Who says princesses don't wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black!
Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when . . . Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping monsters is no job for dainty Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess Magnolia has a secret -- she's also the Princess in Black, and stopping monsters is the perfect job for her! Can the princess sneak away, transform into her alter ego, and defeat the monster before the nosy duchess discovers her secret? From award-winning writing team of Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham, here is the first in a humorous and action-packed chapter book series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black.
About the Author
Shannon and Dean Hale are the husband-and-wife writing team behind the graphic novels Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack, both illustrated by Nathan Hale. Shannon Hale is also the author of the Newbery Honor-winning Princess Academy as well as The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and other novels.
About the Illustrator
LeUyen Pham is the illustrator of many books for children, including God's Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams and Aunt Mary's Rose by Douglas Wood, as well as the Freckleface Strawberry books by Julianne Moore.
Industry Reviews
Pham's illustrations are cheerful and full of action, making each page a gem, while the story races along, diving in and out of fine cut-outs of cavorting cartoony characters [...] An enjoyable read for everyone who wants to wear the crown and save the day. -- Caroline Norris Inis A delightfully fresh and funny mash-up of the princess and superhero genres. The Bookseller Children's Buyer's Guide This is a charming little book for your charming little person. The artwork is brilliantly eye-catching, and evokes more in the way of character than you'd at first expect from such a cartoonishly coloured piece. -- John Lloyd The Book Bag A wonderfully stereotype-defying tale, it is great fun to see Magnolia go from cliche pink and fluffy princess to black-clad heroine [...] The cartoony illustrations are dotted throughout and help create a really sense of action in the story. The Princess in Black makes a great read-aloud but with short sentences and chapters which allow newly independent readers to take it at their own pace, this is first and foremost a really super first chapter book. Library Mice Written as a graphic novel for younger readers by husband and wife team Dean and Shannon Hale, this finally puts paid to the myth that all little girls like pink and want to play with Barbies. Finally, a young female superhero for the modern era - monsters beware! Dad.info The Princess in Black is a charming, warm and funny read, aimed at children who are starting to become more confident with reading. [...] This is a beautiful gem of a book. School Library Association A feisty female lead is always a winner and this is sure to be a popular series with young readers. Carousel