Royal Princess Academy: Dragon Dreams

by Laura Joy Rennert, Melanie Florian (Illustrations)

This lively chapter book combines the classic fun of a princess story with a modern sensibility and humor

Princess Emma is not your typical princess. She doesn't like pink, can't dance, and just can't seem to fit into the Royal Princess Academy mold. Other princesses are excited about the upcoming All-School Princess Contest, but secretly all Emma dreams of is being a dragon rider. When news breaks that dragons in the kingdom are falling ill, Emma resolves to solve the mystery, despite her family's urging to leave such problems to the Royal Council.

With her best friend Rapunzel and some unexpected help, not to mention some very un-princess-like maneuvers, Emma just might manage to save her beloved dragons, and possibly even the whole kingdom.

Genres: Fantasy, Princesses, Dragons, Childrens, Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2012

Reviews

[Bailey Corcoran]

Dragon Dreams (Royal Princess Academy) by Laura Joy Rennert
Rennert, L. (2012). Royal Princess Academy: Dragon Dreams. The Penguin Group.

Audience: Ages 6-8

This series defies the superficial stereotype that consumes girlhood. Emma is representative of a girl who can be a girl without an obsession with pink, dancing, or being a “proper” lady. Instead, she dreams of being a dragon rider! So, Emma embarks on a journey to discover the mystical creatures of her dream in hopes to solve the mystery of why they all have become so ill. She is spunky, adventurous, and embraces who she is, but as her adventure comes to an end, will people see how good of a person she really is? Or did she begin a journey too big for her to handle?

Discussion Questions:

1. How is Princess Emma different than other princesses? Do these characteristics make her any less of a princess? Why or why not?

2. What do you think would have happened if Princess Emma tried to be like everyone else?

3. What did Princess Emma mean when she said, “I’d rather read a book, than wear it!”?

4. How did Princess Emma plan to find the cure for the Dragon’s illness? What process was she using?

5. Is there something in the world that you wish you could change? Seeing how Princess Emma stood up for what she believed in, how might you plan to change it?

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Emma hails from a long line of perfect princesses, Snow White was her great-great-grandmother, Beauty is her grandmother and of course her mother is The Queen. She is finally attending the Royal Princess Academy, following in their perfect footsteps. Princess Emma is not your typical frilly pink and proper princess. She likes to kick a soccer ball and dream of dragons rather than improve her royal skills. She especially dislikes Princess Posture class, she would "rather read a book than wear it"! Her unique princess style comes in handy when she has to save her classmates in the annual Princess Contest. And again when on a field trip she helps figure out why all the dragons are ill. Her best friend Rapunzel has always known what a great person she is, now everyone else knows too!
Young princesses everywhere will enjoy reading about Princess Emma who really is a lot like them!

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Emma doesn't fit into the normal princess mold. While her classmates at the Royal Princess Academy are happy to practice posture by walking with books on their heads, Emma would rather read the books. Her classmates have cute, fluffy dogs for pets unless they have sleek, fancy dogs. Emma has a couple of cute (but not fluffy) dogs but she really wants a dragon. Unfortunately, dragons don't seem to be doing too well in the kingdom recently.

When her class gets to visit the Dragon Caverns, Emma decides she's going to figure out what's wrong with the dragons. With the help of a fellow princess and an unexpectedly friendly dwarf child, she does!

2nd grade reader, mostly girls. Very nice book about the importance of being who you are. Even princesses don't have to be stereotyped.

[Cboatfield11 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Emma first year student at the Royal Princess Academy is not interested in learning proper posture,how to plan a princess party or how to set a royal table she had rather kick a soccer ball, run races with her cousin Prince Ben and and most of all she dreams of the day she will ride a dragon. When Emma learns the dragons in her kingdom are becoming ill she puts together a dragon kit and sets out to solve the mystery and save the dragons.


HIGHLY RECOMMENDED EARLY CHAPTER BOOK

CB

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this chapter book about spunky Princess Emma, who dances to the beat of her own drummer - she hates pink, likes goofy dogs instead of fancy poodles, and REALLY wants a dragon. And she's compassionate and smart - whether consoling BFF Rapunzel with ice cream, or solving the mystery of dragons becoming sick, she's Grrl Power incarnate. I know two spunky 6-year-old girls who will LOVE this book!

[Tori Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loves this book. The pages are all worn and tattered because she sleeps with it. I highly recommend it for your princess who has her own beat and just needs to learn to accept herself for who she is: a spunky princess who'd rather tame dragons in her sneakers than dance at parties in her glass slippers.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute early chapter book. I like how the princess who saves the day is more of a Tomboy. The characters, particularly, the main one, Emma are well-developed likable and funny. The plot moves quickly and holds the reader's interest. Princess fans will not be disappointed.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it when Princess Emma met the gnomes. I liked it when princess Emma got to ride the dragon. And I like it because she is a princess that wants to ride dragons and likes to do sports. I think it was a good story.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A subversive princess book, really the only kind of princess book I like. Good for animal, dragon, and princess lovers alike, k-2nd grade.

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling book.
Perfect for 3rd grade girls.
Order.

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so adorable, and I love the illustrations.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like the part when Emma figures out why the dragons aren't working properly.

[Kaytee · Rating 5 out of 5]

emma was a clumsy princess and she loved dragons she wanted to meet one then she went to dragon caverns and then they lost there sparkle when it was birthday she got a pet dragon THE END

[Elizabeth]

Aww, this was fun :)

[Britt, Book Habitue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fun. Easily finished reading it to MeiMei in 2 sittings.