The Princess Tales, Volume 2 (Paperback)

by Gail Carson Levine (Author), Mark Elliott (Illustrator) "Ellis was always lonely..." (more)
Key Phrases: quest souvenirs, workshop cave, scullery wench, King Humphrey, King Harrumphrey, Biddle Castle (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In a land far, far away . . .

A boy with magical powers to win Princess Charming's heart. A fairy who likes turning humans into toads. A true love forbidden by the King.

A world of fairies and magic -- what could be more perfect than that? But is it perfect enough to help a simple farm boy marry a beautiful princess? And if an unruly fairy turns a maiden into a toad, how does she turn herself back? And can a fairy -- even a helpful one -- change a stubborn king's law?

Welcome to a land where Princess Charming saves the day, the prince must kiss the toads, and nothing is as it seems!

Now in one volume, three hilarious chances at happily-ever-after from the Newbery Honor author of Ella Enchanted:

Cinderellis and the Glass Hill
For Biddle's Sake
The Fairy's Return

About the Author
Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and has been writing all her life. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Dave At Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and her Princess Tales books: The Princess Test, The Fairy's Mistake, Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, Cinderellis and the Glass Hill, For Biddle's Sake and The Fairy's Return. She is also the author of the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash.

Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a two-hundred-year-old farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley.

In Her Own Words...

"I grew up in New York City. In elementary school I was a charter member of the Scribble Scrabble Club, and in high school my poems were published in an anthology of student poetry. I didn't want to be a writer. First I wanted to act and then I wanted to be a painter like my big sister. In college, I was a Philosophy major, and my prose style was very dry and dull! My interest in the theater led me to my first writing experience as an adult. My husband David wrote the music and lyrics and I wrote the book for a children's musical, Spacenapped that was produced by a neighborhood theater in Brooklyn.

"And my painting brought me to writing for children in earnest. I took a class in writing and illustrating children's books and found that I was much more interested in the writing than in the illustrating.

"Most of my job life has had to do with welfare, first helping people find work and then as an administrator. The earlier experience was more direct and satisfying, and I enjoy thinking that a bunch of people somewhere are doing better today than they might have done if not for me." #160;

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (February 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060560436
• ISBN-13: 978-0060560430
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #163,647 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light and Fun, March 18, 2008

By	akb--bookworm (Utah) - See all my reviews

I loved Ella Enchanted and Levine's style of writing. This book has a collection of three different short stories by Levine that are imaginative and fun. All are simple and the characters fall in love easily. Gender is switched up in these tales where the typical role of the male is played by the female.

Cinderellis and the Glass Hill--From the title, you'd think this is another story about Cinderella. It is in fact a story of a boy named Ellis who is nicknamed Cinderellis by his two older brothers. The king has devised a test to determine who is worthy to marry his daughter. All suitors must ride their horse up a glass hill and collect three golden apples from the princess.

For Biddle's Sake--The fairy Bombina has a nasty temper and a love of turning people into toads. But she quickly repents when she accidentally turns her beloved Parsely into a toad and must wait for love to save Parsely.

The Fairy's Return--The baker's son has fallen in love with the princess! He loves to tell jokes and has won her heart. But no one will listen to him, thinking him simple minded because only unintelligent people tell jokes. His goodness wins the help of the Fairy Ethelinda, but can he overcome prejudice and marry his beloved?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this Author, January 9, 2007

By	Terralee B. Parkinson "Terralee" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you have little girls, Gail Carson Levine is an author you should know. Her stories are imaginative and delightful. My daughters love them and so do I.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Fairy tales for girls, January 15, 2007

By	Mary Heimerman (CO Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lovely modern fairy tales with our daughters in mind. My 10 yr old has these tapes as well, and reads them over and over.