Prince Ribbit

PreS-Gr 2—Fantasy meets reality in this twist on the tale of "The Frog Prince" as three young princesses find that a frog in the royal pond can actually speak. Entranced with the romance of the traditional fairy tale, they declare that he is actually royalty and ponder ways to turn him into the prince of their dreams—serenading him with a harp and a violin and offering him a princely soft pillow bed, food at the royal table, the services of the royal tailor, a distinctive crown, and servants to meet his every need. Rich color and patterns reminiscent of tapestry or lace grace the digital cartoon art, which features large-eyed, expressive princesses and plenty of detail, from the impressionistic background of the lily pond to the shading of a royal procession. Only the youngest princess, Martha, sees through the amphibian's tricks and knows him for what he is—a lowly frog (with a gift for gab). Her solution to reveal his deception provides readers with an ending that perfectly suits the story's repeated admonition—"just because it's in a book doesn't mean it's true."