As she did with her Stella and Sam series, Marie-Louise Gay proves once again her thorough understanding of sibling dynamics and a child's healthy fantasy life in this transitional reader.
Pistachio Shoelace always knew she was born for greater things. When she discovers a note under her bed that says, "Happy birthday, my little princess!" along with a golden crown, her instincts are confirmed. "I knew it," Pistachio whispers. "I have always known it! I am a princess. A real princess!" Princess Pistachio of Papua. Children will savor the details of the daily life she imagines, filled with chocolates, fine silks and silver skates. The joy drains out of the fantasy, however, when Pistachio's toddler sister, Penny, wants to horn in on the fun. The royal costume backfires at school, too ("What has got into you?... Have toads asked you to kiss them?" wonders Pistachio's "former best friend"). With its whiff of mystery and a satisfying and credible reconciliation between Pistachio and Penny, this emotionally authentic story makes a strong family read-aloud.
Five brief, self-contained chapters, simple vocabulary and plenty of full-color illustrations make this ideal for children ready to move out of beginning readers and not quite ready for full chapter books. Gay's watercolors, sometimes stretching across the bottom two-thirds of a full spread, sometimes appearing as spot illustrations, capture the range of Pistachio's moods, from exhilaration to anger to contentment with things just as they are. Here's hoping for more about these two very real and likable sisters. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness