Princess Furball (School & Library Binding)

~ (Author) "Once upon a time there was a beautiful young Princess whose hair was the color of pure gold..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Huck deftly retells a variant of the Cinderella story in her first book for children. A golden-haired princess, distressed when her father betroths her to an ogre, runs away, disguising herself in a coat made of a thousand furs. Princess Furball works as a "servant to the servants" in the house of a young king until, like Perrault's Cinderella, she dazzles the court at the king's ball. The complex unraveling of her mysterious identity involves three walnuts, three gold treasures, three ball gowns--and the seasonings for a delectable soup with which the princess fools the king. Huck's princess is not only beautiful but clever, and the solutions to her problems are of her own devising. Lobel's elegantly composed paintings, in vivid Renaissance colors, are as lovely as the princess herself. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-- In this variant of the Cinderella story, a motherless princess grows into an accomplished and capable young woman. It's a good thing, too, for her heartless father intends to marry her to an ogre in exchange for 50 wagonloads of silver. The princess, thinking her demands will be impossible to meet, requests four bridal gifts--a dress as golden as the sun, one as silvery as the moon, a third as glittering as the stars, and a coat made from the skins of 1000 animals. When her father meets her demands, the princess dons her coat of a thousand furs, packs her three dresses into a walnut shell, and runs away, taking along a special soup seasoning and three small treasures that had belonged to her mother. Disguised by her strange coat, Furball, as she is now called, finds work as a drudge in a neighboring king's kitchen. When the king gives a ball, she dresses herself in the gown of gold and attends. The princess attends a second ball, and a third, leaving each one abruptly and dropping golden tokens in the prince's soup after each appearance. At the last ball, the prince slips the golden ring on her finger before she disappears, and when the ragged Furball is brought before him, can identify her as his mysterious guest and future wife. Huck's telling is smooth and graceful, with a slightly rustic informality perfectly echoed by Lobel's flat, primitive style. With a palette that ranges from warm brown to radiant white, the illustrations complement the storyline visually, placing it in an undefined middle-European setting. Author and illustrator have created a strong female character: particularly endearing in her coat of fur, she is resourceful and charming throughout. The princess' reliance on her own abilities and the absence of obvious magical help make this a fresh and satisfying addition to library collections of all sizes. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• School & Library Binding: 40 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078572639X
• ISBN-13: 978-0785726395
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #935,808 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A feisty and clever Cinderella, August 5, 2001

By	"bluemamma" (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Princess Furball (Paperback)

There are more than five hundred variations on the Cinderella story. This one has the most interesting "Cinderella" character that I know of. There's no fairy godmother, although there is an old nurse who teaches her all she needs to know "to be strong and capable and clever, besides being beautiful." Using her wits and skills, she escapes an arranged marriage to an ogre, and wins the love of a handsome prince. I think it's a much better message for little girls than some of the baggage that comes from the French version of Cinderella that most of us grew up on. And Anita Lobel's illustrations are unusual and charming.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Cinderella Story, March 8, 2001

By	SabrinaKC - See all my reviews

This review is from: Princess Furball (Paperback)

This book is a variant of the story of Cinderella. In this book, the heroine doesn't rely on a fairy godmother to help her, she plans ahead and helps herself. This has been a favorite for my daughters and myself for years!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great Cinderella story!, September 17, 2000

By	Lynn Livingston (Randolph, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Princess Furball (Paperback)

Princess Furball is a wonderful Cinderella story that is beautifully written. The illustrations delight children. I use this book when I teach a Fairy Tale unit to my 3rd graders. They enjoy comparing this book to other Cinderella tales. Princess Furball is always a class favorite.