Publisher's Weekly Review
PreS-Gr 3-Almena revisits the traditional fairy tale about the princess kissing an enchanted toad and flips it around. In this modern version of the story, a free-spirited toad princess kisses a human prince because her parents believe he is a toad prince under the spell of an evil witch. The human magically turns into the thing the princess most wants, which is not a husband, but a motorcycle. A charming title with pencil-and-watercolor cartoonish illustrations, this book will captivate young listeners and engage independent readers.-Rebecca Thatcher Murcia, Akron, PA (Snow White)Poole, Josephine.Gr 2-5-Poole creates a very satisfying retelling of the classic tale about a princess with snow-white skin, blood-red lips, and ebony-black hair. When Snow White's jealous stepmother, the new queen, receives the bad news from her enchanted mirror, she sets out on a trek over seven mountains to seek out the beautiful princess. She tries unsuccessfully to do away with her a number of times. First, she uses some cords to suffocate her; next, a poisoned hairbrush; finally, the infamous poisoned apple. The seven dwarves, here unnamed, worry constantly for Snow White's safety and are terribly distraught to find her body motionless on the floor of their small cottage in the forest. The well-crafted, detailed illustrations, which accentuate deep, somber tones, are reflective of a simpler time. The Spanish translation is clear and includes challenging vocabulary to stimulate readers' growth. This is a handsome addition to school and library collections, and should be displayed proudly in bookstores.-Paul M. Kienlen, Northside ISD Bilingual/ESL Department, San Antonio, TX(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.