The Marcelli Princess (Marcelli Sisters)

Book Description

A smart, independent woman with a gorgeous four-year-old son, Mia Marcelli lost her one true love. Four years ago, while working undercover for the CIA, she watched Diego, the father of her unborn child, perish before her very eyes -- crumbling the world around her. But one morning she awakens to find Diego lying next to her, alive and well with an unbelievable confession: he is really Rafael, Prince of Calandria, and he had been working covertly on the same mission when they met -- his death had been staged. Utterly stunned, Mia is wary and delighted -- she may have suffered a broken heart, but her breathtakingly handsome lover is back to reignite the passion that existed between them. Little does she know that Rafael has returned to give his newfound son a proper upbringing back in Calandria -- even if it means seducing Mia into marriage. But when Rafael finds himself truly falling for this luscious beauty, he must decide between his royal duties and the woman who has claimed his heart.

Customer Reviews:

What a let down.......2007-07-04

I loved this series and was so excited to pick up the final book. Boy, was I disappointed. I can't remember the last time I skipped whole portions of a book. I just love reading Susan Mallery's books, but this last of the Marcelli books, as well as, the last of the Buchanans books, were a great let down. I won't give up on Susan Mallery, but I hope she doesn't jump the shark on her series ending books.

Wonderful End to a GREAT series!.......2007-07-03

I had been waiting for this book! I couldn't wait to read it. It was great. It was the perfect end to this wonderful series. Susan Mallery is one of the best writers today. All the sisters are very strong. It makes for a great series. I really enjoy this book, Mia ROCKS! It is a fun and wonderfully done book.

Romance Junkies review of The Marcelli Princess.......2007-05-20

Mia Marcelli has spent the last four years mourning the love of her life. Working as an undercover agent who ferrets out art thieves, Mia went against everything she had been taught when she fell in love with the one man that she shouldn't; an antiquities thief named Diego. Awakening one morning and finding the man she knew as Diego beside her, Mia panics and doesn't allow herself to believe his declarations. Her lover is dead! So why does the man in her bedroom look and sound like Diego? And how can she possibly accept his assertion that his real name is Rafael, the Crown Prince of Calandria?

Rafael has finally found Mia after searching for her for years. Told by his sources that she was deceased, he had pretty much given up all hope until he spotted her picture in an American newspaper showing her alive and well. It is then and there that Rafael knows that he has to find her. Failure is not an option. When he discovers that he has a son, all his plans for the future change in an instant.

I can't rave enough about THE MARCELLI PRINCESS. I wholeheartedly adored this book. I enjoyed the intrigue, I got angry at Rafael, and then I fell in love with him. Mia earned my respect for her strong independence and unwavering fortitude. Raising a child alone is a difficulty in itself; but she was raising a future heir to a throne and didn't even know it.

I did not read anything in THE MARCELLI PRINCESS that I didn't like. It is books like this, written by wonderful authors like Susan Mallery, that keep me reading and craving romance! I look forward to, and anticipate, each and every new release Ms. Mallery offers!
***Natasha Smith for Romance Junkies***

Susan Mallory Marcelli Princess.......2007-05-06

Susan's new book is another best seller in my book. I love it. I have loved all her Marcelli books. This is another smash hit. It has a great twist with of the main characters that I did not see coming. As soon as you think what the character is like she totally goes the opposite way. Your cheering and booing this character left and right. I love Susan Mallory she never disapoints me with her books.

Hugely disappointing end to a once great series.......2007-04-20

When former CIA agent Mia Marcelli wakes up to find a stranger in her bed, she's shocked to learn that he's the lover she mourned for the last five years. Instead of being an international thief named Diego, he's actually crown prince of the tiny principality of Calandria (think Monaco), who assumed Diego's identity to trap his band of merry thieves. Mia has a surprise for Prince Rafael - in the form of their four year old son Danny. But Rafael already knows about Danny; in fact, he was sent by the King to retrieve Danny so that he can take his place in Calandrian society as heir to the throne. He is not above bribery or seduction to get his way. When Mia finds out about his true intentions, will her love for him (or is it Diego?) be strong enough to forgive his treachery?

Mallery's final installment in the Marcelli family series is a major let down. Never mind the suspension of time (less than a year since the last book in the series was published, and she wasn't even an agent yet), the children that age faster than in a soap opera, and the lack of chemistry between the two main characters. The plot starts out interesting, but the execution is rather boring, the dialogue stilted, and the "hero" so unsympathetic (and his sudden change of heart unconvincing), that I'm sure more than one reader wished she got back with her teen fiance, David instead of investing further tears on her Euro-trash prince. Let's just hope there's no story for Kelly in the works to further tarnish the Marcelli name.

I had pretty high expectations going in, particularly since the previous novel was so good. Rather than going out with a bang telling the most colorful of the Marcelli children's stories, Mallery instead ends the series on a sour note. I was also disappointed in another Mallery release ("Sizzling" from the Buchanan series) this year; perhaps Mallery needs to worry more about quality and less about churning out quantity.

Average customer rating:

Fun drawings illustrate the problems with sports and how they can still be fun despite the falls!
Another great Princess Story...

Do Princesses Scrape Their Knees?
Carmela LaVigna Coyle
Manufacturer: Rising Moon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Pinkalicious

ASIN: 0873589092

Book Description

"When I grow up can I be sporty like you? You can do anything you set your mind to."

This is NOT your average princess! This active princess plays soccer, does yoga, falls on the ice, and scrapes her knobby knees.

This charming story, by the author of the runaway hit Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?, helps children see that it's okay to fall down and scrape their knees when trying something new. It's the trying and the fun that count!

Through belly-flops and missed baskets, our princess discovers that doing your best is all that really matters—even when your little brother is tagging along.

Customer Reviews:

Fun drawings illustrate the problems with sports and how they can still be fun despite the falls! .......2006-09-15

This isn't your ordinary princess: she does yoga, falls on ice, and scrapes her knees: can she be a real princess? Carmela Coyle's engaging story tells not just of an active girl, but one who regular falls and comes back. Fun drawings illustrate the problems with sports and how they can still be fun despite the falls! Amy Costales's bilingual Spanish/English tale Lupe Vargas and her Super Best Friend (0873588886, $15.95) tells of Lupe and Martiza, super best friends who enjoy imagining adventures together. The course of their friendship is followed in a new bilingual edition which follows their daily adventures and mishaps and shows what it means to be best friends.

Another great Princess Story..........2006-08-03

As usual, Carmela has created an endearing story about the "Princess" who has exciting adventures. Do Princesses Scrape Their Knees? is catchy book with cute rhymes and adorable pictures. For kids, sometimes that's the most entertaining part of a book. The princess in the story is nice to her brother and encourages him to try new things while sometimes demonstrating and falling herself. The moral of the story is good. Keep trying and don't worry if you fail. Be a good sport about it. I liked this story almost as much as Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? This is probably my favorite author of story books for little girls.

Beware, Princess Elizabeth: A Young Royals Book

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Beware
Great Story
SUSAN'S ONLINE REVIEW
Great second installment, good portrayal of young Elizabeth I

Beware, Princess Elizabeth: A Young Royals Book
Carolyn Meyer
Manufacturer: Gulliver Books Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Royalty | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Doomed Queen Anne: A Young Royals Book (Young Royals)
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Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries)

ASIN: 0152045562

Book Description

Elizabeth Tudor's teenage years are hardly those of a fairy-tale princess. Her father has beheaded her mother; her jealous half sister has her locked away in the Tower of London; and her only love has betrayed her in his own quest for the throne.
Told in the voice of the young Elizabeth and ending when she is crowned queen, this is the second novel in the exciting Young Royals series.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-07-29

This book is probably the best historical fiction book for teens. It is page turnng and covers Elizabeth's life and emotions very well. It is a great page-turner, and is one of the best historical fictions book I've ever read in my life. Go Carolyn meyer!

Beware.......2007-03-15

Once her father died, no one was there to protect Elizabeth from the court and her older sister, Queen Mary. After the King of England, her father, died, her younger brother, Edward VI of age of 9, became King. Some schemes are created to change the thorn inheritance. After living through that, she becomes more aware of what she does so nothing turns up again. Edward becomes very sick and died. To understand the next event you must know that Elizabeth and Mary have never been on good terms. When Mary became Queen it became worse. The supporters of Elizabeth revolted against Queen Mary; this started the burning of the Heretics. Elizabeth was watched like a hawk until her sister's death. After that she became Queen. Beware, Princess Elizabeth is a wonderful book and worth reading.

One reason why I liked this book was because it was full of suspense. One example is when Elizabeth was investigated for the marriage against the King's order. She was kept at her home with no one but an investigator and his wife. They watched her closely and waited to be found guilty. Another is when Queen Mary sent her to the tower for the uprising of the supporters of Elizabeth. She stayed there for quit along time until she was exiled to a castle far away and left there under watch of guards. The last reason was because she didn't commit to the Catholic faith, which was against her beliefs. Because Mary was burning all the Heretics, or people who wouldn't hear Mass, Elizabeth had to be on her guard so she wouldn't be caught hearing Mass without her whole heart.

The second reason is because the author writes splendidly. One example is when she describes the places and people with all the five senses. In the book when Elizabeth takes up resident in a drafty castle all winter long. The author describes the place as drafty, smelly, cold, and run-down. Another example was when the author described Elizabeth's feelings about her step-mother's husband, who also had feelings to Elizabeth. The last example was when Elizabeth was told she is Queen. The author described Elizabeth's joy at finding the news.

The last reason why this book is so good is because of the interesting characters in this book. Although all the characters really lived, some of the things they did were different. For example, Queen Catherine, the King's last wife, had loved a man before she was forced to marry the King. After the death of the King, Catherine married this man with out waiting in respect for the dead. Another interesting character is Elizabeth's sister, Mary. Mary had a hard life when Elizabeth was little, so she was never very kind. Mary grew up on the Catholic faith and wanted England to turn to their former faith. When the people didn't do as she said, she burned them; therefore she got the name Bloody Mary. The last person is Elizabeth. Elizabeth is my favorite Queen, out of the few I've read. She had to go through many trials in her life and faced death several times. In the book, she was locked in the Tower of London and almost executed. She also lived through several pandemics and the reign of Bloody Mary. Over all I think she lived a very interesting life.

The best part about this book was all the obstacles Elizabeth had to survive. An example from the book was when her beloved brother started to become more like a tyrant to her instead of the loving brother who once loved her. Another was when Mary threw Elizabeth into the Tower of London on false accusations. Elizabeth had to be clever to out smart her sister and the court. This book is now one of my favorite books.

H.Wissmann

Great Story.......2006-11-14

Perhaps one of the most fasincating queens of all time. Hardly anyone else goes through as much as Elizabeth did on her way to being queen and
that's why she'll always be my favorite. This book goes through the death of her father she goes to live with her stepmother and new husband when Elizabeth learns important lessons when she finds herself in a scandle with her stepmother's new husband. Things get worse for her when her brother dies and Mary becomes queen following the short reign of Jane and Elizabeth knows Mary wants her dead and is constantly on guard to keep that from happening but still finds herself in the Tower. Carolyn Meyer protrays Elizabeth's fears at that point when Elizabeth surely thought she was going to die. I recommend this book for everyone who's a fan of Elizabeth I's.

SUSAN'S ONLINE REVIEW .......2006-10-25

King Henry the 8th dies leaving Edward the throne. Edward dies after 6 years of ruling. Edward leaves the throne to Jane Dudley (that's another story called 9 days a queen.) Jane knows that Mary is the rightful ruler of Englang but is forced to be queen. Most of England wanted mary as Queen so to prevent a rebellion they took the throne from Jane and gave it to Mary after nine days of rule. Mary had Jane and her husband beheaded. Elizabeth has many spies watching her every move to prevent he from causing an rebellion. Elizabeth is sent to the same tower as her mother was sent to many years ago and beheaded. will she have the same fate as her mother read the book and find out. i'm bad at writting so the book is way better than its sounds.

Great second installment, good portrayal of young Elizabeth I.......2006-04-19

Young Elizabeth Tudor goes through a great deal in her journey to become Queen of England. She is Henry VIII's second daughter, one who is pampered and well cared for when she's a child and then is ignored and shunned by her father after he has his second wife and Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, beheaded for supposedly cheating on him. He wants an heir and he achieves this with his third wife who births (and dies as a result) young Edward who will precede his father to the thrown. During all of this, Elizabeth has endured her sister Mary, who hates her for being Anne Boleyn's daughter. However, they reach some sort of truce after Henry VIII dies and Edward is crowned. But when the young king dies and Mary is crowned queen, all hell breaks loose. Mary wants Elizabeth out of the way and she does just about everything to keep her from being the next queen. There are various twists throughout the novel.

This royal family has fascinated me and I am enjoying Meyer's fictional account of these women. She portrays Elizabeth as a young woman who had to pay her dues to obtain her reign in England. The novel doesn't follow the biographical flow as much as in Mary, Bloody Mary, but a fictional account is what I look for when reading these books, and Meyer does a fine job creating a back story for these characters. The political intrigue is interesting. Mary Tudor is portrayed as a cruel, fierce queen who orders execution for things as simple as people following another religion other than her own. From reading the biographies in encyclopedias, I always got the impression that she and Elizabeth were at odds with each other, which is why it isn't surprising that this plot is centered on Mary's attempt to keep Elizabeth from taking over the reigns of England. But Elizabeth is portrayed as a fighter who won't stop until she gets her rightful place as Queen of England. I enjoyed this second installment of the Young Royals book. It is fun and entertaining as well as insightful and enlightening. I look forward to reading Anne Boleyn's story in Doomed Queen Anne.

Sisters Forever: Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (Deluxe Coloring Book)

Average customer rating:

Time to Color!!!!
A little girl's dream!
Nice coloring book
Deluxe Coloring Book

Sisters Forever: Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (Deluxe Coloring Book)
Golden Books
Manufacturer: Golden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375837663
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

Barbie(R) and her eleven sisters escape the rules of their harsh aunt for a magical world of dance in this retelling of the classic fairytale about the twelve dancing princesses. Every night the princesses descend into a magical realm where they dance the night away. In the morning, their shoes are worn through, but no one knows where they've been or what they've been up to! This mysterious and exciting fairytale will capture the imaginations of little girls everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Time to Color!!!!.......2007-05-14

I loved this book, yeah judge me am a 23 year old who loves to color but only Barbie books i just love to color the different clothes they wear. This is a 64pages aprox and lots of very nice pages to color. Everything is a story and has NO activities. At the back of the book comes a little match game like memory.

A little girl's dream!.......2007-02-02

I bought this for my boyfriend's 5and a half year old daughter, who HAS to have everything 12 Princesses (and loves coloring). We couldn't pull her away from this coloring book for 3 days. Our fridge is covered (even more so than normal) with pictures. She was even ripping out colored pages and slipping them under our bedroom door for us at 6am.

I think she appreciated this coloring book more than the movie, or the dolls - which until this point were her favorite. I plan on buying another one, because this one is pretty much used up and she won't know what to do with herself after that.

Nice coloring book.......2007-01-26

This is a very nice coloring book that follows along with the 12 Dancing Princesses story line. My girls love the books I bought for them.

Deluxe Coloring Book.......2007-01-12

I bought this book for a five-year old girl who loves Barbie and the Princesses. I thought it was a good price for the value and Golden Books always have excellent products.

Average customer rating:

Stella, Princess of the Sky
Loved it. . .
A simply told magical story

Stella, Princess of the Sky (Stella)
Marie-Louise Gay
Manufacturer: Groundwood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0888996012

Book Description

In this sweetly humorous book, Stella and her brother, Sam, explore the wonders of the natural world. A vast luminous sky, the sun, the stars, and the rising moon form the backdrop for their nocturnal expedition. As they encounter raccoons, fireflies, tree frogs, and bats, Sam wonders if the moon can swim, if the sun wears pajamas, or if he can catch shooting stars with his butterfly net. Stella, as always, has an answer for every question. Marie-Louise Gay's whimsical prose and enchanting illustrations capture the joys of young children making their first discoveries of the world around them.

Customer Reviews:

Stella, Princess of the Sky.......2007-08-12

Another Excellent book by Marie-Louise Gay! The only thing that should be different in her wonderful books is that instead of 2-4 years they should be labeled 2-104 years! ;-)))

Loved it. . . .......2007-01-18

I bought all the "Stella" books b/c my Daughter's name is E'Stella - regardless of why I initially bought them-- SHE LOVES THEM. . . the pictures are fantastic and it answers a lot of whys for a curious 3 year old. I would highly recommend any of Marie Louise Gay's books.

A simply told magical story.......2005-07-12

This book is a wonderful story about Sam, Stella's younger brother, who is full of questions about the sun, moon and stars. Stella has simple, heartwarming explanations for Sam. These are illustrated beautifully by the author in dreamy watercolors. The dialogue is well-written and realistic. I think that's why my daughters love Stella and Sam so much -- they've had similar conversations. A book that will be read again and again, Marie Louise-Gay shows us the beauty in the simpler things in life.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful in Every Way
a deep and satisfying tale
Such a Terrific Read for Middle School and Above!
Westward leading, still proceeding

Alphabet of Dreams
Susan Fletcher
Manufacturer: Ginee Seo Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689850425

Book Description

Mitra and her little brother, Babak, are beggars in the city of Rhagae, scratching out a living as best as they can with what they can beg for--or steal. But Mitra burns with hope and ambition, for she and Babak are not what they seem. They are of royal blood, but their father's ill-fated plot against the evil tyrant, King Phraates, has resulted in their father's death and their exile. Now disguised as a boy, Mitra has never given up believing they can rejoin what is left of their family and regain their rightful standing in the world.

Then they discover that Babak has a strange gift: If he sleeps with an item belonging to someone, he can know that person's dreams. Mitra believes that they can use this gift to find passage back to the city of Palmyra and their remaining kinsmen. But soon Babak and his abilities come to the attention of a powerful Magus -- one who has read portents in the stars of the coming of a new king and the dawn of a new age. Soon Mitra and Babak find themselves on the road to Bethlehem...

The acclaimed author of Shadow Spinner returns to ancient Persia in this spellbinding

saga -- a tale filled with the color of the caravansaries and the heat of the desert, a tale that reimagines the wonder and spirit of a lost age.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful in Every Way.......2007-02-24

I am the type of reader who can't settle for just a good story or just good writing or just good characters. I have to have it all to truly lose myself in a book. With this book, I lost myself in the language first, loving the sentences and the voice of Mitra. Then I fell in love with Mitra and Babak, and then I grew to appreciate and love the secondary characters because they felt real, their motives complex and the changes that happen to them believable and wonderful. Then the story swept me up completely, and I loved how simple things like the coming of Mitra's "monthly courses" bring a tension that Mitra herself doesn't understand until they happen. I checked this out from the library and can hardly wait to buy my own copy.

a deep and satisfying tale.......2006-12-08

This story pulled me in deep and wouldn't let go. It got richer and thicker as it went along. The best of it to me was the love story at the heart of the book. The main character, Mitra, goes around as a boy for safety reasons. Then a boy meets her and instantly knows she is a girl, even though no one else has seen through her disguise. And he loves her. This idea, that someone who loves you is someone who can see you, and how good it is to be seen, are beautifully and convincingly rendered.

Such a Terrific Read for Middle School and Above!.......2006-10-10

What an original take on an old, old story! I literally could not put it down, until the end! Even then, I devoured her explanatory notes afterwards.

This is a topic I teach frequently, and while I may differ on some minor points, the author has done an outstanding job of fictionalizing characters we wonder about so often.

This book is so powerful, that I doubt another Christmas in my life will ever transpire without my looking at the creche and considering Melchior's pride, that tiny scrap of linen in the boot, etc.

Well done!

Westward leading, still proceeding.......2006-08-28

Blurbs and book descriptions can be great. If you see, for example, an enticing cover in the bookstore, blurbs have the power to make or break your potential purchase. If the description sounds remarkable, the blurb is the book's friend. If the description sounds deathly deadly dull, the blurb and book are foes. But you see, I don't read blurbs. I like books to surprise me. To have stories and plots that jump out of nowhere and throttle my attention soundly. In short, I like to know as little about a book as possible before I read it. And since my focus in life is to concentrate wholeheartedly on children's books, blurbs are avoided at all times at all costs. Good thing too. Had I known the plot of "Alphabet of Dreams" beyond the initial premise I might have labeled this book too soon. As it was, my slow realization of what this story was about liberated me to feel especially proud of myself and proud of author Susan Fletcher for so skillfully drawing out the story's elegant elements. If you're anything like me and you'd like to unravel the mystery behind "Alphabet of Dreams" on your own, stop reading this review and know only this: Excellent book. Excellent plot. Excellent characters. A classy affair through and through. Nuff said.

First sentence: "When we lived in the City of the Dead, my brother dreamed mostly of food". Little wonder. Mitra and her little brother Babak are displaced members of a Persian royal family. Due to their father's failed plot to overthrow King Phraates, the two have been separated from the rest of their family and live as beggers in the city of Rhagae. That is, until fourteen-year-old Mitra (dressed as a boy and going by the name of Ramin) discovers that Babak has a dangerous gift. Simply place an article of clothing under his sleeping head and in the morning he'll dream a portentous dream for the owner of that material. Always on the lookout for a way to return to the life she once knew, Mitra uses Babak's power to restore them to the city of Palmyra, where she hopes to find their kin. Unfortunately, knowledge of this dreamer reaches the ears of the powerful everywhere. Now Babak and Mitra are in the possession of a magus with dreams of power. And as the boy's dreams concern a birth, stars, and a king, it becomes clear that there is something at work far greater than either child could fathom. Something so great that it may kill Babak to dream of it.

At what point did my slow moving brain realize that this story was concerned with the three Magi? You see, that's the caravan that Mitra and Babak eventually end up with. Somehow I could have caught on right from the start if I'd looked more closely at the map at the beginning of the book. Yup. There's Bethlehem clear as clear can be. But somehow I missed both that clue and the moment when the first Magus (clue #2, I suppose) was introduced as Melchior. It really wasn't until Babak had a dream about a Jewish king with sores that I began to get clued in. Then when they met up with a second Magus named Gasper... well you can imagine how pleased I felt with myself. Kids who haven't been immersed in "Amahl and the Night Visitors", however, may not get what's going on until the crew meets up with King Herod or enters Bethlehem proper.

By and large Fletcher is just an out-and-out good writer. At one point the story's heroes are hiding under some blankets on a camel to avoid detection from their enemies. As they sit there they hear a sound like "Pok!". It becomes clear to Mitra that this is the sound of someone sticking a dagger through the blankets. "I held my breath. Pok! Pok! To my left. Pok! Pok! Somewhere in front of me". Delicious stuff. Then there are the characters themselves. Mitra, our heroine, is not likable in the least at the story's start. She works for her own gain, fooling herself into believing that using her little brother is for his own good as well. She's obsessed with royal blood, to the point where she'll sacrifice everything to return to her station in life. And like the rat Roscuro in Kate DiCamillo's, "The Tale of Despereaux", Mitra craves light at all times. I liked that Fletcher covered her bases. Whenever a character in a book disguises herself as a boy, some inevitable questions come up. How does Mitra pee? What about her period? What happens when she gets that? And her breasts? What about those? Fletcher handles each question in a manner befitting of Tamora Pierce's, "Alanna".

Not that the book doesn't have any flaws, of course. There's a whole subplot involving Mitra's attraction to a boy named "Pacorus" that is supposed to help show how she's evolving into a young woman. Unfortunately it comes across as more of a distraction than anything else. About the time Mitra says, "And Pacorus. What did I want from him?", you, the reader, don't really care all that much. Besides, Pacorus seems like a nice enough fellow, but he's not fleshed out enough to care for. Ah well. Other readers I've discussed this book with have also found it a little slow moving. I, personally, felt the pace suited the style of the book, but I agree that I wouldn't hand, "Alphabet of Dreams" to a reluctant reader. As long as you can get through Mitra's constant yearning for Palmyra (which does get a little old after a while) you'll be okay.

Ms. Fletcher isn't the first children/teen author to tackle a Biblical story from an alternate point of view. Anne Provoost's, "In the Shadow of the Ark", for example, took on Noah's Ark, to say nothing of Madeline L'Engle's, "Many Waters", and the too little lauded "The Garden" by Elsie V. Aidinoff. These were all based on Old Testament stories, however, and think as I might, I couldn't come up with a single children/teen title that used The Nativity as its focus. Plus one of the nice things about this book is that it doesn't foist any particular religion on the reader. Yes, it's about The Nativity. But for those who see divinity in the story, that element is there for them. For those who just want a good story without a overt Christian theme, that's there too. This book has something for everyone. It balances out its storyline with its subject matter delicately. Hats off to Ms. Fletcher for her restraint. If there's a theme to this book, it concerns itself with a newfangled concept: Do good things and regardless of your station in life you can still attain heaven.

Fletcher, for that matter, has done her research. The "Note From the Author" at the back of the book details how Fletcher went about researching her tale, to say nothing of why she chose to include some elements and not others. It's here that readers will learn how much of this book is based on historical fact, how much on the Nativity tale alone, how much on the Book of Matthew, etc. Did you know that there was a conjunction of two planets, Jupiter and Saturn, that could easily have been the "star" referred to? Or that the Magi fit beautifully as Zoroastrians? Then she intricately plucks out the geography of the region, citing the locations as they were known in the past and as they are known now. The Works Cited page is beautifully displayed, and it's clear from her Acknowledgments that Ms. Fletcher was not afraid of legwork. It's all very impressive.

In a way, this is a Christmas story of an entirely new sort. One that goes to the actual event itself and shows the world at that time and how dangerous it was. There's magic here and fighting. Escapes and death. Miracles and treachery. All in all, an exciting take on an old tale, and one that's never been done before. Consider me a fan.

Average customer rating:

A wonderful book for children!

Princess Penelope Takes Charge
Todd Mack
Manufacturer: Scholastic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

New Sibling | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Princess Penelope
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When You Are Happy
The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be

ASIN: 0439673801

Book Description

"Penelope was a princess. She had absolutely everything...." Well, almost. More than anything, she wants to be a big sister. So when her parents announce they are having a baby, she is overjoyed... until she meets her new sibling and discovers a few royal surprises. Rhythmic text and fanciful art make this perfect for storytime. Kids will love comparing Penelope's real world with her royal one, playfully shown in pink bubbles. Here's a heartfelt, honest, and humorous look at the frustrations and joys of becoming a big sister.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful book for children!.......2006-04-04

Every little girl is a princess. And every princess who becomes a big sister will be required to share the throne with the new arrival. And that can be difficult.

Penelope is a happy princess who has almost everything. What she doesn't have and what she wants most is to be a big sister.

When Penelope is told that her mommy is going to have a baby, she is thrilled. But when the baby arrives there are many surprises for Penelope. She's not so sure that being a big sister is a good thing. Perhaps time will change her mind.

Princess Penelope Takes Charge is a wonderful book to help children adjust to and embrace the arrival of a new child in the family. The illustrations are quirky, fun and capture the essence of the story.

Armchair Interviews says: Princess Penelope Takes Charge is a must-have addition to any child's library as they await the new arrival. This book is for ages 3-5.

Average customer rating:

Good Summer Book
Light Hearted Adventure
Fun read!
This book is really good. a real fantasy adventure book.
Pretty good but I found it frustrating

The Two Princesses of Bamarre
Gail Carson Levine
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Royalty | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Ella Enchanted (Trophy Newbery)
The Wish (rack)
Fairest
The Princess Tales, Volume I (Princess Tales)
The Princess Tales, Volume 2 (Princess Tales)

ASIN: 0060293152
Release Date: 2001-03-20

Amazon.com

After stealing the hearts of middle-grade girls with her delightful Newbery Honor-winning Cinderella retelling, Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine here creates a fairy tale of her own and gives it a characteristic grrrl-power twist. Twelve-year-old Addie admires her older sister Meryl, who aspires to rid the kingdom of Bamarre of gryphons, specters, and ogres. Addie, on the other hand, is fearful even of spiders and depends on Meryl for courage and protection. Waving her sword Bloodbiter, the older girl declaims in the garden from the heroic epic of Drualt to a thrilled audience of Addie, their governess, and the young sorcerer Rhys. But when Meryl falls ill with the dreaded Gray Death, Addie must gather her courage and set off alone on a quest to find the cure and save her beloved sister. Addie takes the seven-league boots and magic spyglass left to her by her mother and the enchanted tablecloth and cloak given to her by Rhys--along with a shy declaration of his love. She prevails in encounters with tricky specters (spiders too) and outwits a wickedly personable dragon in adventures touched with romance and a bittersweet ending. Young fans of princess stories will gobble this one up. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

A kingdom beset by monsters . . .
A disease that weakens and destroys . . .
An epic poem and a hero of long ago . . .
A story of danger and desperation.

The Two Princesses of Bamarre couldn't be more different. Princess Addie is fearful and shy. Her deepest wish is for safety. Princess Meryl is bold and brave. Her deepest wish is to save the kingdom of Bamarre. They are sisters, and they mean the world to each other.

Then disaster strikes, and Addie -- terrified and unprepared -- sets out on a perilous quest. In her path are monsters of Bamarre: ogres, specters, gryphons, and dragons. Addie must battle them, but time is running out, and the sister's lives -- and Barmarre's fate -- hang in the balance.

Gail Carson Levine left her mark on fantasy with her well-loved 1998 Newbery Honor book Ella Enchanted. Now she has created another shimmering and tapestried landscape of fantasy and fairies. Bamarre and the journeys of its two princesses will burn themselves into the minds of readers, and all will relish this moving saga about two sisters groping their way toward heroism.

Customer Reviews:

Good Summer Book.......2007-06-14

This is what I have come to call a rennaissace chick flick of a book. The story was a bit bland but still fun. A book about sisters who are so polar in the character and talents yet are so closely tied. I hope everyone reads this book, even tough ella enchanted is so so good too. You cannot just skip over this one. It is a fun, and quick read.

Light Hearted Adventure.......2007-05-15

I have to be honest, the only reason I picked up this book in the first place was the girl on the cover resembled Ginny Weasley from the Harry Potter movies. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. Sure, I had a hard time getting into the story at first, the writing was choppy and I had a hard time distinguishing between the characters at times, but once I was able to get past its few shortcomings it was a fairly pleasant experience. It was a quick read (only 240 pages) and a cute story, perfect for any child (or child at heart) who loves fantasy novels or light hearted adventure stories.

Princess Meryl is an adventurous young girl who does nothing except practice her swordsmanship and dream about charging into battle against the many monsters the plague Bamarre. While her sister Princess Addie is just the opposite, she is timid, shy, and scared of her own shadow. One day however Meryl is taken ill with the 'Gray Death' (a terrible diseases which always ends in death. no cure has ever been found). Addie, although still very scared, sets out on a journey to find the cure. On her quest she encounters Ogres, Gryphons, Specters, Dragons, and Fairies. Overcoming the odds she hopes for a fairy tale ending.

I'm going to list and describe Addies magical items that she takes with her because I feel like they are an important part of the story and/or might give you a little more incentive to pick up the book.

Shadow's Cloak: Not a true invisibility cloak, but as long as the user stays in the shadows he or she will be unseen by most creatures (does not work on Specters or Dragons).

The Tablecloth: At the users command it sets a table and provides an endless amount of food.

Blood-Biter: Meryl's sword, given to Addie.

Moily Herb: An elf remedy that gives you strength to go on, also can heal burns.

Seven-League Boots: When wearing these boots a single step will carry you thousands of miles.

Spyglass: Allows the user to see thousands of miles in any direction. Addie uses this to keep an eye on Meryl's condition and to plan her steps with the League Boots.

This book is a great quick read for anyone looking for a light hearted adventure novel. Perfect for rainy days or summer readings.

Fun read!.......2007-05-12

This book was perfect for when I was sick and stuck in bed all day. Levine does her magic again with creating a different world, adventurous and strong female characters, and an adorable romance. No really, romantic interest was dreamy! However, the writing of this book is just not as strong as that of Ella Enchanted - some of it seems too slow or too unrealistic (if that's even possible in the fantasy world) at times. And maybe it's just because I'm older now, but it was often too easy to guess where the story was going. I would suggest this book as an easy, entertaining, and sweet read. Just tell your inner critic to shush until after you finish.

This book is really good. a real fantasy adventure book........2007-05-06

I read this I would say about five years ago. I thought it was really good. I loved the romance, the adventure, and the wonderful ending. It's very much of a girly fairy tale book, but still enjoyable. I loved when Addie and Rye fell
in love.

you should definitely read
this book and her other book
Ella Enchanted.
thank you for your time,
Loran

Pretty good but I found it frustrating.......2007-04-29

It drove me crazy that time was ticking away and it seemed impossible that Addie could save her sister. But maybe I am just too impatient. I couldn't read all of the section about being kept prisoner by the dragon because I have claustrophobia.

Also, I didn't like the ending but objectively, it was a fitting one.

Two Princesses (Step-Into-Reading, Step 2)

Average customer rating:

Independent reading for Grade 1.

Two Princesses (Step-Into-Reading, Step 2)
Bill Gordh
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0307262065
Release Date: 2000-03-09

Book Description

Mile 2 books offer word play and pattern stories to keep beginners hooked, and 2-3 lines of text per page to keep them challenged., , During a thunderstorm, Barbie tells her frightened sisters, Kelly and Stacie, a story through ideas she gets by looking at different objects in her room. Through this story, Barbie takes her sisters away on a magical adventure that is sure to please any Barbie fan. , ,

Customer Reviews:

Independent reading for Grade 1........2003-01-27

Must have for Barbie fans! Read aloud for 4-5 yr old. Independent reading for 6 yr old. Too easy for 7 or 8 yr old.

The Usborne Book of Princess Stories (First Stories)

Average customer rating:

The Usborne Book of Princess Stories (First Stories)
Heather Amery
Manufacturer: Usborne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0794508987

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