This article originally appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune.

Stone Soup, Magic Gourds, Plum Poetry for Young Readers

BY CATHERINE REESE NEWTON
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

A modern-day princess in the proud tradition of Kay Thompson's Eloise is introduced in Princess Penelope by Todd Mack, illustrated by Julia Gran (Scholastic; $15.95). Why is spunky Penelope so certain she is a princess? For one thing, she has her very own bed in her very own room, while her parents must share. Princesses and their parents will giggle at Gran's funky drawings, which are as whimsical as they are pink.