Petronella

A classic fairy tale setting is turned inside out in this story of strong-willed princess Petronella, brought back into print after more than 20 years by startup children's publisher Moon Mountain Publishing.In the kingdom of Skyclear Mountain, three princes are always born to the king and queen--until the day when the youngest prince turns out to be a girl, Petronella. When the time comes for her elder brothers to go off to seek their fortunes, everyone expects Petronella to stay home and wait for a prince to turn up and marry her. But Petronella has other plans. She sets off on her own quest, which brings her to the house of Albion, a sinister enchanter. There she finds a prince, Ferdinand of Firebright, apparently in need of rescue. Ferdinand isn't exactly what Petronella expected--in fact, he's a bit of a boob--but she sets out to save him anyway, with results that delightfully confound the reader's expectations.Jay Williams, author of more than 80 books for children and adults, didn't set out to write a feminist fairy tale. According to his daughter, he was simply responding to a request from his children to think up a story where the princess, for once, took an active role. But Petronella, first published in 1973, came at just the right moment to be embraced by the women's movement. Its portrayal of an assertive female protagonist and reversal of gender stereotypes--relatively rare in children's fiction at the time--won it wide attention, and it was much-reviewed and extensively anthologized before falling of print (and out of fashion) in the late 1970's. These days, strong heroines and gender reversals are commonplace, in children's fiction as elsewhere, and Williams' scenario no longer seems radical or even particularly surprising. Far from diminishing Petronella's appeal, however, this shedding of political baggage makes it possible to see just how charming the book really is, with its engaging characters, amusing dialogue, clever situations, and flowing, supple prose. The lavishly colorful illustrations by fantasy artist Margaret Organ-Kean perfectly capture the story's momentum and the sparkling wonder of its enchantments, and give vivid form to the personalities of its characters, from fiery Petronella to sinister Albion to lumpish Ferdinand. It's an altogether lovely new edition of a book that very much deserves its return to print.

Jay Williams' 1973 classic Petronella has been recently released with all new illustrations by Moon Mountain Publishing. The fantasy artist Margaret Organ-Kean has created marvelous watercolor illustrations with a modern flair certain to age well. In the kingdom of Skyclear Mountain, the king and queen always have three princes. But one year, things change. The third prince isn't a prince at all, but a princess. Named Petronella, the princess determines to go out and seek her fortune as her brothers do, rather than waiting for a prince to come to her. Petronella's inquisitive nature, bravery, and talent lead her on a fantastic adventure.While the target audience is girls from 8 to 12, the tale is well suited for boys as well. The shapeshifting illustrations are especially wonderful, blending masculine and feminine energy for a unique balance seldom achieved in children's literature. Indeed, this wonderfully written story with its marvelous role reversals and unexpected ending is a must read.

My mother bought this book for me when I was little. It was my favorite story. Still is to this day. It's a wonderful story of kindness and strength. It shows that family traditions can be upheld by women as well as by men. I have bought a new copy for my daughter. Hopefully, she will enjoy it as well as I did.

I made the mistake of telling the story of "Petronella" to some children I babysit, and now I'm constantly hearing, "Tell us about Petronella!" It's a very cute tale of a princess who wants to keep up "family tradition" and rescue a prince. While very entertaining, the story also has lessons in kindness. I would certainly reccommend this book to anyone who likes anything out of the ordinary; however, be forewarned: if your audience consists of those of smaller dimensions, you will undoubtedly read it many times.

It isn't just the gender role reversal that is appealing but that the heroine does what is in her heart and mind....a suitable message for young people...one doesn't always have to adhere to traditions and do what is expected in one's search for happiness.