Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Character counts more than looks is the light lesson here.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Princesses Mellie, Allie, and Libby are lounging under the rose trellis in their palace by the sea when they get into a bit of an argument: Who among them is the prettiest of them all? An upturned nose, freckles like cinnamon, purple hair -- surely one of these things is superior to the others. They eventually decide to hold a contest, but on the way to the judging, a few distractions prove these princesses are about much more than their good looks.
Is It Any Good?
PRINCESSES ARE NOT JUST PRETTY has a few things going for it. The watercolor illustrations are gorgeous, creating a frilly, pastel, Marie Antoinette color palate of delicate richness. And the story, which stresses the importance of character, action, and kindness among princesses inclined toward arguments about vanity, is a nice twist. The issue is that for very young kids, or those merely tiptoeing on the fringe of princess culture, the first half of the book -- with its appealing frivolity and who's-prettier banter -- has a way of inadvertently reinforcing what it sets out to contrast. Plus, the message that being pretty isn't all that matters, feels slight in comparison to the very thing that makes being a princess fun in the first place -- sitting around eating cupcakes in grand dresses and elaborately coiffed manes.
Parents looking to distract from princess culture altogether may have better luck with more surefooted entries in the Adventurous Princesses category. But those who are happy to find an artful book that appeals to the fanatic, while stressing positive lessons about doing good for others -- emphasis on doing something at all -- will be delighted.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about bragging. What does it mean to brag? How's it different from feeling good about yourself?
Who's your favorite princess in the book, and why? Why do you think they care so much about who's the prettiest?
Can you think of other princesses who help people? How?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Sue Hellard
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury USA
- Publication date : March 18, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 6
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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