The Truly Brave Princesses

Real princesses are all around us, Brown suggests, they just don’t always wear their crowns: “Maybe she’s a neighbor, maybe a schoolmate, maybe the cashier at your supermarket.” These royal subjects run the gamut of ages, backgrounds, and abilities, and they embrace eclectic interests and professions: Princess Neyla, a 39-year-old architect, loves “scuba diving and underwater photography,” while 11-year-old Princess Rita loves “wearing a clown nose and surprising people on the street.” Princess Beatrix is a single mother and hairdresser in fairy wings, and 23-year-old Princess Caroline “has Down Syndrome. She works in an office, and in her spare time she likes to play volleyball.” Wimmer’s illustrations offer the princesses a balletic grace, and their distinctive clothing styles and environments—from the subway to, in the case of pink-haired astronaut Princess Zoe, outer space—offer eye-catching details on every page. If at times unsubtle in its delivery, Brown’s inclusive message is nevertheless full-hearted and genuine. Also available in a Spanish-language edition. Ages 4–8. [em](Oct.) [/em]