Review: The Secret Lives of Princesses by: Phillippe Lechermeier

Title: The Secret Lives of Princesses
Author: Phillippe Lechermeier
Illustrator: Rebecca Dautremer
Published: June 1st, 2004 by Sterling
Pages: 88
Genre: Children
Part of a Series?: No

Goodreads Synopsis:

Go beyond Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella! Some princesses are well-known to all children—but others, equally magical (and sometimes, a lot funnier) have remained anonymous, mysterious, and far from the fairy-tale crowd.

Now these captivating ladies are finally stepping out of the shadows where they’ve remained hidden for far too long. With wit, sublime humor, and beautiful art, The Secret Lives of Princesses introduces a bevy of royal daughters to the court of young readers.  While it alludes to some of their more famous sisters, this large and lusciously illustrated compendium presents such unique and unforgettable characters as the petite Princess Claire Voyant, who can see very far into tomorrow (but muddles her predictions); Princess Oblivia, who forgets everything and misses all her appointments; Princess Tangra-La, who does the tango, the fandango, and any dance that comes her way; and Princess Babbling Brooke, who chatters on and on about everything and nothing. Plus, you’ll learn about such princessy matters as the language of fans; coats of arms; and how not to offend dangerous fairies who cast evil spells.

This was a pretty delightful read. It reads like an encyclopedia of sorts detailing a wide variety of "unknown" princesses such as Princess Paige (who I found super relatable due to her fantastical library) and Prince S. (who may or may not secretly be a boy). There is a wide cast of unique characters that keep you smiling and laughing throughout accompanied by "tips" and supplemental information on how to be a princess and all things princess-y. 

And the art. 

The artwork is fantastic. I am a sucker for beautiful artwork in books and Dautremer really puts this books over the top with her gorgeous illustrations. This book is worth a flip through for the art alone. 

Yes! This book is great for any lover of fairy-tales and princesses. Some of the humor may go over the heads of some younger readers, but children of all ages can enjoy it (even if it's just to look at the pictures).

It's kind of difficult to rate books like this due to the lack of any real plot. My only complaint is that there could have been a little more diversity, but overall, this is a quality picture book.