Princess Zelda and the Frog

K-Gr 2—Gardner's English bulldog, Zelda, has been cast as a royal princess who lives with her parents, King Sour-Mug and Queen Lucille. They give her "everything a princess could dream of," but, sadly, the one thing they cannot provide is "a good night's sleep." Zelda tries to tire herself out by chasing her favorite golden ball. When it lands in the mud, a frog offers to retrieve it for her if she promises to be his best friend forever. He also requires that she let him eat from her golden bowl, drink from her golden goblet, and sleep on her golden bed with his head on her golden pillow. Reluctantly, Zelda promises to meet the ugly frog's demands, but runs away as soon as she has her ball back. During dinnertime, the frog comes to the door, chanting, "Oh, BFF, please let me in!/So I might see your lovely grin!" and the queen makes a distressed Zelda keep her promise. That night, as Zelda and the frog share her golden pillow, he snores loudly, and the soothing rumble lulls her to sleep. When the princess awakens feeling refreshed, she finds that the frog has transformed into a handsome prince. Comical color photographs feature sumptuously attired pups. Each scene is set against a simple, paper-collagelike backdrop of the countryside or the castle interior. This clever retelling of the Grimms' fairy tale about loyalty, honor, and friendship will delight young readers.—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA