Clothes for a Princess
Inspiration Book:
The Hinky Pink : an old tale by McDonald, Megan - Atheneum Books for Young Readers, p2008, c2008--Fic--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.7. Anabel, a talented seamstress, is delighted to be summoned to the Great Castle of Firenze to create a special dress for Princess Isabella Caramella Gorgonzola, but becomes discouraged when her efforts are continually subverted by an unseen sprite.
Rationale: Now I don’t intend to be sexist, but rather represent the feelings of current little boys--they still curl up their noses when princess stories are part of a lesson or presentation. Maybe in the future, our society will be gender neutral, but it isn’t there yet. So, when a topic seems to be gender specific like princesses, I use the theme for a specific and special extra-curricular activity. In the dead of winter, when students often do not have outdoor recess, I will have an optional noon-hour story hour. If, for some reason, I have a light schedule on a given Friday, I have Fabulous Friday story hours for which teachers can sign up part of their class (in the case of princesses the girls) and the teacher works with the other half. At a later date, and a different topic, we swap. It is possible to have a successful boy and girl story hour with a princess topic if you select the books carefully. Here you will find some mix and match princess story hours based around a theme or lesson. There is a goblin or hinky pink in the book which makes the Inspiration Book boy friendly. The three story hour outlines here are for Grades K-3 and the ideas can be mixed and matched as can the stories. There are also book lists for two additional story hours, and a short book talk for Grades 4-8 from Nancy Keane’s booktalk site, divided into two book sections for the 4-8 group and an extension for the 5-8 group.
Grades K-3--Dressing the Princess
Background: Many have the mental image of a princess wearing the latest fashions, crowns, jewels, and glitter. Several of the books for this story hour show a different princess. The Inspiration Book fits well in this story hour.
Preparation: Download and make copies for each child of a paper doll from http://familycrafts.about.com/od/paperdolls/ig/Paper-Doll-Accessories/Paper-Doll-Body.htm
Supplies of paper scraps--plain construction paper, scrapbook paper, wallpaper, scissors, glue, glitter sequins, colored pencils, yarn. Set out supplies and paper doll at tables.
Wear your best finery--long dress or flowing pants, glittery shoes, hair clips, crown, etc.
Introduction:
Teach song:
I’M A LITTLE PRINCESS
Tune: “I’m A Little Teapot”
I’m a little princess, see my crown.
I’m a little princess, see my gown.
When I am sad, I never wear a frown.
When I am happy, I dance around.
I’m a little princess because I share.
I’m a little princess because I care.
When I am sad, I never wear a frown.
When I am happy, I dance around.
The princess in the Inspiration Book needs and wants a new dress, but there’s a problem, a Hinky Pink. Do you know what a Hinky Pink is? Let’s read and find out.
Read aloud:
The Hinky Pink : an old tale by McDonald, Megan - Atheneum Books for Young Readers, p2008, c2008--Fic--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.7. Anabel, a talented seamstress, is delighted to be summoned to the Great Castle of Firenze to create a special dress for Princess Isabella Caramella Gorgonzola, but becomes discouraged when her efforts are continually subverted by an unseen sprite.
The princess in our next book is having a ball and needs a dress, but there isn’t much time to get a new dress.
Read aloud:
Brave Irene by Steig, William, 1907-2003 - Sqaure Fish/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, p2011, c1986--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.9. Brave Irene, the dressmaker's daughter, ventures out into a fierce snowstorm to deliver the beautiful ball gown her mother has made for the duchess.
Sing song again.
Our last princess has some favorite clothes, too.
Read aloud:
Princess Bess gets dressed by Cuyler, Margery - Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, p2009, c2009--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.8. A fashionably dressed princess reveals her favorite clothes at the end of a busy day.
Project: At our tables I’ve set out a paper doll body (show) for each of you. You will also find an assortment of papers, scissors, glue, and decorations. Your job is to be creative and design a dress fit for a princess. Use the colored pencils to add facial features. Use the paper or yarn to add hair.
Other Titles to Substitute, Display, and/or Check-out:
The princess in black (Princess In Black (Candlewick), Book 1) by Hale, Shannon — Candlewick Press, 2014. Dewey: -Fic-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.2. While having hot cocoa with the Dutchess, Princess Magnolia must sneak away to fight monsters as her alter ego the Princess in Black. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follett.
The very fairy princess (Very Fairy Princess) by Andrews, Julie — Little, Brown, 2010. Dewey: -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.7. Despite her scabby knees and dirty fingernails, Geraldine knows that she is a princess inside and shows it through her behavior at home and in school.
Princess Grace (Grace-Picture Books) by Hoffman, Mary — Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008. Dewey: -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.8. Grace wants to participate in her community festival's princess float, but first she must decide what sort of a princess she wants to be--from an African princess in kente cloth robes to a floaty pink fairy tale princess.
Not all princesses dress in pink by Yolen, Jane - Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, p2010, c2010--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.2. Rhyming text affirms that girls can pursue their many interests, from playing sports to planting flowers in the dirt, without giving up their tiaras.
Grades K-3--Acting Princess-y
Preparation: Chart paper or chalk/whiteboard and appropriate markers.
Computer lab access for class
Make hotlink following procedure at your school for GirlsGoGames (princess games) http://www.girlsgogames.com/search.html?search=disney+princess&gclid=CPvl6rbDr68CFYoDQAodT0R-pQ
Introduction: What is a princess? (Accept ideas. There may be some unusual ones since most children don’t really have experiences with the political aspects of being a princess. Most of their ideas come from fairy tales and Disney.) Tell me how a princess acts. I’ll write those ideas on the chart. (Accept all ideas both positive and negative although most will be positive.) What does it mean to act “princess-y?” I’ll write your ideas on the chart again. (Try to elicit some ideas which reflect being spoiled or very particular.)
Is the girl in our first book acting “Princess-y?” I’m going to ask that question after each story and write your ideas on the chart again.
Read aloud:
Too purpley! by Reidy, Jean - Bloomsbury, p2010, c2010--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 1.0
A young girl rejects many outfits before finding the perfect clothes to wear.
Well, was the girl acting princess-y? (Add to chart.) Do you ever refuse to wear certain clothes? Are you acting princess-y?
Our next book is about a princess. Is she acting Princess-y?
Read aloud:
I want my light on! by Ross, Tony - Andersen Press USA, p2010, c2007--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 1.6. A little princess requests a light be left on at night because she is afraid that there are ghosts hiding under her bed.
Well, was the princess acting princess-y? (Add to chart.) Do you ever refuse or refuse to do something? Are you acting princess-y?
Author Tony Ross has written more books about princesses. (Choose one of the titles below.)
I want to do it myself! by Ross, Tony - Andersen Press USA, p2011, c2010--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 2.2. The little princess is determined to go on a camp-out without anyone's help.
I want two birthdays! by Ross, Tony - Andersen Press USA, p2010, c2008--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 2.7. A little princess decides that two birthdays would be better than one, and three better than two, until every day becomes her birthday, but she soon realizes that the more birthdays she has, the less special they are.
Princess Baby by Katz, Karen - Schwartz & Wade Books, p2008, c2008--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 2.8. A little girl does not like any of the nicknames her parents have for her-- she wants to be called by her "real" name, Princess Baby.
We’re going to the computer lab next to play a princess game. I’ll show you how several are played (select and demonstrate a few) and then it’s your turn to have some fun.
GirlsGoGames (princess games) http://www.girlsgogames.com/search.html?search=disney+princess&gclid=CPvl6rbDr68CFYoDQAodT0R-pQ
Grades K-3--Learning Princess Kindness
Background: Ideas for this story hour are based on ideas presented in School@Home http://schoolathome.blogspot.com/2006/03/id-be-your-princess-lesson-plan.html
for the book I’d Be Your Princess by Kathryn O’Brien
Preparation: Gather princess gear--crowns, costume jewelry, stoles and shawls OR ask the princesses to come dressed.
Introduction Activity: Toss a ball with a group of children. Everyone should try to toss first to someone who hasn't had the ball. Eventually there will be repeats and the ball will get back where it started.
Often when we are kind to someone, they are motivated to spread kindness on. It's like the movement of a ball. Often the act does come back to the sender.
Let’s think about people who need an act of kindness. They may be a friend, family member, teacher, cook, bus driver.
Read aloud one or more of the following books and ask after each: Who needed an act of kindness? Who was kind to whom? Did the person who needed kindness pass the kindness on?
Princess Hyacinth : (the surprising tale of a girl who floated) by Heide, Florence Parry - Schwartz & Wade Books, p2009, c2009-E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 2.5. Princess Hyacinth is bored and unhappy sitting in her palace every day because, unless she is weighed down by specially-made clothes, she will float away, but her days are made brighter when kite-flying Boy stops to say hello.
Princess Peepers by Calvert, Pam, 1966- - Marshall Cavendish Children, p2011, c2008--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 2.9. Princess Peepers decides to shed her glasses after the other princesses make fun of her; but after several mishaps during the course of the day, she has to admit that she really does need her glasses.
Princess Peepers picks a pet by Calvert, Pam, 1966- - Marshall Cavendish Children, p2011, c2011--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.7. When Princess Peepers loses her glasses, she mistakes a dragon for a unicorn and enters it in the pet show at the Royal Academy for Perfect Princesses.
The princess who had almost everything by Levert, Mireille - Tundra Books, p2008, c2008--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.3. Princess Alicia, who has everything she needs, including a castle, tons of desserts, and loving parents, is bored with the extravagant toys and clothes, and is eventually entertained by a very simple item.
The apple-pip princess by Ray, Jane - Candlewick Press, p2008, c2007--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.5. DVD. In a land that has stood barren, parched by drought and ravaged by frosts since the Queen's death, the King sets his three daughters the task of making the kingdom bloom again, and discovers that sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
Grades K-3--Princesses and Fairy Tales Booklist
Twenty-six princesses by Horowitz, Dave, 1970- - Puffin Books, p2011, c2008--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 1.3. Twenty-six princesses, one for each letter of the alphabet, go to a party at the prince's castle.
The very fairy princess by Andrews, Julie - Little, Brown, p2010, c2010--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.5. Despite her scabby knees and dirty fingernails, Geraldine knows that she is a princess inside and shows it through her behavior at home and in school.
The twelve dancing princesses by Isadora, Rachel - Puffin Books, p2009, c2007--398.2--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.7. A king promises a great reward to any man who can find out how his princesses are wearing out their shoes every night without leaving their bedroom.
The twelve dancing princesses by Cech, John - Sterling, p2016--398.22--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 5.7. Every day twelve princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes, but neither the king nor their suitors can figure out why, until one simple soldier tries.
Grades K-3--Boy Approved Princess Stories
The most wonderful thing in the world by French, Vivian — Candlewick Press, 2015. Dewey: -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.1. A retelling of a fairy tale follows a young man who becomes a princess' unlikely suitor when the king and queen issue a decree that whoever presents them with the most wonderful thing in the world will win their daughter's hand in marriage.
Princess Hyacinth : (the surprising tale of a girl who floated) by Heide, Florence Parry — Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009. Dewey: -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.5. Princess Hyacinth is bored and unhappy sitting in her palace every day because, unless she is weighed down by specially-made clothes, she will float away, but her days are made brighter when kite-flying Boy stops to say hello.
Clever Jack takes the cake by Fleming, Candace - Schwartz & Wade Books, p2010, c2010--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.8. A poor boy named Jack struggles to deliver a birthday present worthy of the princess.
The orphan : a Cinderella story from Greece by Manna, Anthony L — Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011. Dewey: 398.2; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.9. In this variation on the Cinderella story set in Greece, a girl is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, but manages to captivate the prince, with help from Mother Nature and gifts from the Sun, the Moon, the Dawn, and the Sea.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A PRINCE
Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
If you want to be a prince, stand up tall.
If you want to be a prince, stand up tall.
If you want to be a prince,
If you want to be a prince,
If you want to be a prince, be kind to all.
Jean Warren from http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music-station11/prince-princess-songs.shtml
Grades 3-6--Princesses in Chapter Books Book Talk and Book List
The lacemaker and the princess by Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker - Margaret K. McElderry Books, p2009, c2007--Fic--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 4.8. Eleven-year-old Isabelle, living with her lacemaker grandmother and mother near the palace of Versailles in 1788, becomes close friends with Marie Antoinette's daughter, Princess Therese, and finds their relationship complicated not only by their different social class but by the growing political unrest and resentment of the French people.
Imagine that you are eleven years old, and every day you must work in order to make enough money to eat. You hand sew lace all day long in a crowded, dirty room, the same room in which you live with your sick mother and harsh grandmother. You sew and you dream, dream of the riches of the palace of the King and his family. The Lacemaker and the Princess is the story of such a girl, eleven-year-old Isabelle, living in France in the late 1700s, a third-generation lace maker. One day, she gets to make a delivery to the palace and seizing the opportunity, Isabelle snoops to see all she can outside her own world. She gets caught up in a crowd, trips and is almost trampled but is rescued by the queen Marie Antoinette. The queen decides that Isabelle should meet Princess Marie-Therese, who chooses Isabelle to be her friend. Now, Isabelle gets to live the dream of the palace. She gets to eat like the princess, wear clothes like the princess, learn to ride horses like the princess. It is no wonder it is hard to go home every day and work like she always had. The difference in the world between the working masses and the few elite of France are obvious, and the revolution boils over while Isabelle finds who she is and where she fits in. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2008-2009)
Booktalk #2
When Isabelle delivers lace to the French palace, she enters the exciting world of Marie Antoinette, the French queen whose lack of concern for the poor helped provoke the French Revolution. The queen invites Isabelle to become a companion to her daughter, the Princess Therese. Isabelle is given new clothes and even a new name, and for those few hours a day, she becomes Clochette , living as the Princess lives. But she is not a member of the royal family and when tensions build between the King and the common people, these two girls and their friendship will be tested in ways beyond imagining. (Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards nominee, 2008-2009)
A true princess by Zahler, Diane - Harper, p2011, c2011--Fic--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 4.2. Twelve-year-old Lilia goes north to seek the family she has never known, accompanied by her friends Kai and Karina and their dog Ove, on an adventure fraught with peril, especially when they become lost in Bitra Forest, the Elf King's domain. Inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen tale, The princess and the pea.
When royals wore ruffles : a funny & fashionable alphabet! by McLaren, Chesley - Schwartz & Wade Books, p2009, c2009--391--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 4.5. An illustrated introduction to the history of fashion that uses the letters of the alphabet to describe trends throughout the years.
Fairies by Malam, John, 1957- - QEB Pub., p2009, c2009--398--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 4.8. Examines the stories and legends about mythological fairies, including brownies, gnomes, goblins, pixies, nymphs, and others.
Lady Lollipop by King-Smith, Dick - Candlewick Press, p2003, c2000--Fic--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 5.8. A quick-witted swineherd and a pig named Lollipop are royally rewarded after they reform a spoiled princess.
The birthday ball by Lowry, Lois - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, p2010, c2010--Fic--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 6.9. When a bored Princess Patricia Priscilla makes her chambermaid switch identities with her so she can attend the village school, her attitude changes and she plans a new way to celebrate her sixteenth birthday.
Grades 5-8 Extension--Spreading Kindness Book Talk
Background: Frances Hodgson Burnett first wrote Sara Crew in 1888 and rewrote a longer version in 1905. The story is the same and yet it is different; Sara is the same and yet her character is different. Older students may want to and be adept enough to do character analysis comparison of the two books. We’re going to look at the theme of kindness in via book talks in various princess books including Burnett’s classic The Little Princess. The introduction for the book talk lesson is from Squidoo http://www.squidoo.com/a-little-princess-lesson-plans
Preparation: Gather copies of the books mentioned in the book talk.
Cut 2 x 6 inch strips of light colored construction paper--one for each student. Pencils.
Introduction: At her hungriest, Sara finds a coin and buys rolls, but gives them to a beggar child who appears even hungrier than she is. The woman who owns the bread shop is so moved by Sara's generosity that she decides to be like her. She takes the beggar child--Anne-- inside and raises her as an apprentice. At the end of the story, Sara comes back to the store to share of her re-found wealth. She meets up again with a much happier Anne -- and learns how her earlier act of generosity had traveled on. Sound like the movie “Paying it Forward,” but it’s the summary of The Little Princess by Frances Burnett.
A little princess by Burnett, Frances Hodgson, 1849-1924 - Signet Classics, p1990, c1990--Fic--Int Lvl: 5-8--Rd Lvl: 6.9. Includes bibliographical references (p. 236). Sara Crewe, a pupil at Miss Minchin's London school, is left in poverty when her father dies, but is later rescued by a mysterious benefactor.
From the Publisher: Written by British-born author Frances Hodgson Burnett and first published in 1905, A Little Princess tells the story of young Sara Crewe, privileged daughter of a wealthy diamond merchant. All the other girls at Miss Minchin's school treat Sara as if she truly were a princess. But when Captain Crewe's fortune is sadly lost, Sara's luck changes. Suddenly she is treated no better than a scullery maid. Her own fierce determination to maintain her dignity and remain a princess inside has intrigued and delighted readers for almost a hundred years, even inspiring a recent popular feature film.
Activity: Toss a ball with a group of children. Everyone should try to toss first to someone who hasn't had the ball. Eventually there will be repeats and the ball will get back where it started.
Often when we are kind to someone, they are motivated to spread kindness on. It's like the movement of a ball. Often the act does come back to the sender -- though not in quite the "The diamond mines were real after all!" manner of A Little Princess.
Let’s think about people who need an act of kindness. They may be a friend, family member, teacher, cook, bus driver. Write about it on a small sheet of paper I have placed at your work place. Your comments should be kind, too.
(Collect the papers in a jar, and later look for connections. Do any of those acts of kindness make a chain?)
Discussion: To what extent does kindness foster kindness? (This can be a tricky question to answer. Real life doesn't have the fairy tale element of A Little Princess and some kindness is never repaid.) from http://www.squidoo.com/a-little-princess-lesson-plans
I’d like to tell you about a few other books about princess kindness. The book talks are all from Nancy Keane’s book talk web site.
Once upon a Marigold by Ferris, Jean - Harcourt, p2004, c2002--Fic--Int Lvl: 5-8--Rd Lvl: 6.1
A young man with a mysterious past and a penchant for inventing things leaves the troll who raised him, meets an unhappy princess he has loved from afar, and discovers a plot against her and her father.
Booktalk #1
"Part comedy, part love story, part everything but the kitchen sink". So goes the sub-title. Add to that "total delight"! Our tale begins when young Christian is 6 years old and has run away from home. He is discovered hiding in the woods by Edric, a kindly troll with a penchant for mixing up his metaphors as in "beating one's head against a dead horse." Edric adopts Christian and raises him as his own in his marvelous, magical crystal cave. Christian is a problem-solver whose hobby is inventing useful things of all sorts. When he grows to young manhood, he spends much time gazing through his telescope at the castle across the river where a young princess resides. Smitten at the sight of her, he gets up his courage to initiate a correspondence via p-mail (p is for pigeon). Princess Marigold replies and the adventure begins with Christian's crossing the river at last to land a job as a servant at the palace. Even though Marigold returns his affections, there are many hurdles to overcome. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Committee) The reader learns about the lives, abilities, politics, and traditions of trolls, the hazards of a world governed by too many rules, and that an ambitious mother can be as dangerous as a wicked step-mother. All the anticipated elements of the fantasy fairy tale are here, but a humorous twist makes this a more thought-provoking and entertaining read than most “happily ever after “ romances. Marge Erickson Freeburn (Colorado Blue Spruce Children's Award)
Booktalk #4
My dad is a troll. Well, he’s not my real dad, but he found me hiding in the forest when I was just a little guy. I’d run away from home. I knew my name was Christian, but all I knew about my parents was that their names were Father and Mother, and Ed couldn’t figure out how to return me to my real home without getting himself into a lot of trouble. So he took me in, got to liking me, and raised me in his cave in the forest, along with the dogs, Bub and Cate. Ed’s big passion in life is trying to convince the members of the LEFT Association (LEFT stands for Leprechauns, Elves, Fairies, and Trolls) that Queen Mab’s tooth fairy monopoly should be broken up. Queen Mab is just unbelievably bad at reading maps, is forgetful and overworked.
We live in King Swithbert’s kingdom. He’s a decent sort. Mostly concerned with keeping folks in his kingdom happy. The one person in his kingdom who’s the most difficult to please is his wife, Queen Olympia. She’s a control freak, wanting to increase her power by marrying her 4 princesses to the right princes, in order to expand her sphere of influence. The three blond triplets were easily married to the right guys. This only left Queen Olympia with the troubling problem of Princess Marigold. For one thing, a fairy had given as a birth-gift to Marigold the gift of sensitivity to the thoughts and feelings of others. The birth fairy overdid it, however, so that Marigold can actually know the thoughts of others just by touching them. So the gift turned out to be a curse because very few people wanted to touch Marigold. Certainly her mother never touched her. And this meant very few eligible suitors could be found for Marigold.
How do I know all this? Well, I’ve been watching! I’m an inventor of sorts. I’ve invented an elevator which delivers water to the cave from the river, and boomerang arrows (kind of handy when you miss your target), rutabaga parfaits (that one didn’t go over so well), a telescope, and p-mail. What’s p-mail, you ask? Well, pigeon-mail, of course. I’ve spent a lot of my time using my telescope to watch the castle which is across the river from our cave. I know all about King Swithbert, Queen Olympia, and the three triplets. But most of all, I watch Marigold. I feel like I know Marigold. I see that no one but King Swithbert ever touches her. I feel that she’s lonely and unhappy. And I want to get her know better.
So I devised a little canister that fits on Walter the pigeon’s leg, and I trained Walter to fly to a destination, wait for a reply and fly home again. Now Marigold and I have been communicating via p-mail. We both love Greek myths, we trade bad jokes, and I hear all about her attempts to foil Queen Olympia’s attempts to marry her to one horrible suitor after another. But this can’t go on forever. Soon Queen Olympia will succeed. She’s determined to have Marigold out of her way. I’m not sure there’s anything I can do, but it’s time for me to try.
With lots of mixed feelings and none of us knowing what to say or do, I leave Ed and the dogs, cross the river and take a job as a squire, working in the stables at the castle. Now I’m close to Marigold, King Swithbert, and Queen Olympia. And things are worse than I thought. Queen Olympia really is willing to do anything, even bump off her own family, to have her way.
Susan Bartel (Colorado Blue Spruce Children's Award)
Booktalk #5
Ed the troll is happily living a quiet life in the forest until he finds a bossy six year old who forces him to take him to live in the forest – in Ed’s cave no less! Ed thought this would only last a day or two, but ten years later Ed can’t imagine life without his adopted son. After all, Christian, with his wild inventions and easygoing ways has really turned the old cave into a home. Ed’s worked hard to teach Christian everything he needs to know, but he forgot to warn him about girls! So when Christian sees a lonely princess through his telescope – he can’t help but fall in love. Christian sends her a message via carrier pigeon, and soon Christian and Marigold are great friends, communicating almost daily through “p-mail.” Then Christian decides he needs to meet Marigold in person, so against Ed’s wishes, he leaves the forest and finds a job working at Marigold’s castle. But how is Christian, a lowly servant, supposed to talk to a princess?! He also doesn’t figure on Marigold’s horrible fiancée, a queen plotting double murder, and a kindly king who’s close to death. Why is love so complicated!
Prepared by: Amanda LeBlanc for South Carolina Junior Book Award 2005
Booktalk #6
"Once Upon A Marigold" was a hot book that was kind of like a Sleeping Beauty story without Sleeping Beauty. The book starts out with a troll named Edric, going through the woods, looking for stuff people had dropped or lost, when his two dogs, Beelzebub and Hecate, notice something in the bushes. So they lead Edric over to them and out pops a little boy, about six years old. He tells Ed that his name is Christian and that he doesn't want to go back home because there are too many rules there. Of course Ed doesn't want the little boy, but allows Chris to come home with him. When they arrive, Chris tells Ed if he tries to find his parents, he will tell them that Ed was going to hold him for ransom and after he got the money, he was going to kill him. Ed ain't want him to do that so he said he could stay. After that the book goes on to Part Two. All I am going to say about this part is that it's interesting and fast-paced. If you want to know what happens, I suggest you check out the book. (Nadia Smith, nadiahcms2009@yahoo.com, Hertford County Middle School Library) from http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/ferris_once.htm
The next book is the sequel to Once Upon a Marigold. We find out what happen to nasty Queen Olympia and the people of Zandelphia and Beaurivage now ruled by Christian, Marigold and Swithbert.
Twice upon a Marigold by Ferris, Jean, 1939- - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, p2008, c2008--Fic--Int Lvl: 5-8--Rd Lvl: 5.2. After a quiet, happy year in a small town, Queen Olympia regains her memory and initiates new plots and manipulations, as the residents of Zandelphia and Beaurivage, now ruled by Christian, Marigold, and Swithbert, feel the effects of her bad energy.
Princess Academy by Hale, Shannon - Bloomsbury Children's Books ,Distributed to the trade by Holtzbrinck Publishers, p2007, c2005--Fic--Int Lvl: 5-8--Rd Lvl: 6.2. While attending a strict academy for potential princesses with the other girls from her mountain village, fourteen-year-old Miri discovers unexpected talents and connections to her homeland. Newbery Honor
Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires to be chosen and win the heart of her childhood best friend. But when bandits seek out the academy to kidnap the future princess, Miri must rally the girls together and use a power unique to the mountain dwellers to save herself and her classmates. (Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award 2008)
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