Smile, Principessa!

July 23, 2007
This familiar tale focuses on the child whose place has been usurped by the arrival of a baby brother. The camera-happy parents document each child's first days of life, as indicated by Enderle and Gordon's (Hide and Seek Turkeys) repetitious text: "Papa took smiling pictures, crying pictures, eating pictures, sleeping pictures." Curmi's witty illustrations provide some of the story's most memorable moments, from infant Principessa hold the tail of a displeased cat, to the dazed expression of little Bino. When those snapshots of Principessa suddenly decrease in favor of the more endearing younger brother, young readers may empathize with her retreat into the safe haven of her closet. Her parents' best efforts can't cajole her from the depths of her closet-and her foul mood. Rather, it's the presence of her new brother, eager to imitate his big sister, that reminds Principessa she too is loved. While this is an oft-told lesson, Curmi's smudgy pastel palette and expressive pencil lines, which ably capture a spectrum of childhood emotions, lend genuine resonance. Ages 3-6.

July 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 3-Papa and Mama Razzi call their daughter Principessa, "our princess bambina, our Bina." Papa snaps her picture, many times, every day. Then, bambino Pasquale is born ("our Bino"), and Principessa is jealous. She calls her brother "Boo Boo Bino," "Peeyew Bino," and "Burpy Baby Binky Bino" until threatened with a time-out. Papa photographs the siblings every day but Principessa does not like any of the pictures because Bino is in all of them. She decides she will never smile for photographs again. When the newspaper announces a contest for the child with the most beautiful smile, Papa gets his camera and Principessa hides in her closet. She refuses to come out no matter how hard her parents coax her. Then, Bino begins imitating his sister's angry faces. Unable to resist his comic efforts, she emerges, tells Bino to "Make this face," and smiles her best, most beautiful smile. Featuring characters in snazzy attire, the acrylic and pencil illustrations are delightful. Mama wears oversize turquoise cat's-eye eyeglasses and Papa sports a huge mustache. Principessa is enchanting even when she is angry. The tension in her shoulders is palpable and accentuates her facial expression. An engaging take on a common family situation."Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 20, 2007
This familiar tale focuses on the child whose place has been usurped by the arrival of a baby brother. The camera-happy parents document each child's first days of life, as indicated by Enderle and Gordon's (Hide and Seek Turkeys) repetitious text: "Papa took smiling pictures, crying pictures, eating pictures, sleeping pictures." Curmi's witty illustrations provide some of the story's most memorable moments, from infant Principessa hold the tail of a displeased cat, to the dazed expression of little Bino. When those snapshots of Principessa suddenly decrease in favor of the more endearing younger brother, young readers may empathize with her retreat into the safe haven of her closet. Her parents' best efforts can't cajole her from the depths of her closet-and her foul mood. Rather, it's the presence of her new brother, eager to imitate his big sister, that reminds Principessa she too is loved. While this is an oft-told lesson, Curmi's smudgy pastel palette and expressive pencil lines, which ably capture a spectrum of childhood emotions, lend genuine resonance. Ages 3-6.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2007
Since Principessa was a baby, Papa has taken pictures of the girl, affectionately called Binaour princess bambinaevery day. But then baby brother, Pasquale, nicknamed Bino, arrives. Now no one calls Principessa Bina. Since Papas photo taking seems all about Bino, Principessa determines not to smile for pictures anymore. When Papa announces plans to enter a photo contest for the child with the most beautiful smile, Principessa sulks, imagining Bino becoming famous Baby Bino. But with coaxing and reassurance from Mama and Papa (and an unexpectedly irresistible, fun interaction with her brother), Principessa smiles again for the cameraand Bino. In animated, descriptive prose, this insightful read captures and conveys Principessas feelings with amusing, sympathetic, and ring-true flair that is echoed in illustrations filled with whimsical details. Especially for new sisters whove felt out of the picture, on and off camera, this is an entertaining, supportive read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)