The Princess in Black

Who says princesses can't wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black. The first in a funny, action-packed series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black! Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when...Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping monsters is no job for dainty Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess Magnolia has a secret - she's also the Princess in Black, and stopping monsters is the perfect job for her! A rollicking read from the award-winning writing team of Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham.

“This charmingly told book has lovely old-fashioned illustrations and a great message: You can't judge a princess by the color of her gown. -New York Times Book Review The rounded, cartoony illustrations featuring chubby characters keep the fight sequence soft and comical. ... The gently ironic text will amuse readers (including adults reading the book aloud). The large print and illustrations expand the book to a longish-yet-manageable length, giving newly independent readers a sense of accomplishment. ... Action, clever humor, delightful illustrations and expectation-defying secret identities-when does the next one come out? -Kirkus Reviews (starred review) The authors of "Rapunzel's Revenge" and "Calamity Jack," writing here for a slightly younger audience, successfully turn the treacly princess genre on its ear, offering beginning readers a clever, adventurous, and self-reliant heroine who is equally at home in black or pink. Pham's watercolor-and-ink illustrations, rendered in the style of the Disney classics, effectively contrast Magnolia's identities and emphasize the text's humor. Clever details (Duff and his goats eat popcorn on the sidelines as they watch the PIB do her thing) and short manageable sentences make for a promising, and sure to be wildly popular, new series debut. -Booklist (starred review) The Hales translate the humor and adventure that characterize their Rapunzel's Revenge into prose form for a younger audience with aplomb and wit, giving amusing nods to both the Disney princess tradition and the superhero genre. Short sentences, a simple vocabulary with the occasional challenge, a manageable length, and a near picture-book level of illustrative density give this chapter book immense accessibility. Pham's watercolor and ink art has a goofy cartoonishness, with the Princess's doe-eyed damsel figure contrasting entertainingly with her ninja-like moves, and the monsters themselves are a parade of wacky Muppet-like creatures. Whether they prefer pink sparkles or superhero capes, readers, especially newly independent ones, will find themselves anxiously awaiting the next installment of the PIB's adventure. -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books The colorful illustrations on each page help move readers through the story as the heroic princess saves the day. The action-packed text in this beginner chapter book will enthrall and is ideal for independent reading or reading aloud. The ending leaves readers with just enough of a wink to hint at a future installment. Give this engaging read to fans of "Bink and Gollie". -School Library Journal The Hales drop narrative breadcrumbs throughout the story, setting up subsequent titles in the planned series, and they build comic tension by alternating scenes of the masked princess's monster-fighting with ones starring Duchess Wigtower, who Princess Magnolia has left waiting back at her castle, and who has a fondness for uncovering secrets.... Pham offers little jolts of energy and wit on every page, with full-page and spot illustrations that have the vivaciousness and irreverence of contemporary animation. -Publishers Weekly Finally, a book for kids where a princess saves herself. ... Kids will love meeting this new non-traditional princess who bucks the stereotype of princesses past. -Metro US This charming begining chapter book will please princess and action fans alike. -Milwaukee Journal Sentinel”

Pham's illustrations are cheerful and full of action, making each page a gem, while the story races along, diving in and out of fine cut-outs of cavorting cartoony characters [...] An enjoyable read for everyone who wants to wear the crown and save the day. -- Caroline Norris Inis A delightfully fresh and funny mash-up of the princess and superhero genres. The Bookseller Children's Buyer's Guide This is a charming little book for your charming little person. The artwork is brilliantly eye-catching, and evokes more in the way of character than you'd at first expect from such a cartoonishly coloured piece. -- John Lloyd The Book Bag A wonderfully stereotype-defying tale, it is great fun to see Magnolia go from cliche pink and fluffy princess to black-clad heroine [...] The cartoony illustrations are dotted throughout and help create a really sense of action in the story. The Princess in Black makes a great read-aloud but with short sentences and chapters which allow newly independent readers to take it at their own pace, this is first and foremost a really super first chapter book. Library Mice Written as a graphic novel for younger readers by husband and wife team Dean and Shannon Hale, this finally puts paid to the myth that all little girls like pink and want to play with Barbies. Finally, a young female superhero for the modern era - monsters beware! Dad.info The Princess in Black is a charming, warm and funny read, aimed at children who are starting to become more confident with reading. [...] This is a beautiful gem of a book. School Library Association A feisty female lead is always a winner and this is sure to be a popular series with young readers. Carousel

Shannon Hale is the New York Times bestselling author of the Ever After High trilogy, as well as the award-winning Goose Girl and the Newbery Honor-winning Princess Academy. She co-wrote the graphic novels Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack with her husband Dean Hale, along with The Princess in Black. Shannon and Dean live in Utah with their four children and a small plastic pig for a pet. @haleshannon @Halespawn LeUyen Pham illustrated the New York Times bestsellers Freckleface Strawberry, by actress Julianne Moore, and Grace for President. She is also the author and illustrator of All the Things I Love About You and Big Sister, Little Sister, among many picture books. She lives in California.

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