Princess in Training

Princess power saves the day in a humorous antidote to pretty in pink.

Readers will feel for Viola, whose mixed emotions about fitting in are apparent on her face in Berger's animated, jazzy pictures—when she's not moat-diving, that is.

Viola Louise Hassenfeffer is no idle princess: "She spent her time karate-chopping, diving into the moat, and skateboarding up and down the drawbridge." But she also wants to make her parents happy by being prim and proper, so when she's invited to attend a boot camp where she'll learn "to wave, walk, and waltz just like royalty should," she leaps at the chance. With so many feisty princess stories in circulation, readers will quickly guess that redheaded Viola flunks Propriety 101, but gets an A+ in Saving the Day. Sauer's (Me Want Pet!) storytelling tends to be literal, but Berger's exuberant ink line and comic-book conventions (including the use of panels and "zip! zup! zoom!" sound effects) sell the otherwise expected story. As he has proven with the Bridget Fidget books, he's got a gift for portraying expressive, inexhaustible heroines, whether they are following their bliss (one especially spectacular scene has Viola executing a righteous one-handed handstand on her skateboard --bracelets, tiara, and all) or vanquishing a--spoiler alert--dragon. Ages 4-8. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Caroline Walsh, David Higham Associates. (Oct.)

Viola Louise Hassenfeffer is not an ordinary princess. She spends her time diving into the moat, skateboarding, and karate-chopping. Wanting to fit in, she immediately signs up for Camp Princess, which promises to make her the darling of her kingdom. At camp, Viola tries very hard to learn the royal wave, but the addition of a karate chop is frowned upon. During the runway portion of the Frills of Fashion, she decides to cool off with a dive into the moat and is told royalty doesn't dive. While trying to dazzle during dance lessons, she adds a bit of skateboard flair that is deemed unacceptable. Poor Viola is feeling like a failure by time the Royal Bash begins, but it turns out to be her time to shine. When a big, green dragon shows up, she gives him a solid karate chop, douses his flames with a dive into the fountain, and then skateboards circles around him until he collapses with a resounding thunk. The extraordinary princess then becomes the darling of her kingdom just as she is. The illustrations kick this familiar theme up a notch. Berger's comic-book-like panels for the action sequences are exciting, and one of Viola's karate chops is practically 3-D. Oversize action words like "Hi-Yah!," "Zip! Zup! Zoom!," and "Splash!" round out the fun. Observant readers will get a glimpse of the green dragon before his grand entrance. A good choice for a "be-true-to-yourself"- themed storytime or for anyone looking for a fun read.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH