Stewig, John Warren. Nobody Asked the Pea.

Stewig, John Warren.    Nobody Asked the Pea.  Holiday House  2013  $16.95    ISBN 978-0-8234-2224-1  elem/ms     Fairy Tale      VG-BNe     

This book takes a humorous look at the traditional tale “The Princess and the Pea.” It tells the story by bouncing between several points of view.  Some of the characters who become narrators are, of course, the prince whose mother wants to marry him off, his mother the queen, the princesses being tested, the housekeeper in the palace, and -- of course -- the pea that ends up featuring so prominently in the story. Each character has a say, and they do so hilariously.  The pictures are charming and the characters portrayed have wonderfully expressive faces, which adds to the comedic tone the narration sets. The writing is certain to please readers of all ages, achieving a delightful blend of age-appropriate vocabulary and sly jokes that will appeal to older readers.  Without spoiling the ending, it must be said that only a very particular type of princess will suit, and it takes more than a pea to make her the right one for the prince.           

Princesses-Fiction, Princes-Fiction.                        -–Bethany Geleskie