The Birthday Ball

Written by Lois Lowry

Illustrated by Jules Feiffer

Most enjoyed by 4th through 6th graders

Princess Patricia Priscilla is turning 16 soon and dreading it. On that day, at her birthday ball, she must choose a husband according to the laws of the domain. Unfortunately, that is the last thing Princess Patricia wants to do. She's bored with her life and so, inspired by a conversation with her chambermaid Tess, decides to switch places for one day with the girl and become a peasant. After putting on Tess's humble garments, Princess Patricia heads off to school, there becoming the student Pat and learning that there are quite a few differences between peasant life and royal life. The headmaster welcomes her but he's very different from the old, stern teacher Tess had warned her about. In fact, he's young, quite handsome and very kind.

Meanwhile, in domains far away, four princes get ready to woo Princess Pat. Each one is repulsive in his own way and not a single one of them cares a bit about her, concerned only about the prestige and power and money a marriage to her will bring. As the ball nears, Pat becomes more determined to have her way but the princes are just as determined as well. Which one will Pat choose? Will she be forced to live the rest of her life in misery or will she find a way to make her dreams come true?

'The Birthday Ball' is a delightful tale of a young princess taking charge of her life. The four princes from which Pat must choose are each deliciously disgusting so readers cringe throughout the story guessing which one will be selected. Thanks to Tess, the headmaster Rafe, and the peasant school children, Pat changes from a self-centered, disinterested princess to one that is warm and caring. When Pat makes her choice, readers will cheer and agree that it's the very best choice.

While the cover of 'The Birthday Ball' may appeal to younger readers, I think the book is best enjoyed by slightly older readers, say 4th through 6th graders. The preparations the four princes go through to woo Pat are so extreme they're funny. Pat herself is a character that one dislikes initially due to her self-centeredness, but as she changes, so do the reader's feelings about her. I particularly liked the royal staff who serve the King, Queen and Princess so faithfully, especially the three singing servant girls. I found myself humming along with them as they sang in their three-part harmony.

'The Birthday Ball' is a perfect read for a lazy summer day so grab a pencil and add it to your summer reading list (you have one started, don't you?!).

Rapunzel's Revenge

Written by Shannon and Dean Hale

Illustrated by Nathan Hale

Most enjoyed by 4th through 8th graders

Howdy pardner! Pull up a chair 'round the campfire and get ready for a rollikin' tale, 'cuz here's the real story 'bout that wild young lady with the really long hair named Rapunzel.

See, a long time ago, Rapunzel was taken away from her mother, all 'cuz her mama wanted some of that yummy green stuff called rapunzel. The little gal has lived in a fancy villa with Mother Gothel as long as she can remember, but she keeps havin' this dream 'bout people that loved her once. She cain't fer the life of her recall who these people are until one day, she scales the wall of the villa and see's just exactly what's beyond it. Turns out, Ma Gothel has been ruinin' the countryside by turnin' it into mines where's she's put everyone to work. Rapunzel gets thirsty as she's explorin' the outside and decides to get a drink of water and wouldn't ya know, she meets her real mama at the drinkin' well! When old Mother Gothel finds out, she locks Rapunzel up in a tower far, far away from everyone. But this young gal ain't down and out yet! No sir, pretty soon that pretty hair of hers is long enough to use as a lasso to escape from the tower. As if that ain't enough adventure for one lifetime, she ventures off with the help of a handsome wrangler to return home and find her mama again for one happy endin'.

As you can tell, this is the story of Rapunzel but told with a bit of a western twist. Loads of fun to read, this graphic novel version will entice any reluctant reader, both guy and gal. While it looks thick and long, don't be fooled; it's a humdinger of a book wrapped up in a hardcover jacket. If only all fairy tales could be this fun!

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude

By Kevin O'Malley

Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, Carol Heyer, and Scott Goto

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 3rd graders

Want to start off this short week with a laugh? Check out 'Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude'. The boy and the girl narrating the story have to tell their favorite fairy tale to you, the reader. But since they can't agree on which fairy tale they like best, they tell their own. At least, that's what they try to do. She has one idea that involves princesses, pretty ponies and spinning gold. He, on the other hand, favors rotten-toothed giants, volcanoes and one very cool motorcycle dude. These two very different views of a good fairy tale come to an ending that satisfies both. Sort of.

'Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude' is a great read aloud for two people, preferably one male and one female. Why don't mom and dad try reading it out loud to the kids after dinner, before everyone heads off to do homework? Talk about some dinner table fun! The three illustrators each take a point of view, making the artwork very distinct for each character. The princess and her ponies are so pretty done in pinks and purples. The motorcycle dude's coolness is reflected in dark, bold colors.

This is another title from the 2009 Monarch Award list and one that is sure to get lots of votes in the spring. Enjoy it now because it won't stay on the shelves once everyone has read it!

Waking Beauty

By Leah Wilcox

llustrated by Lydia Monks

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers through 3rd GradersI

Fractured fairy tales are so much fun. 'Waking Beauty' is another twisted fairy tale by the dynamic duo of Leah Wilcox and Lydia Monks. Their first venture 'Falling for Rapuzel' gave us a long haired lass who was a little bit hard of hearing. When asked to let her hair down, she tosses just about everything else but her hair out of the window. In 'Waking Beauty', it's the prince's turn to get things mixed up.

Sleepting Beauty has been asleep for a long time when along comes the prince who is told to wake the lass with a..... But the prince never listens to how exactly he's supposed to wake the lady because he's too busy guessing different methods. Shooting her out of a cannon? How about hollering or jumping on the bed? None of these ideas work and when the prince finally finds out how to wake the fair girl, he is shocked. All those years of morning breath? Hmmm...

Laugh-out-loud fun is what's in store here. Kids will enjoy trying to guess what new wake=up method the prince will come up with next. And guess what happens when he finally wakes the beauty! Pick this one up for a fun family read-aloud.