Princess Grace (Hardcover)

by Mary Hoffman (Author), Cornelius Van Wright (Illustrator), Ying-Hwa Hu (Illustrator) "Grace had wanted to be a princess for as long as she could remember..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
After several chapter books, Hoffman returns to the original picture-book format for the series that started with Amazing Grace (1991). Grace’s teacher announces that two girls will ride on the school’s float as princesses. Initially excited about wearing a fairy-tale costume, Grace realizes that world folklore and history offer more varied and dynamic interpretations of the princess theme. On parade day, Grace and her classmates dress as royalty from different cultures; Grace wears West African Kente robes. Studded with questions worth discussing, the story rolls along smoothly, illustrated with bright paintings that picture events and Grace’s thoughts. Information about Cinderella variants, historical princesses, and Kente cloth appended. Grades K-3. --Carolyn Phelan

Product Description
This year two girls will be selected as princesses in the town parade, and Grace can’t wait to be one of them. It’s the perfect opportunity to dress up—but how, exactly, should a princess costume look? Grace asks her teacher for help, and soon the whole class is learning that there’s more to princesses than pink dresses and frills. From Kenya to China and from warriors to spies, princesses are a multicultural and multitalented bunch, and there are just as many kinds of happily ever afters—both for the royals and for Grace’s community and its princess parade.

Mary Hoffman’s picture books featuring this intrepid heroine have earned major critical acclaim; amongst other awards, Amazing Grace was a i>Reading Rainbow selection and a Booklist Editors’ Choice. Grace’s latest adventure is sure to delight her established fans—and win the hearts of many more!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial (January 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803732600
• ISBN-13: 978-0803732605
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #508,317 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely pictures, great follow-up to Amazing Grace, March 21, 2008

By	Jessica Jolie (Sunny California) - See all my reviews

Grace learns from her teacher that there is more to being a princess than pretty, pink dresses. The book covers princesses (both real and fictional) from Africa to Asia open Graces eyes to various things a princess might do (like being a spy!). There is a neat little historical page at the about princesses throughout history. The kids enjoyed this read and asked to hear it again. But then they love princesses and they fell in love with Grace in the story Amazing Grace.

4.0 out of 5 stars An uplifting and eyeopening antidote to the princess stereotype, March 12, 2009

By	Samana Siddiqui (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Princesses in our culture are generally associated with vanity, superficiality and weakness. Princess Grace is an antidote to this one-sided and limiting view. Add to that the fact that this book's main character is an African-American girl named Grace and you've got a compelling story about how there is no one-size-fits-all princess. While some have and do enjoy lives of ease and luxury, others have led armies, been warriors and spies. After learning about these remarkable women with the help of her wise teacher, Grace decides to dress up as an African princess, like Princess Amina of Nigeria, for an upcoming school pageant.

Princess Grace offers a woman-empowering and multicultural view of a traditionally weak female stereotype. It is an ideal read and gift for any little girl in your life who is currently going through the inevitable "princess mode" of girlhood.