Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep (The Princess Tales #3)

Gr. 4-6. Levine's retelling of the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty" has more in common with her hugely successful Ella Enchanted (1997) than with the earlier books in the Princess Tales series: once again, fairies are granting wishes to humorous and thought-provoking effect. In this version, the baby Princess Sonora is not only destined to prick her finger on a spindle but also fated to be 10 times more intelligent than other children. The latter gift turns her into a baby who reads a book while having her diaper changed, apologizing, "I am so sorry to bother you with my elimination." The story unfolds with fine wit and comes to a satisfying conclusion when the one person who won't be bored by Sonora's philosophizing awakens her from her 100 years' sleep. This will make a good, not too long read-aloud.

Copyright 1999 Booklist, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 3-6-This installment in the series features Princess Sonora as Sleeping Beauty. The fairies in this fractured tale endow the princess with a few too many gifts at her naming ceremony; not only is she "the smartest human in the world," but she is also "ten times as smart as any human in the world." As a result, Sonora crawls only in perfectly straight lines and perfectly round circles, reminds the Royal Nursemaids to wash behind her ears, and diagnoses her own illnesses. She also refuses to sleep, preferring to spend her evenings reading, or thinking up questions and then answering them-she knows she'll get plenty of sleep during the 100 years promised by the spiteful fairy Belladonna. The more-than-a-little precocious princess decides that she will choose the most opportune moment to prick her finger, thereby putting the castle grounds to sleep. However, things don't go exactly as planned. Levine's witty takeoff is clever and humorous, but without the depth or thorough character development that so distinguished Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997). This amusing, light read will stir children's imaginations and encourage them to explore further the richness of fairy tales.-Robin L. Gibson, Muskingum County Library System, Zanesville, OH

Copyright 1999 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.