Princess Picky

by Marjorie Priceman

Princess Nicki has perfect posture, wears perfect princess attire, and has perfectly memorized every chapter of "Manners for Monarchs" -- but she refuses to eat her vegetables. From Caldecott Honor recipient Marjorie Priceman comes a droll, playful story about a perfectly picky eater.

Genres: Food, Picture Books, Royalty, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Marjorie A. Priceman is an American writer or illustrator of more than 30 children's picture books including two Caldecott Honor Books (runners-up for the Caldecott Medal). Her first picture book, Friend or Frog, was published in 1989, soon after her graduation from the Rhode Island School of Design.[citation needed] Priceman's books are known for their bright watercolors, free-flowing lines and whimsical spirit. Her illustrations to When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street (1997) by Elsa Okon Rael have been described as "religiously authentic and playful at the same time".

One of her most popular books is Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, which she illustrated. She lives in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Mh Weyler]

again probably the more humorous by my own experience with a sweet "Princess Picky" who has yet to learn to eat everything--unlike the princess in this story.

[Courtney Raymer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal response: I really enjoyed this book because I believe it is a good amount of advanced for a young age group. The vocabulary is an equal mixture of words a child would know and what they wouldn't know. The pictures I believe really bring this book to life. There are a lot of different characters that come in and out of the book and the pictures make it easy for children to follow through color and organization. An example of this would be when a person such as the seamstress tries to encourage Princess Picky to eat a vegetable the illustrator sets a full two pages to the theme of clothing and the children can really understand the idea of the character.

Purposes:
read aloud for enrichment
- this is something children can relate to because most children don't like eating their vegetables and they can see a fun way of getting to do so
-they can also see the whole idea of growing up and the importance of eating healthy
- rich language: there is a wide variety of vocabulary for children to learn, more complex and compound sentences, also a use of dialogue that children will have to follow (this will allow children to understand multiple people can talk to each other and there can be different voices)
-these pictures have a different style of art to them and this can expose a child to a different type of imagination by the way the author drew, his lines and colors are what make the children think

[Mackenzie Sipes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book had a good story line with a common life lesson that a lot of children can relate to. I think the most important thing about the book is illustrations. The pictures have a lot for you to look at during read aloud. The books also includes a lot of extensive vocabulary that can make for great discussion.

Purpose:
Read aloud- I think the illustration would be fun for kids in kindergarten or first grade to look at while reading aloud. The story line is a fun story just for enjoyment. It also proivdes discussion about likes and dislikes and plenty of other questions that can be asked during read aloud.
Curriculum- The story provides a lot of new words and phrases the children can be exposed to. It can also be used for a lesson in problem and solution. There is many attempts in this story where a problem is try ing to be solved. THis can also be beneficial in retelling of the story too.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebellious Princess Nicki has stopped eating her vegetables, earning her the nickname (thanks to the royal kitchen help) "Princess Picky." The king orders palace staff to devise a way to get the princess back on track. While not as charming as James Thurber's "Many Moons," this clever story, with its whimsical illustrations, is quite satisfying to this lover of vegetables and happy endings.

[Christine Turner]

When Nicki refuses to eat her vegetables, she goes from being called Princess Perfect to Princess Picky, and the worried king orders his staff to create bribes fit for a finicky royal eater.

Subject: Princesses -- Juvenile fiction
Food habits -- Juvenile fiction.
Vegetables -- Juvenile fiction.
Princesses -- Juvenile fiction.
Vegetables -- Juvenile fiction.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd had this on my list for ages, and finally got a copy from the Boston Library to read to my nephews. The 2 year old did not pay attention but the 4 year old really liked this story about a princess who is coaxed into eating her vegetables.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eating your veggies will help you get everything you wish for :)