Common Sense Media Review
By Diondra K. Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mariah Carey's Christmas fairy tale falls short of wonder.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE CHRISTMAS PRINCESS tells Little Mariah's magical story, which is full of twists and turns. Little Mariah is a young girl who lives in a rickety old, dreary house with her mother and pesky, squawking bird. She feels self-conscious about her tangled hair, her tattered clothes, and the smelly work she has to do. But Christmas is her favorite time of the year, when the house is filled with cheer.
Left home alone one day, Little Mariah is terrorized by her neighbors, a brother and sister. Forced to run out into the snowy woods, she finds herself on a mysterious adventure. She's greeted by blissful Butterfly Fairies and stumbles on a heart-shaped stone. Little Mariah is then faced with more bullying -- this time by a gang -- before she unlocks a magical book and meets the Butterfly Fairy Queen. Little Mariah is crowned the Christmas Princess. But will she be able to unite everyone in time for Christmas?
Is It Any Good?
Unfortunately, the "Christmas Queen" falls short in this holiday picture book. While The Christmas Princess is full of beautiful illustrations, its words and storyline will likely be difficult for young readers to follow. The book has many pages with long text and a diverging plot. The story is based in Christmas cheer and touches on the importance of self-esteem, but the rhyming is inconsistent, and some scenes include a gang of zombie-like boys and a pair of siblings with evil intent. Still, fans of Mariah Carey are likely to appreciate the book's zany, unique, and musical qualities.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the bullying that Little Mariah faces in The Christmas Princess. Have you ever been bullied? How did it make you feel?
Singing "All I Want for Christmas Is You" spreads Christmas cheer and makes everyone get along in the story. What's your favorite Christmas song?
Why do you think the Butterfly Fairy Queen makes Little Mariah the Christmas Princess?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Fuuji Takashi
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Holidays
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date : November 1, 2022
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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