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. 

Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in the Ship of Her Own Making by Catherrynne M. Valente

Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Published: May 10, 2011 by Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 247
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Part of a Series?: Yes!

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

When you pick up a middle grade/children's story, I find you generally know what to expect (especially when it comes to the genre of fantasy). You've got your protagonist(s) getting caught up in some crazy, fantastical circumstance only to be whisked away on an adventure, saving the day and coming home in time for dinner because apparently, all children need to eat their veggies (obviously to bulk up for the sequel).  

There is nothing wrong with this formula. It's worked well for years and years and years and people (including me) STILL continue to enjoy these types of stories. They're comforting. Familiar. You know a happy ending is coming and sometimes, you desperately need that reassurance. 

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland sets you up for all these familiar tropes and I picked this up thinking I was going to get a whimsical story about a girl going on adventures (possibly with a dragon, as seen on the cover). That IS the foundation for what I got, but all in all this book is so much more than that. More often than not in children's book, you see the authors talking down to their audience. Everything from the depth of the plot to the vocabulary used is dialed down because... children. This has none of that. Valente doesn't hold back. She gives the reader the benefit of the doubt that they'll be able to handle the content she's presented. Her writing is sophisticated and eloquent, while still being super accessible and there are certain events in her book that aren't downplayed in order to placate children's sensitivities. She describes things in full detail and it's really a wonderful experience. 

As for the story itself, it's much like Alice in Wonderland where you have a little girl, literally whisked away to an unknown world to have an adventure. It's whimsical and fantastical and surprisingly dark at times while still maintaining that  lighthearted feel. You get to meet a large cast of characters, all charming in their own way. 

This is a big resounding YES. If you are a fan at all of fairy tales, children's literature, or you're just in the mood for something good for your soul, then I definitely recommend picking this up. It's fantastic. Really.