Princess Hyacinth (The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated) by Florence Parry Heide

“Princess Hyacinth had a problem.”

This first line in Florence Parry Heide’s tale about a princess with an unusual problem sets the stage for Princess Hyacinth’s witty adventure. In Princess Hyacinth (the Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated), poor Princess Hyacinth is stuck inside the palace everyday. She cannot run outside, go swimming, or play with other children. If Princess Hyacinth was to go outside she would simply float away. Her parents try everything to keep her grounded, even placing a heavy bejeweled crown upon her head and sewing jewels to her socks. She even has to wear a seatbelt with her swimsuit! Everyday, Princess Hyacinth dreams of running outside and playing with her kite-flying friend named Boy. Until one day, Princess Hyacinth decides that she is tired of being weighed down and wants to fly high like a balloon. What happens next is quite comical and cute.


Florence Parry Heide (author of The Shrinking of Treehorn) creates a magical fairytale with a unique twist that will simply have children fascinated by the story. The oil and watercolor illustrations are fabulously done by Lane Smith (illustrator of James and the Giant Peach and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales), but it is the design and the placement of the text that will enthrall children (Molly Leach is credited with the design of the book). Since Princess Hyacinth has the unusual problem of floating, it makes perfect sense that the text float as well. This bright idea fits perfectly with the story and definitely adds a little something extra. This quirky picture book will soon become one of your family’s favorite stories!

~Miss Judith~

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Princess Benevolence of Montagne, aka "Ben," is spoiled and childish for her fifteen years. Still pampered by her parents, she reads only fairy stories, plays with dolls and makes mudpies. She has little to no self-control, is stubborn and wilfull, and is unable to focus on any task she is given. Then her world is destroyed. Her parents, her uncle and a royal guard went to visit her grandfather's tomb one morning. The bodies of her mother and uncle were brought back on carts. Her father and the guard were never found. Queen Sophia moves Ben, as the only surviving royal heir, into the castle and begins the long process of educating the unwilling girl in the ways of royalty. Lessons in deportment, dance, languages, dress, conversation, etiquette and more are suddenly filling Ben's life. She stubbornly refuses to learn. Meanwhile, Montagne's neighbor, Drachensbett, assumed the assassins of the royal family, are threatening war...or alliance through marriage. Their Prince Florian is about Ben's age. But the two take an instant dislike to each other. Drachensbett is determined to have the lands of Montagne one way or another.

Ben is not a likeable character in the beginning. She is interesting, however, and as the story progresses, so does her personality. There is lots of action and adventure and a bit of magic in this tale, and the writing style will sweep you into the midst of it all. With nods at traditional fairy tales, Murdock crafts a story unlike any other. Fans of strong female characters, the Princess Diaries, and Murdocks other books (Dairy Queen, The Off Season), will really enjoy this title.

The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott

I really enjoyed this poetic retelling of the Six Swans fairy tale. Alexandra, youngest child of the king, is an ugly little thing, but useful. She can use the enaid, the power of the land, to do little things like healing and talking to the beasts and creatures of the land. Her mother's ability to wield the enaid is greater and soaks through the kingdom, bringing lush growth and bountiful crops. Alexandra's three brothers, David, Hugh and Robin, posses little of the gift, but have their own strengths and are devoted to their sister. Though she does not have her father's love, Alexandra is content with her life. Her small world is uprooted when her mother is attacked by a terrifying beast and dies. Her father goes mad with grief, hunting daily for the creature that killed his wife. One day he brings home a prize. Not the beast, but a strange and beautiful woman who bewitches the king and his kingdom, banishes the princes and sends Alexandra to her Aunt's home in Midland. There Alexandra gathers strength and courage and begins to make plans and decisions of her own rather than float along obeying the rules set for her. When her dreams become urgent and prophetic, Alexandra decides she must free her kingdom from the evil creature that has bespelled it and save her people and her brothers, even if she dies in the process.

The Coyote Road edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling

I like to read books of short stories to find new authors and am often pleasantly surprised to find tales by those whose books I already enjoy. This collection of short stories written by well–known authors and less well-known authors alike is no exception.

Don’t be mislead by the title, though, because while there are many tales of Coyote inspired by the North American tales, (some which take awhile for the reader to recognize him!) the authors also use tricksters from other mythologies. “The Listeners” by Nina Kirki Hoffman is one such tale, focusing on Hermes the Greek trickster god. She gives us the usual Grecian background but the tale itself is something new.

The majority of the short stories only touch on the tradition myths, taking well known aspects of the tricksters and creating whole new characters and tales. I have my favorites, but I won’t spoil them for you here. Go read it and then we’ll talk!

This is the type of book you can dip into and put back and then dip into again or just read from cover to cover.

One word of warning – these tales, just like Ellen Datlow and terri Windlings other collections are more for teens and grown-ups than children. Make sure you read the tale first before starting a bed time story or you might get an awkward question or two!