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The Very Little Princess: Rose's Story (A Stepping Stone Book
In a classic storyteller's voice, Newbery Honor recipient Marion Dane Bauer tells a tale of friendship, family, and fitting in that recalls The Doll People, Rumer Godden, and Hitty, Her First Hundred Years.
Rose is a wild child. She doesn't care what her mother or teacher or schoolmates say—she does what she wants. When she finds a delicate china doll in the attic, she takes it. Then the doll comes to life in her hand. She's loud, obnoxious, selfishly bossy, and claims that she's a princess and Rose is her servant. But she's also tiny and fragile. She needs Rose to keep her safe. And maybe Rose needs Princess Regina, too.
Rose is a wild child. She doesn't care what her mother or teacher or schoolmates say—she does what she wants. When she finds a delicate china doll in the attic, she takes it. Then the doll comes to life in her hand. She's loud, obnoxious, selfishly bossy, and claims that she's a princess and Rose is her servant. But she's also tiny and fragile. She needs Rose to keep her safe. And maybe Rose needs Princess Regina, too.
122 pages, Hardcover
First published August 23, 2011
4 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Marion Dane Bauer
172 books186 followersMarion Dane Bauer is the author of more than one hundred books for young people, ranging from novelty and picture books through early readers, both fiction and nonfiction, books on writing, and middle-grade and young-adult novels. She has won numerous awards, including several Minnesota Book Awards, a Jane Addams Peace Association Award for RAIN OF FIRE, an American Library Association Newbery Honor Award for ON MY HONOR, a number of state children's choice awards and the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for the body of her work.
She is also the editor of and a contributor to the ground-breaking collection of gay and lesbian short stories, Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence.
Marion was one of the founding faculty and the first Faculty Chair for the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing guide, the American Library Association Notable WHAT'S YOUR STORY? A YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO WRITING FICTION, is used by writers of all ages. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages.
She has six grandchildren and lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her partner and a cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dawn.
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INTERVIEW WITH MARION DANE BAUER
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Q. What brought you to a career as a writer?
A. I seem to have been born with my head full of stories. For almost as far back as I can remember, I used most of my unoccupied moments--even in school when I was supposed to be doing other "more important" things--to make up stories in my head. I sometimes got a notation on my report card that said, "Marion dreams." It was not a compliment. But while the stories I wove occupied my mind in a very satisfying way, they were so complex that I never thought of trying to write them down. I wouldn't have known where to begin. So though I did all kinds of writing through my teen and early adult years--letters, journals, essays, poetry--I didn't begin to gather the craft I needed to write stories until I was in my early thirties. That was also when my last excuse for not taking the time to sit down to do the writing I'd so long wanted to do started first grade.
Q. And why write for young people?
A. Because I get my creative energy in examining young lives, young issues. Most people, when they enter adulthood, leave childhood behind, by which I mean that they forget most of what they know about themselves as children. Of course, the ghosts of childhood still inhabit them, but they deal with them in other forms--problems with parental authority turn into problems with bosses, for instance--and don't keep reaching back to the original source to try to fix it, to make everything come out differently than it did the first time. Most children's writers, I suspect, are fixers. We return, again and again, usually under the cover of made-up characters, to work things through. I don't know that our childhoods are necessarily more painful than most. Every childhood has pain it, because life has pain in it at every stage. The difference is that we are compelled to keep returning to the source.
Q. You write for a wide range of ages. Do you write from a different place in writing for preschoolers than for young adolescents?
A. In a picture book or board book, I'm always writing from the womb of the family, a place that--while it might be intruded upon by fears, for instance--is still, ultimately, safe and nurturing. That's what my own early childhood was like, so it's easy for me to return to those feelings and to recreate them.
When I write for older readers, I'm writing from a very different experience. My early adolescence, especially, was a time of deep alienation, mostly from my peers but in some ways from my family as well. And so I write my older stories out of that pain, that longing for connection. A story has to have a problem at its core. No struggle
She is also the editor of and a contributor to the ground-breaking collection of gay and lesbian short stories, Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence.
Marion was one of the founding faculty and the first Faculty Chair for the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing guide, the American Library Association Notable WHAT'S YOUR STORY? A YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO WRITING FICTION, is used by writers of all ages. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages.
She has six grandchildren and lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her partner and a cavalier King Charles spaniel, Dawn.
-------------------------------------
INTERVIEW WITH MARION DANE BAUER
-------------------------------------
Q. What brought you to a career as a writer?
A. I seem to have been born with my head full of stories. For almost as far back as I can remember, I used most of my unoccupied moments--even in school when I was supposed to be doing other "more important" things--to make up stories in my head. I sometimes got a notation on my report card that said, "Marion dreams." It was not a compliment. But while the stories I wove occupied my mind in a very satisfying way, they were so complex that I never thought of trying to write them down. I wouldn't have known where to begin. So though I did all kinds of writing through my teen and early adult years--letters, journals, essays, poetry--I didn't begin to gather the craft I needed to write stories until I was in my early thirties. That was also when my last excuse for not taking the time to sit down to do the writing I'd so long wanted to do started first grade.
Q. And why write for young people?
A. Because I get my creative energy in examining young lives, young issues. Most people, when they enter adulthood, leave childhood behind, by which I mean that they forget most of what they know about themselves as children. Of course, the ghosts of childhood still inhabit them, but they deal with them in other forms--problems with parental authority turn into problems with bosses, for instance--and don't keep reaching back to the original source to try to fix it, to make everything come out differently than it did the first time. Most children's writers, I suspect, are fixers. We return, again and again, usually under the cover of made-up characters, to work things through. I don't know that our childhoods are necessarily more painful than most. Every childhood has pain it, because life has pain in it at every stage. The difference is that we are compelled to keep returning to the source.
Q. You write for a wide range of ages. Do you write from a different place in writing for preschoolers than for young adolescents?
A. In a picture book or board book, I'm always writing from the womb of the family, a place that--while it might be intruded upon by fears, for instance--is still, ultimately, safe and nurturing. That's what my own early childhood was like, so it's easy for me to return to those feelings and to recreate them.
When I write for older readers, I'm writing from a very different experience. My early adolescence, especially, was a time of deep alienation, mostly from my peers but in some ways from my family as well. And so I write my older stories out of that pain, that longing for connection. A story has to have a problem at its core. No struggle
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 9, 2017
This looks like a prequel of the book with the same title though this is more age appropriate. Readers who have read the first book will finally learn why Zoey's mother is like that. This is the story of Rose and the doll Princess Regina, but I think it focuses more on Rose and her childhood.
Such an early age, Rose was already dealing with issues such as bullying and feeling unwanted or being a loner. There could have other issues why Rose succumbed to depression when she got older, but those issues in her childhood might be the start or the origin of her problems as she aged.
Such an early age, Rose was already dealing with issues such as bullying and feeling unwanted or being a loner. There could have other issues why Rose succumbed to depression when she got older, but those issues in her childhood might be the start or the origin of her problems as she aged.
July 9, 2021
Rose finds a china doll hidden in the attic. Her mother is afraid she will break it but Rose says she won't. When Rose has been teased at school she runs from school crying and the doll comes to life. She is a princess and lets Rose know it. They go on adventures and Rose grows up but will she leave her princess doll behind?
What a delightful story! I loved how there is a narrator who throws asides out to the reader. That is fun. I liked Rose and how she and her brother reconnected over the doll. He has a story to tell and she learns it. She knows that the princess is there for her but sometimes she forgets that she needs to be there for the princess. A wonderful read for those 6 and up.
What a delightful story! I loved how there is a narrator who throws asides out to the reader. That is fun. I liked Rose and how she and her brother reconnected over the doll. He has a story to tell and she learns it. She knows that the princess is there for her but sometimes she forgets that she needs to be there for the princess. A wonderful read for those 6 and up.
April 16, 2019
I didn’t realize that this was a prequel book until I accidentally ended up on the main book’s goodread page and was very confused about how the book I read was so different than the book other people read. A new criticism is that this book should have been named differently so that it was easier to find for others.
Overall, this book felt subpar to me. It didn’t seem like either Regina or Rose where particularly interesting and the plot was slightly dull. In the description of the book it mentions that this book is in the same vein as The Doll People or Hitty, Her First Hundred Years. I would suggest reading one of these, they are much better. The only thing this book has going for it that the others don’t is that the doll, Regina interacts with humans in this book whereas the dolls in the other books do not interact with humans at all. I don’t actually think this brings much to the book, but it might appeal to some people.
Overall, I would say this is an acceptable book but nothing particularly exciting or anything that I would purposefully pick up to read with a child.
Overall, this book felt subpar to me. It didn’t seem like either Regina or Rose where particularly interesting and the plot was slightly dull. In the description of the book it mentions that this book is in the same vein as The Doll People or Hitty, Her First Hundred Years. I would suggest reading one of these, they are much better. The only thing this book has going for it that the others don’t is that the doll, Regina interacts with humans in this book whereas the dolls in the other books do not interact with humans at all. I don’t actually think this brings much to the book, but it might appeal to some people.
Overall, I would say this is an acceptable book but nothing particularly exciting or anything that I would purposefully pick up to read with a child.
June 22, 2018
This was a quick read and a cute little story. Rose discovers a doll stowed away in a trunk in the attic that belonged to her mother when she was a child. The doll turns out to be even more special than Rose could have imagined.
March 2, 2023
Should have been the first book. But gives a great insight towards what happens in the next book. Though my daughter and I both thought this series could have used more insight into the family. Great stories!
October 31, 2011
Overall Review: The Very Little Princess: Rose’s Story is the sweetest little princess story! What little girl doesn’t secretly wish she is a princess…or wish that her dolls are real and can talk to her! Of course, Rose doesn’t actually wish that—this little princess isn’t a sweet and loving doll come to life to help Rose! Instead, ‘Princess Regina’ is all thorns and prickles, but Rose loves her! They have all sorts of sweet adventures together such as dancing in the moonlight, exploring the woods, and even window shopping! There are times when Rose and the princess don’t see eye to eye (well, often, actually) and there are times when Rose becomes forgetful and leaves the princess lying in different places all alone, but they are always reunited. Rose learns some wonderful lessons along the way, and even at the end of this story, we know it’s not really The End! This story is sweet and the pictures are lovely. It’s perfect for any little girl who loves stories about talking dolls and princesses. Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Content Review:
PROFANITY: A few very mild instances
VIOLENCE: None
SEXUAL CONTENT: None
MATURE THEMES: None
RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+
There is some slightly crude language: a character talks about her behind being sore after a long car ride (and is ashamed after she says the word), and a character says she has a ‘dog turd’ in her pocket. There is also some name calling—a character is upset at two others who are mean to her, so she calls them ‘Dumb’ and ‘Meanie’. Also, a character is woken up and it says there followed ‘a string of what were obviously meant to be swear words’ (even though no actual words were mentioned). One character is grumpy and bossy much of the time.
There is no violence, no sexual content, and no mature themes. This is a lovely story to read aloud with your ‘princess’ or to hand to a young reader.
The Very Little Princess: Rose’s Story is recommended as a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+!
This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Random House Children's Books for a review
To see more fantastic books reviewed with content in mind, visit us at Squeaky Clean Reads!!
Content Review:
PROFANITY: A few very mild instances
VIOLENCE: None
SEXUAL CONTENT: None
MATURE THEMES: None
RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+
There is some slightly crude language: a character talks about her behind being sore after a long car ride (and is ashamed after she says the word), and a character says she has a ‘dog turd’ in her pocket. There is also some name calling—a character is upset at two others who are mean to her, so she calls them ‘Dumb’ and ‘Meanie’. Also, a character is woken up and it says there followed ‘a string of what were obviously meant to be swear words’ (even though no actual words were mentioned). One character is grumpy and bossy much of the time.
There is no violence, no sexual content, and no mature themes. This is a lovely story to read aloud with your ‘princess’ or to hand to a young reader.
The Very Little Princess: Rose’s Story is recommended as a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+!
This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Random House Children's Books for a review
To see more fantastic books reviewed with content in mind, visit us at Squeaky Clean Reads!!
January 27, 2012
Ugh. I reviewed this book for Isabelle and she was excited to read it, but it was boring. The main character lied to her mother, irresponsibly lost a small doll that was alive and called other girls in her class names. There wasn't a story line and there wasn't an ending. Not my kind of book.
Want to read
February 23, 2012Even though I had decidedly mixed feelings about The Very Little Princess, I guess I can't not at least look at this.
July 26, 2012
Now you know I love me a children's book, and I had high hopes for this offering from Newbery Honor- winning author Bauer. It was even more charming and well-written than I had hoped, hitting the theme of childhood magic that evaporates as we grow right on the nose. Lovely!
June 28, 2012
It's just okay. I can see how a young elementary school student would be interested in a tiny doll that comes to life that is a bit of a brat, but I don't have much to say.
December 19, 2016
A good children's book, especially for girls.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews