Part-Time Princess Girl by Day Princess by Night

After finishing all the obligations of an ordinary day and getting a kiss goodnight from Mom, a contemporary girl in pigtails is free to let her imagination run wild and define princessdom on her own terms. She can be a firefighter who combats a palace blaze ("No one dreams of telling her it's too dangerous") and saves the kingdom "as usual." She can use clever tactics to calm a raging dragon (tea and sympathy) or grumpy trolls (boogying down). And yes, there's a handsome prince with whom she may eventually form an alliance, "But right now I'm too busy." Underwood (The Quiet Book) and Evans (Bone Soup) present a heroine who can have it all—from a "gown that shimmers like starlight" to strenuous physical adventure—without ever worrying about embodying a contradiction. However, this upbeat, empowering tale is more an encyclopedia of opportunities than a compelling narrative. While Evans's cartooning is accomplished, and the illustrator wields pink in a way that never feels suffocating, the heroine comes across more as a mouthpiece than as a recognizable human being. Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Studio Goodwin Sturges. (Mar.)

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