Magic Growing Powder

by Janet Quin-Harkin, Art Cumings (Illustrator)

Despondent over being short, King Max promises half his kingdom and his daughter's hand for some magic growing powder.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1981

About the author

Janet Quin-Harkin is a pseudonym of Rhys Bowen

Rhys turned to writing children’s books under her married name, Janet Quin-Harkin. Her first picture book was an immediate success and won several awards. More picture books followed, then her agent asked her to write a book for young adults. This was a turning point in Rhys’s career. Her first young adult novel was an instant hit. By her third she was selling half a million copies. Many more popular YA novels followed until Rhys decided she had said all she wanted to say about teenage love and angst, and she turned her real love—mysteries.

Reviews

[Grace & Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a favorite of mine as a kid and now my girls, age six, enjoy it as well. The king dislikes being short, so he decides to buy a growing powder from two men who are traveling through his kingdom. His daughter, however, cautions him, and makes the men go through a series of tests to prove the validity of said powder. It's a great tale about accepting yourself for who you are, and it features a strong, smart heroine in our princess. What's not to love? It holds up through the years, too.

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story!

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The story brought to mind many things, such as dealing with being different, working past insecurities, not playing the fool, using wisdom and testing the legitimacy of things. I loved how the daughter encouraged her father. (She would have made a superb queen.)

This book would make a great family read aloud. I'm sure that a wonderfully rich discussion would follow.

[Nurture Waratah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story that highlights the importance of being happy with who you are because even the smallest person can be great. The book is well illustrated and the story is entertaining and funny enough to have your kids laughing out loud. Kids will love it.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The king is a short man who has a complex about his height, so he fell for it when two men tell him their magic powder will cause him to grow taller. His daughter, the princess, doesn’t believe them so uses her own cleverness to rescue the king and expose the men’s trickery. Nicely illustrated.

[Coral · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're always up for fairy tales where the smart princess is the one who saves the day.

[Kelly Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

About a king who wants to be taller. His daughter tricks two frauds into thinking they've grown. I didn't care for this book at all, too many loose ends.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book to read aloud about loving and accepting yourself.