Princess K.I.M. and the Lie That Grew

June 1, 2009
PreS-Gr 2-On her first day at a new school, Kim wants to distinguish herself from a classmate with the same name, so she tells a "teeny, tiny, bitty lie," saying that Kim is actually an acronym for Katherine Isabella Marguerite. After her teacher calls it a name befitting royalty, the rumor spreads that Kim is a princess and she goes along with the charade. Everyone is hypnotized except Jason, who doesn't believe Kim's story. Then, Kim is put in a difficult situation when her grandmother, the supposed queen, comes to town. In the end, a wonderful lesson is learned and a new friendship is formed. The brightly colored artwork brings the story to life. Several scenes show Kim's classmates giving her the royal treatment by covering puddles, carrying things for her, and getting her autograph. Varying layouts effectively convey the action: larger paintings depict the entire class, while smaller ones capture private moments. A row of faces presented in a diagonal stripe across a spread neatly shows a lie being passed from person to person. Fans of Jane O'Connor's "Fancy Nancy" (HarperCollins) are sure to enjoy this tale."Lori A. Guenthner, Baltimore County Public Library, Randallstown, MD"

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