Elya, Susan Middleton. La Princesa and the Pea. New York, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2017.
La Princesa and the Pea is a story based on the traditional fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. It is written by Susan Elya Middleton and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. The book is a Pura Belpré Award 2018 recipient. The print version is reviewed.
The book begins with a glossary as spanish words are sowed throughout the rhyme. The prince’s madre, la reina, is very particular about which maiden is good enough to marry her son. One day, a lovely girl who is traveling home stops by the castillo. The prince is lovestruck. The mamá tests the girl by sneaking a tiny gruisante underneath 20 mattresses. Only a princesa will be able to feel it! In the morning, the girl notes she slept poorly because her bed was lumpy. In the end, she and the príncipe were married. Did she have any help detecting the pea?
The story is told over 14 spreads. The text is written as a rhyming poem and combines predictability with a bit of a surprise. The pictures have a realistic but playful feel. They are painted in colorful hues with soft value. The artist depicts the characters’ emotions really well, particularly la reina. The clothes and textiles are beautifully detailed. This book is ideal for story time. It is a fun book to read out loud and is well complemented by the art. The book is targeted to children in preschool through second grade.
Book Notes 