The Princess and the Grain of Rice by Tina Cho illustrated by Honee Jang

 Jeongsoon dreams of becoming a princess so she can offer food to the hungry children in her village. When she is invited to compete in the Princess Challenge, she dashes off to the palace. The girls must participate in three challenges-Manners Test, Wisdom Test, & the Sleep Test. Although Jeongsoon is nervous and fumbles through some portions of the test, she passes all of them and becomes the next princess of Korea.

The author based the princess on an actual Korean princess and incorporated Korean Joseon culture.

I loved the vivid illustrations and how the reader will be exposed to Korean culture and history. The story was a bit simplistic (but very sweet).

-Borrowed from the library.

The Singing Ringing Tree retold by Selina Hastings illustrated by Louise Brierley

 A Princess, spoiled by her doting father, thinks only of herself and demands that her every desire be fulfilled. Men look at her and fall immediately in love with her. She views no one worthy of herself, of course! One day a Prince proposes to her and lays a casket of pearls at her feet. She overturns the casket, causing pearls to spill all over the floor. The only way she will marry this Prince is if he brings her the Singing Ringing Tree. He travels many miles and discovers the tree. An ugly Dwarf guards the tree. He allows the Prince to take the tree. But if the Princess refuses to marry him, they must return to him under his power and in whatever form he selects. The Princess refuses. . . .

I did not enjoy the style of  the illustrations. 

This legend has its roots in Germany & Slavic folk and fairy tales.

-Borrowed via ILL.

Many Moons by James Thurber illustrated by Louis Slobodkin*

 The Caldecott Medal-1944

The King's daughter, Lenore, becomes ill. She claims if the King brings her the moon, she will become better. Summoning his wise men, he demands they capture the moon. Each one denies the possibility. The least likely individuals accomplish the mission. Humor and wit abound.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library. (My local used bookstore has a few copies of this book. I intend to buy it. I love clever books!)

Holly Claus The Christmas Princess by Brittney Ryan illustrated by Laurel Long with Jeffrey K. Bedrick

 This picture book is based on Brittney Ryan's chapter book called The Legend of Holly Claus

When a young boy asks Santa Claus what he wants for Christmas, King Nicholas of Fovever was moved to tears. He wishes for a child. Soon he holds his daughter Holly. Unfortuantely an evil warlock, Herrikhan, hears of the child's birth and realizes she is the answer to his curse.

   I was not overly impressed with this story.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald*

 I read aloud this classic to my eleven-year old.  After hearing a well-known pastor use portions of this book in analogy for his sermon, my curiosity was piqued, and I bought the book.

The Princess has discovered hallways and doorways she did not know had existed.  In one room she encounters her many-greats grandmother, who seems to know everything!  No one, however, believes her stories about the beautiful elderly lady.  

Curdie, a miner's son, realizes that the goblins are planning to dig a tunnel into the Princess's house and steal the Princess as a bride for Harelip, the goblin king's son.  With patience and courage, Curdie manages to thwart their scheme and finds a friend in the process.

First published in 1872, it has never been out of print!

*Highly recommend.  

-I own this book.

Points to discuss/to consider- (for sensitive readers)- nasty goblins and battle violence 

The Frog Prince adapted from the retelling by the Brothers Grimm by Paul Galdone

I like Mr. Galdone's illustrations.  He has retold many of the Brothers Grimm tales and other folktales.
A princess loses her precious gold ball in a deep well where a frog inhabits.  He agrees to fetch it for her if she promises to allow him to be her companion.  The princess hastily agrees but once she has the ball, she leaves, not fulfilling her promise.  The frog follows her into the palace where her father enforces her to keep her promise. 
She is quite disgusted with her companion but finds a pleasant surprise at the end.
In this version, she does not kiss the frog.
-Borrowed from the library.

Frankly, I Never Wanted to Kiss Anybody! The Story of the Frog Prince as Told by the Frog by Nancy Loewen illustrated by Denis Alonso

Prince Puckett shares the story how he is turned into a frog during a baseball game and is freed from the curse by a princess who has a pretty great baseball arm.
Strategy: mentor text -point of view/perspective
-Borrowed from the library.

The Knight, the Princess and the Magic Rock by Sara Azizi illustrated by Alireza Sadeghian

A Classic Persian Tale
Both author and illustrator are both native of Iran.
This story is based on a thousand year old Classical Persian tale.
The Persian king sends one of his knights on a journey to help farmers chase off wild boars which are destroying their farms.  On his way home, Bijan, the knight, falls in love with a princess from an enemy kingdom.  Manijeh, the princess, brings Bijan home to enemy territory and her father is furious.  In his wrath, he throws Bijan in a pit covered with a magic rock.
A lot of different problems arise as the story progresses.
My eight year old and I read this together while we studied Ancient Persia. 
The illustrations are bold and lavish.

Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz illustrated Brian Floca

Being a princess is wearisome.  Cora would love to spend a day without being trained in something or being bathed.  In frustration, Cora writes to her fairy godmother, asking for help.  Her fairy godmother sends her a crocodile.  Cora then experiences a wonderful day full of climbing trees, picking strawberries and playing in the woods.
Will her parents and nanny learn their lesson from the crocodile and permit Cora to live a less structured life?
Delightful (love the illustrations!)!
A chapter book that is perfect for reluctant readers or readers who are building stamina.
Strategies: monitoring (double plot line), check for understanding
-Borrowed from the library.

King Stork by Howard Pyle illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

A drummer, walking home from the wars, puts aside his weariness to carry an elderly gentleman across the river.  Once across, the withered elderly man transforms into a tall, handsome man who is really the king of storks.  To reward him, the king gives the drummer a bone whistle and feather which have magical properties.
The drummer continues his trek into a town where he reads a proclamation-"If any man can outwit the clever princess, he could have her as a wife plus half the kingdom.  If he, however, fails at any task, he will be beheaded".  The drummer decides to accept the challenge and is forever grateful for the magical whistle and feather.
I was excited to read this story aloud to my boys but will have to refrain from doing so!!
The illustrations are beautiful but Ms. Hyman has adorned the princess with a gown that exposes her chest and even nipples through the cloth.  The drummer also beats the princess at the end with a switch.
Warning: scantily clad princess (chest), the drummer beats the evil out of the princess (when he is beating her she turns into a cat, wolf and then snake), heads of men who failed at outwitting the princess are displayed in an illustration .
-Borrowed from the library.

The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde #3 by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale illustrated by LeUyen Pham*

On their way to eat breakfast with Princess Sneezewort, Princess Magnolia's monster ring goes off.  Frimplepants, her pony, is quite disgusted with the interruptions as he had skipped breakfast in anticipation of the delicious spread with Princess Sneezewort.
Then Princess Magnolia and Frimplepants undergo transformation and are The Princess in Black and Blacky, her faithful pony.  When they arrive on the scene of the monster invasion, The Princess in Black is surprised to view cute, innocent bunnies munching the goats' grass.  Blacky and the goat boy, however, see the bunnies for who they are.  Who will be able to convince The Princess in Black, otherwise?
I like the twist in this one, #3.    The second one was too similar to the first one.   I, however, like this one as much as the first one!
*Highly recommend (for transitional readers).
*Borrowed from the library.

Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell*

*Award winning book-

Schneider Family Book Award,

My third grade son read this book to himself.  This is his review.
"Tilda, a princess, wants to run away because she is crippled.  Everyone thinks that she is cursed.  Only her best friend, Parz, and her hand maiden, Judith,  like her.  Together they leave to slay a dragon but during their journey their view of dragons changes as they encounter an evil sorcerer.   If you want to find out more about it, read it!"
His favorite part was at the end because it was very exciting.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party #2 by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale illustrated by LeUyen Pham*

Princess Magnolia seems like the perfect princess: prim, proper, and likes pink.  For her birthday she invites her twelve princess friends to celebrate.  Whenever she begins to enjoy the festivities, however, her glitter-stone ring rings, sounding the monster alarm.  Then she transforms into the Princess in Black!  Off she rides on Blacky, her trusty steed,  to fight off monsters who threaten the kingdom's goat population.

I love this series for transitional, reluctant girl readers.  The chapters are short and exciting.  Lots of illustrations fill almost every page.
*Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend series for reluctant reader girls who like princesses but who are also a bit adventurous!

From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot

Because her mother passed away, Olivia has lived with her aunt, uncle and two cousins.  Olivia's father is some famous person who gives a generous check to her relatives on a regular basis.  Olivia, however, never benefits from the checks.  Her mother's wishes were that she would grow up like a regular person, not a spoiled girl.  Her relatives take those wishes to the extreme!
Then one day when she is anticipating being beaten by a popular girl, she is whisked away in a limo and discovers a part of her family she never knew existed!
Points to discuss: bullies, dishonest relatives who are not very kind, physical fights

The Princess in Black #1 By Shannon Hale and Dean Hale illustrated by LeUyen Pham*

A new series for beginning/transitional readers.  So excited about this one!!
Princess Magnolia appears to be your typical princess-dresses in pink, wears glass slippers, afraid of snails, and sneezes in the sunlight.  But she has a secret!  Duchess Wigtower comes for a visit and is determined to discover her secret.
*Highly recommend.
I read this book in one sitting to my two boys and they enjoyed it (even though my oldest is repulsed by anything princess!!).
Besides the Duchess and the Princess, other fun characters make this book engaging--monsters!!, an unicorn (or is he really an unicorn?!) and a goat boy (who is totally boy-he is a goat herder).
Colorful illustrations are on almost every page.
Perfect for building stamina.
Strategy: check for understanding (each chapter goes back and forth between different characters' points of view).

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas by Tony Wilson illustrated by Sue deGennaro*

After observing his brother's wife, Eva-a true princess, Henrik decides he does not want  a real princess for a wife.  Is his true love right in front of his nose?!
A fun twist on the Princess and the Pea.
*Highly recommend.

The Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop*

"A Story of God's Gift of Purity"
A king and queen save God's gift of their daughter's first kiss until she was grown.  Suitors come and she must discern who is God's choice for her marry and share her first kiss.
A great book to share with young girls.
*Highly recommend.

Traveling Tom and the Leprechaun by Teresa Bateman illustrated by Melisande Potter

All the unmarried men try to win Princess Kathleen's hand in marriage but are unsuccessful.  She sets up a challenge: capture a leprechaun's pot of gold and she would marry the man.
Tom, a traveling minstrel, accepts the challenge and wins.  But in the end he is not quite sure if he is the victorious one as he watches the leprechaun embrace the freedom he once had!!

Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming illustrated by G. Brian Karas*

Jack is invited to the princess' tenth birthday party.  The problem is he and his mother only own a quilt, a spinning wheel, and an ax.  "Clever" Jack figures out a way to make and bake the princess an incredible cake.  On the way to the palace his cleverness is tested many times. The ultimate test occurs when he comes to the princess without a gift!
My boys and I loved reading this story!
Strategies: introducing character traits, predicting
*Highly recommend.
Check out Muncha! Muncha!  Muncha! by this team (their is a sequel to this one but I forget the title at the moment).

Clever Lollipop by Dick King-Smith illustrated by Jill Barton

A delightful sequel to Lady Lollipop!
In this book Lady Lollipop becomes sick by eating a harmful plant.  The Conjurer is called and he heals Lady Lollipop and solves the King's problem of finding a tutor for Penelope and Johnny.  Lady Lollipop is rewarded for her efforts at the end!
A very fun read!
Points to discuss: Some half-truths and a white lie