Watch and Read: Spotlight on Media Tie-ins
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Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 11/16/2009 11:40:00 AM
A New Disney Princess
The Princess and the Frog (not yet rated), an animated musical comedy from Walt Disney Animation Studios, opens in theaters nationwide on December 11, 2009. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the creative force behind such Disney successes as The Little Mermaid (1989) and Aladdin (1992), the new movie marks a return to a more classic mode of 2-D hand-drawn animation with a Broadway-style soundtrack. (The score and songs were composed by Randy Newman.) In addition to the obvious connection to the traditional Grimm Brothers’ tale, the plot was partially inspired by E. D. Baker’s The Frog Princess (Bloomsbury, 2002), the first in a series of novels popular with middle-grade fans of fractured fairy tales (presenting a great opportunity for booktalking).
Set in 1920s New Orleans, the movie features Tiana (voiced and sung by Anika Noni Rose), a no-nonsense 19-year-old waitress who is willing to work hard to realize her dream of opening her own restaurant. It’s almost Mardi Gras, and Naveen (Bruce Campos), a fun-loving and irresponsible prince from far-away Maldonia, arrives in town in search of good jazz and good times. He soon falls into the clutches of an evil voodoo magician (Keith David) and is transformed into a frog. Mistaking Tiana for a princess (she is dressed in costume for a masquerade party), he talks her into kissing him to break the spell. However, instead of converting Naveen back to human form, the kiss changes Tiana into a frog.
Together, they flee into the swamp, where the serious-minded girl and carefree prince must find a way to get along in order to survive. With the assistance of two new friends—a trumpet-playing alligator (Michael-Leon Wooley) and a hopelessly romantic Cajun firefly (Jim Cummings)—they journey deep into the bayous of Louisiana in search of Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis), a good voodoo queen who might be able to help them. Along the way, Tiana and Naveen begin to see one another in a new light. As romance blossoms, they examine their hearts and gradually realize that the things they think they want are different from what they truly need.
The buzz for the film and its African-American heroine—Disney’s first—has been building for weeks. Kids can visit the official Web site for a look at the movie’s back-to-basics animation and to sample the jazz-infused soundtrack. A panoramic backdrop highlights the various settings and viewers can click on the characters to hear a catchphrase and learn more about them. An assortment of videos, photos, downloads, and games are also available. An interesting “Art of” section allows youngsters to browse through concept art for the film’s characters and environments, helping them to envision how the movie progressed from the early stages of production to its final big-screen incarnation.
Book Tie-ins
A colorful lineup of The Princess and the Frog titles for a range of reading abilities is available from Random House. A Read-Aloud Storybook has an enchanting movie-artwork cover showing Tiana, dressed as a princess and with a tentative expression on her face, holding Naveen in her hands, his lips puckered expectantly and eyes closed, all set against a magical-looking bayou backdrop. This affordable hardcover presents a fairly detailed retelling of the plot illustrated with double-page and smaller-size clearly reproduced film images. A good choice for sharing aloud with younger kids, this book will also appeal to independent readers interested in reliving the movie’s high points (PreS–Gr 4). Hoppily Ever After, a staple-bound storybook, begins after Tiana and Naveen have already been transformed into frogs and focuses on their experiences in the swamp. The interior artwork glows with the same color palette, vitality, and humor as that of the movie though with an overall softer look (PreS–Gr 2). For the very youngest film fans, “A Little Golden Book” edition of the story combines a streamlined retelling with bright-hued, scaled-down paintings (PreS).
Kiss the Frog, a “Step into Reading” book (Step 2), will hearten beginning readers with its short sentences, simple language, and concisely told plot. Appealing artwork from the movie provides visual clues and encourages youngsters to persevere in their decoding efforts (PreS–Gr 1). In Tiana’s Dream, a “Stepping Stones” chapter book, the heroine relates her story in a fast-paced, first-person narrative. Newly confident readers will feel comfortable with the brief and suspenseful chapters and invitingly open text layout. Black-and-white full-page and smaller inset sketches filled with textures and warm shading reflect the look of the animation (Gr 2–4). Packed with lively dialogue and clearly delineated action scenes, The Junior Novelization will captivate youngsters who want to follow each and every nuance of the plot. Eight full-color pages of captioned movie images are included (Gr 3–6).
DK has published The Princess and the Frog: Essential Guide, a handsome volume with a sparkle-infused cover that will satisfy browsers who want to take another look at the ins and outs of the movie. Two-page chapters showcasing illustrations, stills, and artwork from the film introduce the various characters, settings, and plot elements. The spreads are pleasingly laid out with pastel backdrops, delicate graphic designs, and brief tidbits of text (PreS–Gr 3).
Princess Tiana and the Royal Ball, a picture book from Disney Press penned by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, is set after the movie’s events. When Tiana, now happily married to her prince and the owner of a successful restaurant, is invited to a party given by Naveen’s parents, her best friend Charlotte pulls out The Princess Handbook to help her get ready. After a few false starts, the down-to-earth Tiana decides to forsake the rules of etiquette and follow her heart. The illustrations were done by James Finch, the movie’s production designer, and reflect the film’s settings and characters, though the paintings have a more flowing, dreamier quality. The book will extend the viewing experience for children and might get them thinking about the next chapter in Tiana’s life (PreS–Gr 2).
Tiana’s Cookbook: Recipes for Kids, also from Disney Press, expands upon the main character’s passion for concocting and sharing food. This attractive title, colorfully illustrated with both movie images and photographs of delicious-looking dishes, provides directions for making a variety of tempting foods, many of which have been influenced by the film’s New Orleans setting and named for the characters. Kids can whip up such goodies as Tiana’s Famous Beignets, Mama Odie’s Muffuletta Sandwich, Yumbo Gumbo, and Louis’s Alligator Cake (yes, it’s green and shaped like a reptile). Each recipe comes with a rating indicating the level of difficulty and reminders to get adult help when necessary. An introductory note from Tiana encourages young cooks to always include the secret ingredient her father sprinkled in everything: love. (Gr 2–6).
Pub Info
MARSOLI, Lisa, adapt. The Princess and the Frog: A Read-Aloud Storybook. illus. by Elizabeth Tate, et al. Random. 2009. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2573-5.
RISCO, Elle D., adapt. The Princess and the Frog: Hoppily Ever After. illus. by Jean-Paul Orpiñas & Scott Tilley. Random. 2009. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2630-5.
SAXON, Victoria, adapt. The Princess and the Frog: Little Golden Book. illus. by Lorelay Bove. Random. 2009. Tr $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2628-2.
LAGONEGRO, Melissa. The Princess and the Frog: Kiss the Frog. illus. by Elizabeth Tate, et al. Random. 2009. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-8073-4; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2614-5.
BAZALDUA, Barbara, adapt. The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Dream. illus. by Flavia Scuderi. Random. 2009. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-8074-1; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2633-6.
TRIMBLE, Irene, adapt. The Princess and the Frog: The Junior Novelization. Random. 2009. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-2624-4.
GILBERT, Laura. The Princess and the Frog: Essential Guide. DK. 2009. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-5542-6.
TARPLEY, Natasha Anastasia. The Princess and the Frog: Princess Tiana and the Royal Ball. illus. by James Finch. Disney. 2009. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1859-6.
The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Cookbook: Recipes for Kids. Disney. 2009. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-2540-2.
