Princess Smartypants and the Missing Princes

By Author / Illustrator

Babette Cole

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Hachette Children's Group

ISBN

9781444929782

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

08-09-2016

Synopsis

Princess Smartypants rules her kingdom of Totaloonia on her own - she certainly doesn't need the help of a silly Prince of a husband. However, she is always willing to help her friends, and agrees to host the engagement party of three would-be princesses.

But the trouble starts when the princes fail to turn up to the party - they've gone missing.

Princess Smartypants is determined to uncover the plot and rescue the princes. With the help of Eric, her friendly giant handyman, she sets off on a wacky adventure to track the princes' last moves.

Can Princess Smartypants solve the case of the missing princes and get them to the chuch on time before her next case waits?

Hold on to your tiaras; there's a rescue mission to solve and a riotous wedding to plan!

Reviews

Princess Smartypants, of picture book fame, stars in her first adventure for older readers. As before, she is resolutely single and uninterested in marriage, but is tasked with organising a joint engagement party for Snow White, Cinderella and Rapunzel. Everyone is invited - except the wicked witch, Araminta Allspell. She, true to the spirit of fairytales, determines to ruin things and kidnaps the princes. Mayhem results and it takes all Princess Smartypants' ingenuity to rescue the situation. The book makes reference to many characters familiar from traditional tales, such as trolls and giants. For children beginning to read independently, this is an exciting adventure and the fact that they may already know the main character from picture books may encourage them to choose this. However, I think some of the humour may go over their heads and they will need to be familiar with the traditional fairy tales to get the most from this story.

Suggested Reading Age 7+

I remember reading Princess Smartypants growing up and finding it hysterical, and this new addition to the Princess Smartypants collection definitely did not disappoint. Set in Totaloonia, Princess Smartypants needs to find the missing Princes of her dear friends Snow White, Cinderella and Rapunzel before their engagement party. With the help of her trusty best friend Eric the Annihilator - a giant - she goes on her mission to outwit the very naughty Araminta Allspell who has tricked the Princes and got them lost! It is down to Princess Smartypants to find the Princes and make sure all her friends are engaged - no pressure! The story would be great for children 7+ to read independently as well as being read to. It is packed full of humour and wit and was a real joy to read. This would be great for mixed-up fairy tales and comparing the stories of the traditional tales in the classroom. After 30 years Princess Smartypants is back in a big way! 130 pages / Ages 7+ ages / Reviewed by Lauren Maidman, teacher.