Part-time Princess

K-Gr 2—Though the narrator leads a regular life during the day, she becomes a princess every night after her mother tucks her in bed. She leaves her house in a pink coach worthy of Cinderella, and her faithful dachshund goes with her. Wearing a fire hat with P.T.P. on the front, she fights the blaze set by an unhappy dragon, invites him to tea, and becomes his friend. She plays leapfrog in the Royal Mud Puddle with a queen from a distant land, and she bathes in a giant tub with a dolphin before dressing for the Royal Ball. When trolls crash the party, the girl averts disaster by striking up the band. (She has learned that trolls like to dance.) After dancing with the head troll and a very handsome prince, she leaves in the Royal Air Balloon and heads for home. The next morning young readers realize that the mother with sparkles in her hair is also the queen from a distant land, and they know that the mother, daughter, and dachshund will be saving the kingdom again. The cartoon artwork features a palette of pink, lime green, and aqua. Observant children will see that the toys in the child's bedroom inspire her adventures. The simply written, upbeat text in this picture book can be easily read by emerging readers. Girls will be enchanted by this spunky, kindhearted, part-time princess.—Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN