This article originally appeared in Child.

Princess Penelope

Todd Mack and Julia Gran
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439224365 $15.95, 32 pages, www.scholastic.com

What's an ordinary girl to do when she's absolutely certain she's really a princess? Why act like one, that's what. After all, the star of the candy-colored new picture book by Todd Mack and Julia Gran is pretty-in-pink Penelope who has read lots of fairy tales, so naturally she's an expert on the subject. Penelope dresses like a princess, eats like a picky princess, travels in a chariot like a princess (though it may look like a stroller to us commoners), sits on a throne (yep, the royal potty), and, well, acts like a spoiled princess. When it comes to making royal commands and demands, however, Princess Penelope finally learns that she doesn't rule her kingdom after all. Budding young pre-school princesses everywhere will enjoy the twisted logic of Penelope's claim, and will be inspired to borrow elements of her argument to their own advantage. The humorous lesson for adult readers, however, is the other side of the coin: beware pampering your own little princesses.