Penny and Penelope

May 27, 2019
When two friends get together for a playdate, it seems on the surface that they couldn’t be more different: the host is clad in purple and pink; the other wears a dinosaur shirt and circumspectly eyes her friend’s frilly bedroom. Their respective dolls seem opposites, too: Princess Penelope wears a tiara and rides a doe-eyed pony, while Penny is a secret agent with a blunt bob, dark shades, and a sleek motorcycle. The story switches to the dolls’ perspectives, which move from tea party fare to live-action heroics in an enchanted kingdom; when a werewolf invades, they work together to fight the interloper. Almon’s plucky watercolors nail Penny’s no-holds-barred attitude and Penelope’s more whimsical nature. Readers will cheer when Penelope shows innovation and gusto, leaping onto Penny’s racing bike and facing down the werewolf. One of the greatest joys of play is trying on different roles, Richards suggests—and there’s a bit of Penny and Penelope in everyone. Ages 3–6.

Starred review from June 1, 2019
On their first play date, two girls have vastly different ideas about what their dolls can and should do. The hostess, a brown-skinned girl with puffy red hair whose "perfect" bedroom is princess themed, owns a Princess Penelope doll that wears an evening gown and "real glass slippers." The guest, an Asian girl wearing a dinosaur T-shirt, brought her Penny doll too--only hers wears a black motorcycle jacket, boots, and sunglasses. Readers will note that each doll resembles her owner. The dolls take over in the illustrations, with alternating black and purple text showing the girls' suggestions for play. Princess Penelope wants to host a tea party and ride ponies. But Penny "isn't a princess" and doesn't have a pony. She's a secret agent with a racing bike. Their ideas of fun clash, but when a werewolf appears in the kingdom, Penelope shows that she's not "just a princess." The two team up, using the Princess' resourcefulness and Penny's skills to save the day. The watercolor illustrations move from a pastel-dominated palette interrupted by Penny's black suit to a green countryside and back again, skillfully transforming characters, expressions, and settings. The theme of merging girly things with smarts and power is rightly popular right now; this action-packed romp through two girls' imaginations is a fun addition to the collection. Delightfully clever. (Picture book. 4-9)

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August 16, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-Two girls begin a playdate by introducing their own versions of their dolls to one another. One is a princess wearing a gown and glass slippers while the other is a leather-clad secret agent. While Princess Penelope wants to have tea and wave to loyal subjects, Penny the secret agent jumps into action, saving the loyal subjects from a crocodile, and taking Princess Penelope on an adventurous escape from a werewolf. This seemingly simple story is far deeper than young children playing make-believe. The story is told through a close-up of the interaction between the two dolls, teaching readers valuable lessons about individuals having unique skills and championing differences. The watercolor illustrations are light and playful, offering a softer setting for a whirlwind story. While there are no speech bubbles or direct text indicating who is speaking, which is a little confusing at first. The dolls' narration is printed in different colors and font to distinguish between the two. Further, the dolls develop distinct voices through the story, making it a little easier for readers. Princess Penelope creates a trap as she is resourceful, and Penny knows how to tie knots, breaking down perceptions and misconceptions of traditional gender roles. VERDICT The children and dolls in the story offer readers a plethora of positive messages and the story itself is fun and creative, making this a good choice for most collections.-Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia

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