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The Search for the Scepter
When Princesses Rosalie and Scarlet went to bed on a breezy summer night, they didn’t expect to awake to such a fright. Their father, the King’s, scepter was taken by a thief.
The royal family was in utter disbelief. The princesses sneak out of bed and find a small clue. There mission is clear, they know what they must do. Along their journey, they meet friends who help them track the thief down. Will they find him and return the scepter to their father who wears the crown?
The royal family was in utter disbelief. The princesses sneak out of bed and find a small clue. There mission is clear, they know what they must do. Along their journey, they meet friends who help them track the thief down. Will they find him and return the scepter to their father who wears the crown?
38 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2020
12 people want to read
About the author
Julie Dinges
1 book14 followersAward-winning children's book author, Julie Dinges, lives in Ohio with her husband and two daughters. She loves being outside, cooking, traveling, watching science fiction movies, and reading fantasy books to her girls. Julie spent many years as a technical writer before shifting focus to website design.
One of Julie’s greatest ambitions was to write a book. She is excited to share her first published creation, The Search for the Scepter, and hopes it sparks imagination and inspiration for all who read of the princesses’ quest.
Awards and Honors:
Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient
Story Monsters Approved Winner
Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Recipient
Editorial Reviews:
"...Young picture book readers (and, especially, parents looking for colorful, original read-alouds) will find The Search for the Scepter a fitting story of courage, determination, and world wonders that ultimately provides lessons about finding support and friendships in unexpected places." —Midwest Book Review
“Quests and magic thrill the imagination, providing a healthy staple for creativity. A thief has entered the palace and stolen the king’s scepter. Finding a tiny clue, the king’s young daughters know just what to do. And…the adventure begins! Follow them as their determination leads them through their magical kingdom. A great story of bravery, determination, and loss and recovery.” —Story Monsters Ink
“...As a frequent reader of children’s literature, I am always pleased to see rhymes so excellently executed. Author Julie Dinges has created a beautiful story about two young princesses, Rosalie and Scarlet, who set out to do the right thing, even though it’s a little scary. Children’s books often incorporate elements of magic and wonder, but few do so as beautifully as The Search for the Scepter. Rosalie and Scarlet encounter many mystical beings during their search for the elusive thief, all of which are wonderfully designed and uniquely imaginative. The illustrations, done by Nazar Horokhivskyi, colorfully bring the story to life. Julie Dinges has created a one of a kind work in The Search for the Scepter, and I look forward to seeing if Rosalie and Scarlet find themselves in more adventures in future books. Well done!” —Joshua Soule for Readers' Favorite
One of Julie’s greatest ambitions was to write a book. She is excited to share her first published creation, The Search for the Scepter, and hopes it sparks imagination and inspiration for all who read of the princesses’ quest.
Awards and Honors:
Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient
Story Monsters Approved Winner
Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Recipient
Editorial Reviews:
"...Young picture book readers (and, especially, parents looking for colorful, original read-alouds) will find The Search for the Scepter a fitting story of courage, determination, and world wonders that ultimately provides lessons about finding support and friendships in unexpected places." —Midwest Book Review
“Quests and magic thrill the imagination, providing a healthy staple for creativity. A thief has entered the palace and stolen the king’s scepter. Finding a tiny clue, the king’s young daughters know just what to do. And…the adventure begins! Follow them as their determination leads them through their magical kingdom. A great story of bravery, determination, and loss and recovery.” —Story Monsters Ink
“...As a frequent reader of children’s literature, I am always pleased to see rhymes so excellently executed. Author Julie Dinges has created a beautiful story about two young princesses, Rosalie and Scarlet, who set out to do the right thing, even though it’s a little scary. Children’s books often incorporate elements of magic and wonder, but few do so as beautifully as The Search for the Scepter. Rosalie and Scarlet encounter many mystical beings during their search for the elusive thief, all of which are wonderfully designed and uniquely imaginative. The illustrations, done by Nazar Horokhivskyi, colorfully bring the story to life. Julie Dinges has created a one of a kind work in The Search for the Scepter, and I look forward to seeing if Rosalie and Scarlet find themselves in more adventures in future books. Well done!” —Joshua Soule for Readers' Favorite
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 11, 2020
I received this book from RockstarBookTours in exchange of an honest review.
A scepter is stolen and two princesses are on the case to find it again. For their father. For the kingdom. The premise sounded amazing and I can tell you that the story was just as amazing. The kingdom the girls live in is one of magic and beauty. From genies to mermaids to unicorns. There is so much to explore and I was happy that I could go with the girls on a quest. Because I wouldn’t want to have missed out on this.
I did think it was a tad too hilarious and coincidental that he kept escaping every magical creatures grasp, well except one. I would have liked it to be a bit more exciting in that he keeps getting almost caught but then escapes before the girls get here. I think that would have made things a bit better.
The book is also in rhyme and that made the story even more fun for me.
Can I just say that I loved that the princesses slept not on just one mattress, but each had 5 of them in bright and fun colours? It reminded me of the Princess and the Pea story.
I loved the ending, and I am so happy with it. I am also happy that the adults all treat the girls as full, and not like many children’s books have them treated as if they cannot do anything. In this book no one stops them, everyone encourages them. Everyone loves seeing the girls do this quest and they support them and help them.
Plus points to the map at the end! I just love it when maps are added to books.
The art is gorgeous. I love the designs of the creatures, the humans, and the surroundings. I definitely lost myself in the story and it felt as if I was there with the girls.
I would recommend this book, it was fun, magical, whimsical, and you will cheer for the girls.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
A scepter is stolen and two princesses are on the case to find it again. For their father. For the kingdom. The premise sounded amazing and I can tell you that the story was just as amazing. The kingdom the girls live in is one of magic and beauty. From genies to mermaids to unicorns. There is so much to explore and I was happy that I could go with the girls on a quest. Because I wouldn’t want to have missed out on this.
I did think it was a tad too hilarious and coincidental that he kept escaping every magical creatures grasp, well except one. I would have liked it to be a bit more exciting in that he keeps getting almost caught but then escapes before the girls get here. I think that would have made things a bit better.
The book is also in rhyme and that made the story even more fun for me.
Can I just say that I loved that the princesses slept not on just one mattress, but each had 5 of them in bright and fun colours? It reminded me of the Princess and the Pea story.
I loved the ending, and I am so happy with it. I am also happy that the adults all treat the girls as full, and not like many children’s books have them treated as if they cannot do anything. In this book no one stops them, everyone encourages them. Everyone loves seeing the girls do this quest and they support them and help them.
Plus points to the map at the end! I just love it when maps are added to books.
The art is gorgeous. I love the designs of the creatures, the humans, and the surroundings. I definitely lost myself in the story and it felt as if I was there with the girls.
I would recommend this book, it was fun, magical, whimsical, and you will cheer for the girls.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
December 9, 2020
I reviewed this enchanting rhyming fairytale of two little Princesses of a Royal family that have been robbed of their family scepter. They take matters into their own hands and go on a wondrous journey in search of the thief to get the scepter back. It’s a fun story for little kids that they will surely enjoy!
December 11, 2020
I was granted complimentary access to a digital review copy of The Search for the Scepter by the author through Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to all involved for the opportunity! This has not swayed my opinion. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
The Search for the Scepter is the story of princesses Rosalie and Scarlet as they travel all over their magical realm in search of the thief who has just broken into the royal library and stolen the royal scepter. It’s a fun adventure full of fairytale creatures and two brave little girls who will surely inspire generations of little girls to come! I thought it was charming and a lot of fun. As I’m writing this review my daughter has already gone to bed, but I’ll be sure to pull the file up again and let her take a look tomorrow, because I know she’ll love it!
The illustrations are absolutely stunning! Nazar Horokhivskyi has done an amazing job of creating a rich, beautiful world to match this story. As a fellow illustrator, I’m quite impressed with the level of detail in every illustration. My favourites are the unicorns (because horse lover, it’s a given) and the dragon. I lingered on the dragon page, both admiring the way the fire was rendered but also taking in the clever design of what looks very much like a spikier cousin of the frilled-neck lizard.
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I read this title for a blog tour! To read the rest of the post and gain easy access to the rest of the tour, visit: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p... (post goes live 12 Dec 2020)
The Search for the Scepter is the story of princesses Rosalie and Scarlet as they travel all over their magical realm in search of the thief who has just broken into the royal library and stolen the royal scepter. It’s a fun adventure full of fairytale creatures and two brave little girls who will surely inspire generations of little girls to come! I thought it was charming and a lot of fun. As I’m writing this review my daughter has already gone to bed, but I’ll be sure to pull the file up again and let her take a look tomorrow, because I know she’ll love it!
The illustrations are absolutely stunning! Nazar Horokhivskyi has done an amazing job of creating a rich, beautiful world to match this story. As a fellow illustrator, I’m quite impressed with the level of detail in every illustration. My favourites are the unicorns (because horse lover, it’s a given) and the dragon. I lingered on the dragon page, both admiring the way the fire was rendered but also taking in the clever design of what looks very much like a spikier cousin of the frilled-neck lizard.
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I read this title for a blog tour! To read the rest of the post and gain easy access to the rest of the tour, visit: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p... (post goes live 12 Dec 2020)
December 11, 2020
This was such a fun mixture of fantasy and adventure in a children’s book! I loved the wonderful characters, and the mission the girls are on to rescue the scepter!
The two main characters in this story are two sisters and princesses. They awake to find a thief has stolen their father’s scepter and decide to take matters into their own hands and get it back! I loved that this adventure was just the two of them, striking out on their own to save something that is special to their father.
The princesses find that this thief continues to be one step ahead of them, but they are persistent. Along the way, they come across a variety of characters that are able to point the girls in the right direction. We meet magicians, mermaids, dragons, and so many others! My children loved this! It was exciting, and kept them very engaged!
The illustrations were great. They really fit the story and helped to show what was happening. At the end of the story, there is a map that helps the reader trace the girls’ path to find the scepter. It was an excellent addition!
Overall, this was a wonderful children’s book filled with exciting elements. It was a well-written story that kept my kids engaged, and I highly recommend it!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
The two main characters in this story are two sisters and princesses. They awake to find a thief has stolen their father’s scepter and decide to take matters into their own hands and get it back! I loved that this adventure was just the two of them, striking out on their own to save something that is special to their father.
The princesses find that this thief continues to be one step ahead of them, but they are persistent. Along the way, they come across a variety of characters that are able to point the girls in the right direction. We meet magicians, mermaids, dragons, and so many others! My children loved this! It was exciting, and kept them very engaged!
The illustrations were great. They really fit the story and helped to show what was happening. At the end of the story, there is a map that helps the reader trace the girls’ path to find the scepter. It was an excellent addition!
Overall, this was a wonderful children’s book filled with exciting elements. It was a well-written story that kept my kids engaged, and I highly recommend it!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
December 21, 2020
this book is the best in the world
November 28, 2020
"The Search for the Scepter" takes the reader on an exciting adventure through many lands! My daughters love books and movies that fall into the fantasy genre, but because they are young I often have a hard time finding a variety of short fantasy texts to read to them that they haven't already heard. This book brought the fantasy genre straight to them! It is written using rhyming poetry which makes it catchy to listen to. I am a fifth grade ELA teacher and I used this book to model narrative poetry to my students this year. They loved it as much as my young daughters at home loved it. I would say this book is great to use with children ages three to fourteen. If you are an educator and you teach mapping, it would be a great option to use during a mapping unit. My youngest daughter is four and after hearing it for the second time, she got paper out and began creating her own map just like the map illustrated at the back of the book. On a side note, the illustrations are breathtaking! I catch my girls just looking through the pictures as they retell the story to themselves. They are most enchanted with the illustrations of the fire breathing dragon and the unicorns. Overall, this is a great read and it can be used by educators in a multitude of ways!
November 30, 2020
Princess Rosalie and Scarlet went to bed during a breezy night. They didn't expect to be awaken to chaos. Their father's scepter was taken by thief during the night. The entire palace is in chaos and disbelief. The princesses sneak out of bed and try to find clues to the robbery. They realize if they want the thief to be caught, they will need to do it themselves. Will the princesses be able to find the thief?
The book is beautifully illustrated. I love trying to find out what was going to happen next. I like that they display many different characters. However, I didn't like the lack of diversity. There were zero people of color or with disabilities. I feel like books geared to children should show diversity to allow every child to have included.
The book is beautifully illustrated. I love trying to find out what was going to happen next. I like that they display many different characters. However, I didn't like the lack of diversity. There were zero people of color or with disabilities. I feel like books geared to children should show diversity to allow every child to have included.
December 2, 2020
“The Search for the Scepter” is a magical adventure with fun rhymes and amazing illustrations! My kids (2 and 4) love the map at the end so they can recount everywhere the princesses went!! I highly recommend this book!
November 30, 2020
The Search for the Scepter is a great children’s book by Julie Dinges. I thought it was wonderful at teaching young ones important lessons while telling a fun and entertaining story. The book is illustrated by Nazar Horokhivskyi with vibrant and colorful pictures that fit the tale perfectly. They are eye catching that will hold the attention for many younger readers.
The Search for the Scepter is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it.
I received The Search for the Scepter from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
The Search for the Scepter is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it.
I received The Search for the Scepter from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
November 5, 2020
This book was magical! My family and I loved it so much. The story of the two princesses trying to find their father's missing scepter was a sweet adventure that will inspire kids young and old. The artwork was incredible and the addition of a map to follow the girls in their adventure was a really smart bonus!
November 6, 2020
Wonderfully written and illustrated children’s book. The characters are adorable. Children will love following them through their adventures.
November 5, 2020
This book was a fun read with the kiddos. It rhymed, which kept them interested and guessing at what could happen next. Highly recommend this book!!!
July 27, 2024
A wonderfully engaging adventure from the first page. We couldn’t wait to see where Princesses Rosalie and Scarlet would end up next in their search for the family scepter. The author’s descriptive writing is accompanied by beautiful illustrations.
The Search for the Scepter is a must have addition for any child’s library.
The Search for the Scepter is a must have addition for any child’s library.
February 26, 2021
This is a cute story, but it's the illustrations that really stand out. They are lovely, colorful, and clearly illustrate the action. Text is in rhyme, though the rhythm is uneven and some of the rhymes are forced.
February 9, 2024
This was a fun whodunit!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews