Princess Penelope

What an absolutely delightful book in every way! My 5-year old friend giggled as I read it to her, as did a group of my 50-year old friends. To read it aloud is such fun. The line, "I'm Penelope, and I am a PRINCESS!" alone presents endless theatrical possibilities. I believe it will find a place on the shelf among classics such as "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Harold and the Purple Crayon."

I LOVE this book! I am an elementary librarian and mother of two (one being a princess). The book is wonderful as a group read aloud (the illustrations of the various "thrones" is a crowd pleaser) and a lovely bed time story.I would recommend this book to anyone looking for that special gift for the princess (or prince) in your life.

Retro-style ink caricatures inject a jazzy note to the inherent formality of the monarchy in this romp through the fantasy world of a girl convinced of her own royalty. Penelope is "absolutely certain" that she's a princess. "She read lots of fairy tales, so she was an expert on princesses." She also has ample evidence for her claim: she wears a crown, changes her outfit many times a day and sits on "lots of thrones." Newcomer Gran portrays the heroine propped up on pillows in a dining room chair, strapped into her car seat and, in a rose-tinted dream, perched on a towering monogrammed potty seat, brandishing a sceptre. The artist renders Penelope's turned-up smile, ruffled collar and mop of hair with the kind of swooping, calligraphic ink strokes monarchs use for their signatures. Pink-tinted, spotlit areas mark the borders between the real world, in which her parents bring her ordinary fare, and the princess world, in which her parents become "servants," and a long table before her offers a panoply of elegant, curlicued desserts. Mack, who also debuts here, supplies suitably tongue-in-cheek narration: "The servants cleaned up after their princess and comforted her in times of need." The double-page spread shows the real story; Penelope lets loose with a huge wail as she sends her meal flying. But bedtime brings tranquility again: "Sweet dreams, my little princess," says the king. Mack's Penelope strikes the right balance between brash and endearing, as does the interplay between text and art. Little princesses everywhere will see themselves in this winning heroine. Ages 2-5. (Mar.) -Publishers Weekly 1/20/03

This book is charming. At times it is both tongue-in-cheek and insightful -- all little girls want to be princesses. Mack's easy use of language and Gran's sweet illustrations make it a joy to experience.

I bought this book for my daughter and we were both mesmerized by the beautiful illustrations that transcended us into Penelope's fantasy world. This book is truly entertaining. The story is charming and a pleasure to read aloud.