Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Picture Book Reviews: The Princess and the PIG by Jonathan Emmett / Ballet Kitty by Bernette Ford

One of the great things about co-running a Scholastic book fair is getting books into the hands of children. The other great thing, well I guess it would also be a bad thing on your pocket book, is the amount of books I purchase for my kiddos and I. These are just two out of the I don't list how many here, that I purchased (YES I have a Scholastic book fair weakness).



By: Jonathan Emmett
Illustrated by: Poly Bernatene
Published by: Bloomsbury Kids
Released on: September 27th, 2011
Source: purchased from Scholastic book fairs
4 Owlets: We Really Enjoyed It!
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

There's been a terrible mix-up in the royal nursery. Priscilla the princess has accidentally switched places with Pigmella, the farmer's new piglet. The kindly farmer and his wife believe it's the work of a good witch, while the ill-tempered king and queen blame the bad witch-after all, this happens in fairy tales all the time! While Priscilla grows up on the farm, poor yet very happy, things don't turn out quite so well for Pigmella. Kissing a frog has done wonders before, but will it work for a pig?

Sure to hog all the attention, this story's frequent nods to well-known fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty, The Frog Princess, and Thumbelina-plus hilarious illustrations-will delight readers of any age


This book is perfect for those who love fairy tales, Princesses and pigs. What happens when a piglet and a baby Princess accidentally switch places? Well you get a Princess who grows up as a normal village girl and piglet who is raised as a Princess. What ensues is a fun read chalk full of mix ups and at the heart, a great story. 

With it's cute story and adorable illustrations, The Princess & The Pig is sure to be a must have for many young readers. It has at our house. This is one super cute, fun fairy tale like story with a twist. The fact this story was about a Princess is what drew my little girl's attention, but add in a Princess PIG and she was sold! This book is one adorable package. From the great story to the really cute illustrations, this one book I'm glad we added to our already over flowing book cases. 



By: Bernette Ford
Illustrated by: Sam Williams
Published by: Scholastic for Scholastic Book Fairs
Originally published by: Boxer Books, 10/1/07
Source: purchased
4 Owlets: We Enjoyed It!
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

Ballet Kitty wakes up in the pink—ballerina pink, of course—until she realizes she can’t find her slippers anywhere. Suddenly her leaps aren’t as lighthearted or her pirouettes as pretty. Where could they be? she mumbles and grumbles. How can she dance in her clunky old sneakers? But very quickly Kitty discovers that as long as she’s doing her most perfect plies and cutest curtsies, she’ll always be happy…right from her head to the tips of her little pointed toes!
Bernette Ford’s delightful dance-loving story and Sam Williams’s charming pas de deux of pussycats will inspire every little ballerina!


This was one of the few "must have" books my little girl had to have from the book fair. It's pink, has a kitty, and a ballet dancing kitty at that. It wasn't hard for her to make up her mind with this book. What a cute, really fun, and engaging story it is. Ballet Kitty is getting ready for her perfect playdate with her friend. In order to have that perfect playdate Ballet Kitty has to have her ballet slippers, which she can not find to any avail.

What I loved about this story is that it shows kids that it doesn't matter what clothes you have or toys you do or don't have. Those things don't make the perfect playdates, it's being a good friend that does. What my daughter loved, that the has a lot of pink, kitties, dancing, a tea party and playdate in it. I would recommend this book. It's a great story with a wonderful message and has some simply adorable illustrations to match!

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~