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The Worst Princess
by
Author Anna Kemp and illustrator Sara Ogilvie turn a traditional fairy tale on its royal head in this bright and funny rhythmic story that will have readers of all ages cheering along for The Worst Princess! Princess Sue dreams of finding her Prince Charming. But when that Prince proves to be a bit more traditional than what she had hoped for, Princess Sue—along with the h
...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
April 1st 2012
by Simon & Schuster
(first published 2012)
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If I tell you that the title page of The Worst Princess features a cartoon drawing of a princess in full regalia, hair plaited in medieval style and snaking down twice her length, little bird perched atop her crown, whilst Princess Sue herself sits on the floor lacing up her baseball boots, oblivious to the glimpse of her frilly knickers showing ... then you may have an idea of the tone of this book, first published in 2012.
Princess Sue is a rebel. She's a bit lazy, a bit mouthy and very cheeky ...more
Princess Sue is a rebel. She's a bit lazy, a bit mouthy and very cheeky ...more

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It's definitely not your normal fairy tale. In fact, it is purposefully quite the opposite, with the princess hating fashionable dresses and running off with the dragon instead of the prince.
She did kiss the prince though and did run off with him to his house before later calling him a twit and deserting him. So were they married? I'm not sure.
Ages: 4 - 8
Cleanliness: The words "bum", "twit", "stupid", and "rascal" are all used. There is a kiss.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed ...more
She did kiss the prince though and did run off with him to his house before later calling him a twit and deserting him. So were they married? I'm not sure.
Ages: 4 - 8
Cleanliness: The words "bum", "twit", "stupid", and "rascal" are all used. There is a kiss.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed ...more

For all the little children who DON'T want to be princesses and ride around on dragons instead AKA me.
...more

Sep 27, 2016
Artemis
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s,
picture-books,
humorous,
fairy-tales,
princesses-and-queens,
dragons,
feminism,
fun,
poetry,
sweet-and-cute
Another day, another cute feminist princess storybook for children.
'The Worst Princess' isn't about a "worst" princess at all. Sue starts out waiting for a prince to come rescue her from her tower, as is her traditional role. She grows bored after a hundred years (!?), and she reads to pass the time, and lets her hair plaits grow.
Then she is finally "rescued" by a prince... only he puts her in another tower prison, where she isn't allowed to go explore and have adventures of her own. That's a m ...more
'The Worst Princess' isn't about a "worst" princess at all. Sue starts out waiting for a prince to come rescue her from her tower, as is her traditional role. She grows bored after a hundred years (!?), and she reads to pass the time, and lets her hair plaits grow.
Then she is finally "rescued" by a prince... only he puts her in another tower prison, where she isn't allowed to go explore and have adventures of her own. That's a m ...more

Jan 29, 2020
Silvis Library
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
shay,
picture-books
A fun story about a princess who gets annoyed with being expected to sit around and look pretty, who decides instead to team up with a dragon and go on adventures! Not the first picture book I've seen with this theme, but I always enjoy these twists on classic tales. The art in this was particularly good compared to some others I've seen.
~Shay ...more
~Shay ...more

I try not to review my Children's books on here because I am usually doing the book challenge and it interferes with that. I am however well over my challenge for the year so figured why not.
My daughter was given this book as a gift from her nursery teacher when she graduated just before she started school. I myself really liked this book. It was nice to have a book where the princess has her own mind and views on what she wants and isn't a princess that just wants to find the charming prince a ...more
My daughter was given this book as a gift from her nursery teacher when she graduated just before she started school. I myself really liked this book. It was nice to have a book where the princess has her own mind and views on what she wants and isn't a princess that just wants to find the charming prince a ...more

Princess Sue follows all the rules to make sure that she's rescued by her true-love prince. Once she's rescued, she's whisked away to her happily ever after and a quiet life in the castle. Bummed out that she won't get to explore and "do all kinds of fun stuff too," she teams up with a dragon to have her own adventure.
Lovely illustrations, a great message about being yourself and finding your own happiness, this is a book that's sure to be a hit with parents looking for positive, independent pr ...more
Lovely illustrations, a great message about being yourself and finding your own happiness, this is a book that's sure to be a hit with parents looking for positive, independent pr ...more

Princess Sue has waited forever for a prince to come rescue her from the boredom of her tower, but, when he finally arrives, she doesn't get the happy ending she's been expecting. Instead of the freedom and adventure she longs for, her prince puts her in a penthouse... in another tower. After all, dragon-bashing and armor is strictly for boys only. But Sue won't give up her happily ever after so easily! When she spies a ferocious dragon she promptly invites him to tea and the two team up to show
...more

This book is up there with The Paper Bag Princess.
This princess has some chutzpah! After growing up isolated in a tower, she's less than thrilled with the twit of a prince who "rescues" her right off to another tower prison.
She enlists the help of a charming dragon who enjoys his nasal spray. Together they live happily ever after...just as it should be! ...more
This princess has some chutzpah! After growing up isolated in a tower, she's less than thrilled with the twit of a prince who "rescues" her right off to another tower prison.
She enlists the help of a charming dragon who enjoys his nasal spray. Together they live happily ever after...just as it should be! ...more

A Princess who realizes she doesn't need a prince? A Princess who would rather ride around on a dragon and cause mischief than have long hair and flowy dresses? Sign me up for an outing with this spunky princess!
...more

Very cleverly written and funny. I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations, but the story more than tipped the scales for the good.
...more

Summary:
The Worst Princess, by Anna Kemp and Sarah Ogilvie, tells the story of Princess Sue. Princess Sue has waited around her whole life for a prince to come and rescue her. However, when a prince finally does come, she finds that he has stereotypical viewpoint of what Sue should do with her time. While Sue wants adventure, the prince simply wants to lock her in another castle and tells her to “smile a lot and twist your curls. Dragon-bashing is not for girls.” In the end, Princess Sue accept ...more
The Worst Princess, by Anna Kemp and Sarah Ogilvie, tells the story of Princess Sue. Princess Sue has waited around her whole life for a prince to come and rescue her. However, when a prince finally does come, she finds that he has stereotypical viewpoint of what Sue should do with her time. While Sue wants adventure, the prince simply wants to lock her in another castle and tells her to “smile a lot and twist your curls. Dragon-bashing is not for girls.” In the end, Princess Sue accept ...more

When I first picked this up, my gut reaction was “why oh why oh why! This is a HORRIBLE message for young girls!” but I kept reading because this was about the worst princess after all… and I’m glad I did.
Taking a stab at all those other princesses, The Worst Princess decided she didn’t much care for the truth of the life she thought was for her, and, in fact, it didn’t turn out anything like she thought it would be. After the romance wore off and the stars faded from her eyes, the reality was m ...more
Taking a stab at all those other princesses, The Worst Princess decided she didn’t much care for the truth of the life she thought was for her, and, in fact, it didn’t turn out anything like she thought it would be. After the romance wore off and the stars faded from her eyes, the reality was m ...more

Summary: This is not your typical fairy tale princess story. Every princess story starts off with girl in waiting for her prince who soon comes, takes her away, and they live happily ever after. This book takes this original idea and twist it and turns it into a fun story of not your typical girl. It is a poem style writing that rhymes and makes you want to laugh out loud. The pictures takes the words that are written down and brings them to life in a new artistic way. Full of colors and details
...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I was reading this feminist twist on classic fairytales to my daughter today and realised how much I love this book. It gives exactly the message that I want to impart on my five-year-old.
At the start we meet Princess Sue, who is waiting in a tower for her prince. She knows how fairytales work! When he finally shows up Sue is glad to finally get out of the tower, but her joy is short lived when he puts her in another tower. When she sees a dragon approach, she takes destiny in her own hands.
As a ...more
At the start we meet Princess Sue, who is waiting in a tower for her prince. She knows how fairytales work! When he finally shows up Sue is glad to finally get out of the tower, but her joy is short lived when he puts her in another tower. When she sees a dragon approach, she takes destiny in her own hands.
As a ...more

I was minding my own business checking in books as usual (I work in a library) when this book appeared at the top of my stack. The pictures immediately drew me in as I flipped through the pages and then I saw the title. “The Worst Princess.” What would make someone the worst princess? Apparently, a few things including an alternate happily ever after. Which makes you wonder, is it really bad to be the worst princess if the reason it makes you the worst is also the reason why you have a happy end
...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Miss 3 and I like to explore different books at the library and try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
The Worst Princess
by Anna Kemp
This is a great modern version of the traditional princess book that aims to turn some of the tropes on their heels. There's the Rapunzel type princess who could just climb the ladder out of her tower but chooses to wait for her prince. When he wants to marry her ...more
The Worst Princess
by Anna Kemp
This is a great modern version of the traditional princess book that aims to turn some of the tropes on their heels. There's the Rapunzel type princess who could just climb the ladder out of her tower but chooses to wait for her prince. When he wants to marry her ...more

The Worst Princess is about a princess named Sue! All she wants is to find her prince. She has done everything to prepare! One day, the prince comes and sweeps her away. Unfortunately, the princess life is not what she hoped for. The prince mistreats her and tells her to wear her dress and sit still. Instead, the princess would rather ride the horses and have fun. A dragon appears and instead of being fearful, Princess Sue befriends him and they escape from the prince and live happily ever after
...more

Feb 06, 2020
Nate Richey
added it
The Worst Princess is an uncommon fairy tale about a princess that is rescued from her tower only to be locked away in a new one. The princess longs for adventure and hates the normal princess stuff like dresses and nice hair. She makes friends with a dragon and decides she is done with being a typical princess.
I think this book is great. It is a change of pace from the normal fairy tale stories. The author does a great job of creating a story that is interesting and different. The reader would ...more
I think this book is great. It is a change of pace from the normal fairy tale stories. The author does a great job of creating a story that is interesting and different. The reader would ...more

The Worst Princess is an excellent twist on the typical princess story (in this case it’s a retelling of the Repunzel story). It attempts to re-adresss the balance between traditional male and female roles.
The story is written in humorous rhyme which will make children and adults giggle. The illustrations are lovely and at the beginning you get clues that Princess Sue isn’t quite your typical story book princess, (I loved the sneakers with princess dress and how she has a yo-yo).
Princess Sue doe ...more
The story is written in humorous rhyme which will make children and adults giggle. The illustrations are lovely and at the beginning you get clues that Princess Sue isn’t quite your typical story book princess, (I loved the sneakers with princess dress and how she has a yo-yo).
Princess Sue doe ...more

After reading this to my granddaughter, found out it had delighted her immensely . To hear the rhythmic prose making an energetic bounce was unexpected, it encouraged us both to go with-the-flow and hope the princess be true to herself, and get what she wants.
The pictures were superb, colorful, true to the story, and no scariness at all (dragons, killing dragons, angry people, etc).
It was a general feministic type of story but I give it credit for being easy and carefree, plus with humor and c ...more
The pictures were superb, colorful, true to the story, and no scariness at all (dragons, killing dragons, angry people, etc).
It was a general feministic type of story but I give it credit for being easy and carefree, plus with humor and c ...more

This book was read aloud in a children's literature class and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I may buy it for my grandson. He likes dragons too.
I don't want to give too much away about this book (because I think people should buy it) except to say that the princess is a little unorthodox and the ending is not the typical fairytale ending.
The princess has messy braids and wears tennis shoes and tries hard to meet the expectations that people have for princesses and fails but in a good ...more
I don't want to give too much away about this book (because I think people should buy it) except to say that the princess is a little unorthodox and the ending is not the typical fairytale ending.
The princess has messy braids and wears tennis shoes and tries hard to meet the expectations that people have for princesses and fails but in a good ...more

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