Princesses Are Not Perfect by Kate Lum and Sue Hellard

January 2010, Bloomsbury

32 pages, Paperback

Review Copy

Children's

Clouds: 5

Pencils: 5

Smiles: 5

Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Summary from Bloomsbury.

These aren’t the kind of princesses who sit around doing nothing – they’re very busy every day . . . gardening, baking and making things. But one day, one of the princesses wants a change from her job – she wants to bake. After all, she’s good at everything. But soon the princesses learn that specialisation is itself a skill and, actually, being a jack of all trades isn’t quite as good as being a master of one.A fresh and pretty picture book, featuring three high-spirited princesses and their trusty housekeeper, Mrs Blue

This appeared on my doorstep one week. I was already smiling before I opened the book - just look at the range of colours and fine detail of the three princesses. What may be hard to see from the picture is that each crown is different. They aren't your usual crowns. They depict an object related to each princess's hobby. Whatever the hobby of a princess, there was some indication of this on her clothes as well as her crown. The expressions of the animals as they watched the princesses try out different jobs in the castle is amusing.

I haven't read Princesses Are Not Quitters, but instantly I related to the princesses. Each has their own gift, which they use for the benefit of the castle and the kingdom. But, as we have all experienced from time to time, Princess Mellie is grumpy and doesn't feel like being the gardener any more. So she persuades the other two princesses to switch jobs with her. The baker, Princess Allie gives up baking. The inventor, Princess Libby, gives up building chairs, tables and other furniture. They switch jobs, much to the concern of Mrs Blue.

What's the big deal in switching jobs? Well there's just this small issue of the Summer Party which needs large numbers of cakes baked, chairs made and berries to be picked. The results of the princesses switching jobs is very entertaining. They receive high marks from me for trying so hard. None of the princesses want the Summer Party to fail, so secretly each of them goes off, despite having 'given up their job' and put a plan into action so the Summer Party will go ahead smoothly.

I liked the costumes of the princesses, and also their attitude: they are determined to succeed, and put all their effort into their new jobs. Yet, they realise that they can't be good at everything, and work extra hard to put things right.

Liked this? Try Lucy Goes to Market by Imogen Clare and Sanchia Oppenheimer