The Princess and the Peas

PreS-Gr 3—Lily-Rose May does her homework, cleans her room, and is agreeable to most anything, until… her father tries feeding her peas. She refuses, even after he makes recipe after recipe that incorporates them. The poor child simply cannot stomach peas. A doctor pronounces her allergic to them and relates the tale of a princess who awoke black and blue after sleeping on mattresses piled as high as the roof save for one pea underneath. Surely, Lily-Rose is a princess, declares the doctor, and she must move to the palace. It has all a young girl could wish for: clothes, toys, jewels, and, best of all, no peas. But will living at the castle be better than her home with her father? Mixed-media illustrations depict all the delights of a princess's palace, complete with pink limousine, but also the comforts of a simple home with family. Large illustrations are filled with small details that children will enjoy with each new reading. Pair this perfectly royal book for fussy eaters with similar princess tales for a majestic storytime.—Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH