June 1, 2019
Princess Truly returns...to save the day. In this third book about Princess Truly--and the first chapter book--the brown-skinned protagonist, who wears a red cape, a purple tutu, and magical white buttoned boots, attends the first-birthday party of her friend Lizzie's cat, Waffles. When the exuberant Waffles crashes into the fish-shaped cake, Princess Truly calls on her "magic curls," (styled into two sparkling puff-balls) to make a beautiful new one. During the party, Waffles gets tangled in the balloon strings and floats out the window, with Noodles, Truly's trusty pug, holding on. Truly can save the pets, but only with Lizzie's help. Lizzie panics, knowing she has no magic or extraordinary strength, but Truly convinces her that her smarts, bravery, and belief in herself are enough to do the job. Young readers who admire Black Panther but need to see superheroes as young as they are will enjoy not only Princess Truly's magic hair and flightworthy boots, but also her confidence, creativity, and supportive attitude toward others. Rauscher's pastel-colored watercolor images give readers plenty of details to find--especially animals behaving uncharacteristically. A page in the backmatter provides brief directions for readers to draw Princess Truly and write their own adventure stories. Readers will respond to this confident, can-do girl who demonstrates that magical adventures are easy to create. (Fantasy. 4-6)
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August 19, 2019
Princess Truly makes the leap from picture books (Princess Truly in My Magical, Sparkling Curls) to an illustrated early reader in this latest story. In short, mostly declarative sentences, Princess Truly, who has brown skin and twinkly hair puffs, explains that she’s a “super girl” because she is “very mighty,” “strong and smart,” and has a “brave heart.” Truly’s “rainbow power,” which Rauscher shows shooting from Truly’s palms and feet, causes flowers to bloom. She averts disaster at a party when a birthday cake accidentally takes flight, and then again when her pet pug, Noodles, and his feline friend, Waffles, are carried away by balloons. Divided into three short stories and illustrated with energetic, colorful images that both mirror and deepen the text, this transitional chapter book is ideal for brand-new readers. Many children (and their caregivers) will also appreciate that, while Princess Truly does have magical skills, what makes her truly “super” is her kindness, empathy, and creative problem-solving. Ages 4–6.