The Thistle Princess - Hardcover

French's (Lazy Jack) sentimental tale of a royal couple whose lives are changed by a baby illustrates the dangers of overprotectiveness. A humble thistle in the royal garden, who understands that the king and queen are sad because they are childless, urges the weeping willow to weave a basket from its leaves, twigs and branches, and cajoles the flowers to line it with soft petals and scents. Then the thistle lays down in the basket and transforms into a baby girl. After discovering the baby the next morning, the king and queen immediately begin to worry about her safety. Their attempts to isolate her cause the princess to wane, and only when they let her play with other children does she revive. French's poetic language and leisurely pace are inviting but do not make up for inconsistencies in the plot, which may leave readers wondering why the king and queen are content, when, at the tale's end, their child vanishes as mysteriously as she came. Harbour's (A First Picture Book of Nursery Rhymes) elegantly elongated, soft-focus watercolors create an appropriately bittersweet, romantic mood. Botanical borders, vignettes and illustrations running along the bottom of the spreads provide appealing visual variety. Readers with a strong taste for the nostalgic and happy-ever-after endings will take to this one from the start, but others might well feel short-changed by the disappointing finale. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-A common thistle in the royal garden is convinced that the king and queen are disconsolate because they need a child to love. The weed persuades the willow tree and flowers to create a cradle from their foliage and then transforms itself into a lovely baby. The royal couple love their new daughter completely; however, in their overriding concern for her, they order the construction of walls around the palace to keep other children away. The princess wastes away, and, too late, her parents realize the error of their overprotective ways. Grieving the loss of their daughter, they open their hearts and home to the children of the kingdom. The story is a gentle one, told with well-chosen, descriptive words. With pastels reminiscent of Kate Greenaway's palette, Harbour's watercolor illustrations reinforce the gentle tone and place the story clearly within the fairy-tale realm. The borders contain interesting details and the boxed text is often accompanied by small vignettes that complement the larger paintings. The theme of the importance of giving children both "roots and wings" could provoke interesting discussions with young listeners, but the somewhat lengthy text will make this a better choice for independent reading or parent/child sharing.
Nancy Menal-di-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.