Prince Ribbit

Once upon a time, a talking frog tried to pull a long con on two princess sisters. Lucinda and Arabella are devotees of fairy tales, so they think the frog has Potential Handsome Prince written all over his green face; he's invited to dine at their table and sleep in a royal bed. But a third sister, Martha (whose personality and tresses may remind readers of Merida from Brave), insists that "Just because it's in a book doesn't mean it's true," and sets out to find the cold, hard facts. Since those facts live in science books, however, Martha finds her own words turned against her. These proceedings may cause a little uneasiness in anyone who believes we've entered a post-truth world, but rest assured that Emmett and Bernatene, collaborators on The Santa Trap and other titles, are here to entertain, not debate objective reality. The pictures have the vivid sweep and irreverent characterizations of modern animation, the frog is a suitably haughty rogue, and readers will take away a universally appealing lesson: it's fun to be clever. Ages 3-7. (Mar.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--Fantasy meets reality in this twist on the tale of -The Frog Prince- as three young princesses find that a frog in the royal pond can actually speak. Entranced with the romance of the traditional fairy tale, they declare that he is actually royalty and ponder ways to turn him into the prince of their dreams--serenading him with a harp and a violin and offering him a princely soft pillow bed, food at the royal table, the services of the royal tailor, a distinctive crown, and servants to meet his every need. Rich color and patterns reminiscent of tapestry or lace grace the digital cartoon art, which features large-eyed, expressive princesses and plenty of detail, from the impressionistic background of the lily pond to the shading of a royal procession. Only the youngest princess, Martha, sees through the amphibian's tricks and knows him for what he is--a lowly frog (with a gift for gab). Her solution to reveal his deception provides readers with an ending that perfectly suits the story's repeated admonition---just because it's in a book doesn't mean it's true.- VERDICT This entertaining read-aloud with a hint of the fairy tale is a suggested general purchase for most libraries.--Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"A good-natured tale, glamorous enough to satisfy hardcore princess fans and nuanced enough for those who like a little depth in their fairy tales."