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Twenty-six Princesses: An Alphabet Story (2008)

by Dave Horowitz(Favorite Author)

3.64 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

039924607X (ISBN13: 9780399246074)

languge

English

genre

Humor

publisher

Putnam Juvenile

review 1: Twenty-six PrincessesBy Dave HorowitzPenguin GroupISBN-13: 9780399246074The book is a fun quirky way for children to learn the alphabet. Each letter of the alphabet is the first name of a princess. Each Princess has a quirk or flaw that makes the book entertaining to young children. It's a silly way to learn the alphabet.Three out of the twenty-six princess are African American princesses. Twenty-three of the princesses are white. Very few princesses in the book come from a minority background. Though they have uncommon and different names they all seem to be the same type of person. They are mostly white, middle upper class girly-girls.The reader is introduced to 26 princesses and each girl has their own flaws. One princess is nowhere to be found. Three are chasing after ... moreand kissing the prince. One is not considered a lady because she knows how to fight. One has a lost tooth and the frog in the story is giving her a questionable look. Another is being questioned for wanting to take down the king. Why is she not allowed to express her feelings about the king? Unice is allowed to be in charge of a country one day right? She is trying to be a princess, which will one day lead her to be a queen. From what I noticed as well, a lot of the princesses do not have positive attitudes. Flo is angered because her chariot broke down. Isabella is mad because she, unlike the frog handler, does not have an umbrella. It seems like Quinn was rejected from the party because she doesn’t fit in, literally. Tess couldn’t care less about being with her princess friends at the palace and Zaire gets to the party late with attitude. Hands on her hips blowing bubble gum bubbles. And the end we find out that this whole thing is one “royal pain in the alphabet.” This could make young girls feel like they are just a pain for being whom they are so they have to mold to be something that is accepted by society. Also all the girls were wearing dresses that were very girly or the color of the dress was girly. The only athletic girl in the story was a girl who did ballet and she was with a girl who could not dance. The ballerina, Xena got two 10's from the judges and one 3 while Yvette who isn't a ballerina just yet got two 2s and a 3. She doesn't look happy that Xena is the best ballerina. Yvette is still practicing and trying and these frogs are discouraging her for trying. It gives off the vibe to young children that if you try and you fail you aren't very good and should stop. Overall these princesses are not princess perfect role models. They are here for you amusement but whom are we really laughing at? This is training young girls to see themselves as royal pains, failures different and unwanted. It is also telling young boys that "oh girls only want to go find princes" and that they all are very snooty and bratty. There is no princess in this story that non-girly girls can relate to, which is unfortunate. I also realized that no males are in this story at all. All the males are frogs. What message does this send to children? That boys are slimy and rude and not very nice to girls? Though this story is meant to be funny it really is not and can be toxic to young readers.
review 2: Genre: Concept bookReview: Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia MarantzTwenty-six princesses go to meet the frog prince in his palace; thus, Horowitz can show a different princess and pithy rhyme for each letter of the alphabet. From "Princess Alice, First to the palace," through "Princess Flo, Waiting to go" and "Princess Grace, Making a face" all the way to "Princess Zaire. Finally there," each has a distinct personality and story. Then, "Put them all together and what do you get? A royal pain in the alphabet!" Horowitz meets the challenge of theme and variation in this delightful visual romp, presenting a different female, frog, context, and caption in each image. He mixes media, shamelessly borrows images from art like Botticelli's Venus, includes impolite actions like passing gas, and generally has fun. Each gal has her own colorfully-bordered page, and the final double-page spread puts all of them together with passing frogs in delightful pandemonium. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia MarantzRecommendation: 4-7Notes: Can look at pictures or read aloud with adult (harder names), also introduces rhymes less

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