The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage

March 21, 2011
There's no doubt in Geraldine's mind that she's a fairy princess: "I FEEL it insideâa sparkly feeling of just KNOWING in my heart." But in her second outing, she's cast as a jester in her ballet class's spring performance of The Crystal Princess; Geraldine's teacher gives the starring role to Tiffany, who gets to wear a "shimmery and sparkly" dress. Geraldine unhappily bumbles through the show, but when Tiffany has a mishap on stage, Geraldine gets her sparkle back by helping Tiffany save face. Davenier's expressive illustrations match Geraldine's energy and mood on every spread, fluidly conveying the heroine's loveable imperfections. Ages 3â6.

April 1, 2011

The mother-daughter team offers a follow-up to the popular The Very Fairy Princess (2010). This time, spunky Gerry believes she is a shoe-in for the starring role of the crystal fairy in her ballet studio's spring performance. To her chagrin, another dancer, Tiffany, is selected for the coveted role, and Gerry is cast as the Court Jester. Even though her costume is not to her liking, Gerry does her best, but she stumbles around on stage, tripping, stepping on toes and, worst of all, losing her sparkle. She gets it back when she saves the day by offering her very own tiara to Tiffany when hers is smashed on stage. It's a cute-enough story, but it is Davenier's ink-and–colored-pencil illustrations that really steal the show. They, more than the text, demonstrate Gerry's lovability, delightful awkwardness and indomitable spirit. In one memorable spread, Gerry's facial expressions change from exuberance to devastation to a steely smile as she trips her way across the stage while audience members chuckle behind their hands. Captivating artwork aside, the authors make this princess fare more palatable than most by emphasizing that Gerry's claim to princesshood is her sparkle, which turns out to be more about her self-confidence and self-expression than a frothy dress or gleaming tiara. (Picture book. 3-7)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)