written by Sheila Walsh. This is less a Christmas book and more a Gigi book that takes place at Christmas. Fans of Gigi will love it.

Gigi cannot wait for Christmas to come! She knows she is getting a big gift and the anticipation is killing her. This must be the year she finally receives her royal tiara with jewels befitting the princess she knows she is. Finally, five days before Christmas, she convinces her parents to give her a hint. "It's something you've wanted for a while ... white with a touch of pink." Gigi dashes from the room to call her best friend, Frances. She's knows what she's getting: a diamond tiara with a big pink feather on top!

On Christmas Eve, Gigi's daddy reads to her about the birth of Jesus. She decides a stable and manger are not nearly good enough for a baby king. "But at least He got gifts...that must have made Him feel royal." Her father replies: "He was the gift. God's perfect present to all of us."

On Christmas morning Gigi tears through the mountain of gifts, hunting for the tiara she knows is there. She can't find it. Finally, with a tear on her cheek, she opens the biggest present, knowing there will be no princess crown this year. Inside is a white poodle with a pink princess collar. Gigi is thrilled and names her new pet 'Tiara.' That night she decides the shepherds were probably just as surprised as she was. "Who would have ever thought that the very best gift in the world would come in such an unexpected package?"

The last page of the book quotes Luke 2:10-12 and Matthew 2:10-11.

Illustrated by Meredith Johnson, the Gigi books are perfectly feminine. Each character is full of expression.

What I Like: Gigi is endearing. She's precocious and sweet with a tender heart. (In fact, she's exactly like my daughter, even down to the curly hair!) Using such an adorable character, this book makes a wonderful point: that sometimes the best gifts are not at all what we expect; sometimes we don't even know what we really want the most -- a message which the target audience (girls who think they're princesses) need to learn. I love the illustrations! The book would not be the same without them. Also, the price is nice. Usually hardcover picture books of this size are much more expensive.

What I Dislike: This book is long and, like the main character, seems to lose focus in a couple spots. My daughter loved Gigi's The Pink Ballerina, but this book didn't hold her attention. She is below the suggested age range, so the length may be perfect for older kids. Another minor detraction, the mountain of gifts she receives on Christmas is daunting. I understand Gigi is an only child, but I felt this reinforced the materialism with which princess-crazed girls already struggle.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8, but I think 6-10 is more accurate.

Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson, 2006; ISBN: 1400308011; Hardback; $12.99

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Special Info: Click HERE to see our reviews of other books by Sheila Walsh featuring more Gigi and a boy's character, Will.

The Princess and the Kiss

The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity was written by Jennie Bishop for her daughters. She explains her goal on the back cover of the book: "I asked God how I could teach my young daughters the value of their purity, how I could begin in their early years to stress the importance and beauty of saving themselves for marriage."

The story, like most fairy tales, begins with a wonderful castle in a majestic kingdom. There a princess is born to the king and queen. On the day of her birth they give her a very special gift from God -- "her first kiss." The king and queen take care of her kiss while she is growing and, when she is old enough, they give it to her and explain how special it is. "This kiss is yours to keep ... or to give away, as you see fit." Her father warns her to use wisdom and save her kiss for the man she will marry.

Eventually suitors come calling. One is prideful and full of himself. Another is rich and another romantic. The princess finds reasons to dismiss them all. None are good enough for her kiss. Finally a poor farmer approaches her. He has nothing to give her but his very first kiss, which he has saved just for her. They are married and live happily ever after.

The book concludes by quoting 1 Timothy 1:5 -- "Love ... comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (NIV)

Preston McDaniels does a fantastic job as illustrator. The pages are filled with pastel colors, regal details and enchanting characters. Perfectly fitting for the tone of the story.

What I Like: The concept. It is important to teach children the value of purity. The author has tackled a difficult subject for a young audience. I love the illustrations! I wish they were more colorful, but they are so classic and beautiful.

What I Dislike: I found this book very odd. The intended audience is far too young for such a detailed metaphor. It's confusing. Does this mean we shouldn't kiss anyone? What if we find a good man who has already given away his "kiss"? Do only poor people know the value of their "kisses"? The story, I felt, was too simplistic in its conclusions. I have friends who love this book and read it often to their preschoolers. I love the idea of teaching the lesson early, but feel this book is more appropriate for older girls: tweens and above. I still haven't read it to our daughter(three years old).

Overall Rating: Hmmmm ... For the suggested age range: Poor. For teenagers: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8 (according to the publisher), but I recommend 10 and above.

Publisher Info: Warner Press, 2000; ISBN: 0871628686; Hardback; $12.99

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Additional Info: The author (along with Susan Henson) has written a companion book entitled Life Lessons from The Princess and the Kiss. It is not a picture book, but a type of devotional to help young girls and their parents "plant seeds of purity." You can also find similar books for boys: The Squire and the Scroll and Life Lessons from The Squire and the Scroll.

The King's Daugther

This is really two stories in one. Some children are putting on a play called The King’s Daughter. In the play, Princess Victoria is not happy being a princess as she has too many rules to follow and responsibilities to keep up with. She wants to be like other children, so she runs away to the village to join them and play.

By the time she gets there, she doesn’t look much like a princess with her torn and dirty clothes. At first, the children don’t believe her when she tells them she’s a princess. Then, they make fun of her because she’s complaining about her responsibilities. And then they challenge her to last a week with the type of responsibilities they must attend to everyday - - making bread, tending to younger siblings, milking cows, etc. Predictably, she is fed up with that lifestyle by the next morning and goes back home. That’s the end of the first story.

The second story is about Olivia, who plays the part of the princess in the production. When the play is over, she rethinks her role as child in her family and as the King’s daughter in God’s family.

The illustrations by Carol Newsom are very colorful and expressive and do much to enhance the text.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.           

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 6-12 years.

Publisher Info: CBH Ministries, 2010; ISBN: 9780982512043; Paperback, $4.00.

Buy now at Amazon.com $4.00!

Special Info: This story is an adaptation from a radio script from the Children’s Bible Hour, which is part of the Children’s Bible Hour ministries. The book comes with a read-along CD of the story’s text.

 

A Parable About the King

It's good to be reminded how special we are, how much God loves us. The story, A Parable about the King, written by Beth Moore and illustrated by Beverly Warren, does just that.

This is a story about a princess who runs away because she doesn’t want to clean her room. She has servants to the do the work for her, so why should she have to do it herself? To teach everyone a lesson, she sneaks out a secret palace door. She soon finds a group of peasant children playing in the streets. She decides to join them and pretend she is “one of them.” She tries to do and say what they do and say, but because she is a child of a King, she discovers she doesn’t fit in with them. Humiliated and dirty, she runs back to the palace, only to find the secret door locked. Her only way back in is through the front door. When she knocks on the door, her father answers. She throws herself at his feet and begs forgiveness. The King simply pulls her into his arms and says:

“You may have acted like them, but you are not one of them. You are mine, and you will never be happy until you accept both the privilege and responsibility that goes with belonging to me.”

Before the princess goes to bed that night, the King tells her:

“. . . I will open the door every time you knock and I will always love you.”

This story illustrates, in a simple, yet beautiful way, God’s love for us. If we rebel and try to be like “the crowd,” as long as we repent, we will be forgiven. And, if we are children of God, then we are also children of the King.

The life-like illustrations, done in pastels, blend beautifully with the text. They are soft and gentle and inviting, as is the story of the princess and her father. Most of the pictures cover one page, with the text, and a repeating border, on the facing page.

What I Like: Everything but the opening line.

What I Dislike: The book starts out with the words, Once upon a time. That makes this story sound like a fairy tale, which it most certainly is not. The correlation between the princess’ father, the King, and God the King, are unmistakable. The Bible reference of Matthew 25:34, given at the end of the book, confirms the Biblical connection to the text.

Overall Rating: If it weren’t for the opening line, I would rate this book as Excellent, but I have to give it only a Very Good rating because of it.

Age Appeal: Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Publisher Info: B & H Publishing Group, 2003; ISBN: 0805426795; Hardcover: $12.99.

Buy now at Christianbook.com $9.99.

Special Info: Visit the author’s website.

I'd Be Your Princess

I'd Be Your Princess: A Royal tale of Godly Character was written by Kathryn O'rien and illustrated by Michael Garland. It has earned the Gold Medallion Book Award in recognition of excellence in evangelical Christian literature. The illustrations fill the pages with color and tender details.

The book tells of a little girl and her father who imagine what life would be like were he a king and she his princess. The little girl dreams of jewels, castles, fancy balls and royal adventures. At each turn her father highlights opportunities for godly character -- even as a princess. He talks of good manners, bravery, generosity and kindness, just to name a few. Each characteristic is supported with Scripture. The wording is encouraging, enchanting and challenging for young girls.

What I Like: I love this book! And so does my daughter. She, like most three-year-olds, is obsessed with princesses. This book is a perfect way to indulge that fantasy while teaching about godly character. The story is so positive. Rather than reprimanding a daughter who dreams of being higher than all others, the father teaches her wonderful ways to exhibit royal character as a child of God. This is a wonderful book for parents to read to their children and for first readers to read themselves.

What I Dislike: Absolutely nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: 3-8

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing Company, 2004; ISBN: 0784713502; Hardback; $16.99

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Good Manners for a Little Princess

There are a lot of children's books on manners available today - even a number from Christian publishing houses. But none incorporates a Christian worldview as well as Kelly Chapman's Good Manners for a Little Princess. A spin off of Chapman's Princess with a Purpose, we meet all the same characters, but this time Caroline learns a different lesson: How to have manner's like God's princesses should.
The story begins with a class where the girls sit down to eat, but argue over the food, grab food across the table, bubble their pink tea, talk with their mouths full, and so on. When Caroline falls off a chair because she's not sitting properly in it, she has a dream of a fancy princess manners lesson where she learns the Bible talks a lot about manners and that The Golden Rule is the most important bit of etiquette she can know.
Miss Lily, the teacher, provides specific examples of what The Golden Rule looks like in life. For example, a Golden Rule Keeper loves others, while a Golden Rule Breaker thinks of herself first. Grace, courtesy, and and kindness are emphasized. The girls also learn a little bit about setting the table and dance the "Tutu Trot" to remember some mannerly basics (like "before you eat, say a prayer" and "cover when you sneeze").
The last page of the book has a short, fun quiz for girls to test their manners.

What I Like: My 6 year old actually found this book interesting; any other book on the topic seems to bore her. The illustrations by Tammie Lyon are also well executed and provide lots of interest. Most of all, however, I appreciate how well Christian principles are applied to manners; only by pointing to The Golden Rule can we even explain why manners are even necessary.

What I Dislike: It seems as though the author wrote this story to be a full sized book, but the publisher chose to make it a smaller one. It measures about 7 x 7 inches, which means the text is in a relatively small type and rather dense on each page.

Overall Rating: Very good.
Age Appeal: 4 - 8.
Publishing Info: Harvest House, 2011; ISBN: 978-0736937238; hardback, 32 pgs., $12.99.
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Special Info: Read our review of other books by Kelly Chapman.