The Storytelling Princess

by Rafe Martin, Kimberly Bulcken Root (Illustrations)

Having survived a shipwreck, a princess tries to tell a prince a story whose ending he does not know and thus qualify for his hand in marriage. Jr Lib Guild. Reprint.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Adventure

32 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2001

About the author

Rafe Martin is an award-winning author and storyteller, as well as a lay Zen teacher in the Harada-Yasutani koan line. He is founding teacher of Endless Path Zendo, Rochester, NY.

He is the recipient of the prestigious Empire State Award for the body of his work, as well as multiple American Library Association Notable Book Awards and Parent's Choice Gold Awards. He has been featured at such storytelling events as the Joseph Campbell Festival of Myth and Story, The Sierra Storytelling Festival, and the National Storytelling Festival. He is the father of two grown children and lives with his wife, Rose, in Rochester, NY.

Reviews

[Leah Mullenaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was about a Prince and a Princess who lived in faraway places, and were both destined to marry someone. Both of them detested the idea of marrying someone who their parents picked out, and they wanted to choose their wife/husband for themselves. The Prince said that he would marry the Princess who could tell him a story with an ending that he didn't know, for he had read every book ever written. The Princess's father didn't accept her wishes of marrying the man she chose, so he sailed her off to meet her future husband. The Princess' ship got stuck in a storm, and she floated to shore holding on to a trunk full of a sailor's uniform and some silver. She put on the uniform and hat, and then saw the notice about the Prince looking for a Princess and decided that she could be the one to tell him an ending he'd never heard because she knew lots of stories. She met the prince and when all else failed, she told him her story. He was so captivated, and she realized that she liked him, so she told him the ending and exposed herself. They got married and realized that they were destined to marry all along, and he was the Prince she was sent off to meet.
It was a cute, interesting story. I enjoyed the unexpected ending and all of the twists and turns in-between! I also liked the way that the princess was portrayed as a strong, independent woman and she was wise enough to pick out her future husband. She didn't want to settle for just anyone that her parents picked out; very impressive!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An original story written in the style of a folktale.

[Chrissy Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I would place it into various categories such as adventure, storytelling, princess, romance, and more! I'm sure this book would appeal to young children both boys and girls because of it's wide range of attraction. This story had a lot of loose ends that all got tied up at the end, such as the Princess finding her family, and the her and the Prince finding each other. I found it interesting how this book was about a person who knew so much about books, but couldn't think up the ending of his own story. It kind of made me think of a theme that would go along the lines of "always expect the unexpected". Overall, I would recommend this book to my students! This would teach them to use their imagination. The illustrations in this story were very detailed, and extremely life-like!

[Mei Chen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storytelling princess by Rafe Martin
Review by Mei Chen

It is a story about two kingdoms arranged a marriage of the prince and princess, but none of them like this marriage, they both wanted to pick the one to get marry with. The prince made a deal with his father if anyone who can tell him a story whose ending he des not know, he will marry with the princess his father picked. Then the king post the proclamation everywhere in the country also offered a big reward. On the other side, princess boarded the ship and sailed across the ocean, there was a terrible storm, broke her ship and washed her out into the ocean, and she finally grabbed a trunk when she was exhausted, after she woke up she has landed on the beach, she changed the sailor’s clothes, and also saw the proclamation. She went to the prince’s throne room and told him her story, during the storytelling time prince realized she is the princess, and they also fell in love with each other.

The prince and the princess did not know they are the one who they will choose to marry, but destiny brought them together, without the deal from the prince and the king, the princess will never have a chance to have time sharing her stories to the prince, and prince would never exclaim the princess from the story is brave and wanted to see the her.

The title of this story is clear, “the storytelling princess” summarized the main content. The images from this book are pretty and understandable, it also has small images of the story and appeared in first letter’s shape, it helps kids concentrate on this book with words and the images.

Overall, I felt kids or parents can not learn something from this book, it is a fantasy story, not realistic, can not bring people into the story.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was an enjoyable read. The pictures were beautifully done and showed the story very clearly. The plot was interesting. The story was about a prince who wanted to marry a girl who could tell him a story he's never heard before. I thought the ending of the book was really clever too. It doesn't end exactly how you think it would. It relates to how the prince wanted to hear a story that ended differently from all the ones that he has read. I thought this was a very good book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child, every time I would go to the library I would check this book out. I mean, every single time. This was and is my adolescent memories in a wrap. I was so happy that I found it again even though I'm an adult now (I moved away from that library). Now, I read it to my much younger sister and she really enjoys it, too.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this I don’t know how many times. It is one of my favorite books of all time, if not my favorite. It was my first fantasy adventure, and it has taught me so much about life and love (and killer fashion!). I could not contain my love for this book in a thousand universes. I seriously adore it that much.

I first read this when I was five. It was the perfect age. Recommended for your kids as soon as they learn how to read. It’s a lovely story that fosters sweeping imagination, critical thinking, and deep love.

AAAAAHHHHHH I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helped me in so many ways. It’s one of the very few books that defined my life.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute modern fairytale with a twist. There are better modern fairytales that switch the rhetoric of the prince saving the princess - this one is middling, but it is worth a read.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book about living the life YOU choose. 😊

[Leeza · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌊👑📚 Once there was a princess who sailed across the ocean. 📚👑🌊
A new favorite 😭💕 This was such a precious story!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story about a prince and a princess who discover they are meant to be together in more ways than one.

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zest for life, heaps of books and double twists that tingle time after time, this newfangled fairy tale serves a thrilling mix of stormy seas, storytelling, romance and strong-willed women.

You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.

More Valentine's Day reading on JOMB:
The Frog Prince Continued
Falling For Rapunzel
Cinderella Skeleton
Mummy Never Told Me
Taj Mahal
Such A Prince
Yuck. A Love Story
The Penderwicks On Gardam Street
The Hound from the Pound
Victor and Christabel
The Twelve Dancing Princesses

You can find more books about books, reading and language on JOMB here.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read aloud! My students gasped at the right times and chuckled at the right times. They really got a kick out of the story. It kind of reminded me of a Bill Peet story. There are lots of twists and turns and it's longer than you might think a picture book should be - but it sure works well!

I loved that the princess was a strong character. I also loved that they both loved to read and knew many many stories!

At the end, we talked about the lesson from the story. I said perhaps the lesson was that we should always listen to our parents, after all, she ended up marrying the prince that they had picked for her. One student wisely responded that maybe the lesson is that we should trust kids because they'll make the right decision if we let them. Wisdom!

[Casey Koch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rafe Martin takes us on an adventure of a shipwrecked princess, a well-read prince, and their budding romance in, The Storytelling Princess. Our story begins in two kingdoms oceans apart. The Kings of each land proclaim that it is time their royal children be married. "I'd rather be washed overboard in a storm at sea”, responds the princess. The prince, having read all the books in the land concedes to the King’s wishes on one condition. The King must find "someone who can tell me a story whose ending I don't know". Does the Prince find his match? You’ll have to read the tale to find out.

Kimberly Bulcken Root artfully emotes a feeling of adventure in her illustrations within this book. Watercolor-and-pencil illustrations in subtle hues with highlights of gold and red cleverly capture the nature of the characters and the essence of action. Wide borders frame the full-page scenes and call for our attention by incorporating complementary details. Keeping with the era (medieval) from which this tale was told, Root imparts illuminated lettering at appropriate paragraph beginnings.

Told in the structure of a traditional tale, the story has many motifs that will be familiar to readers who will, ironically, sense the ending to the story long before it is clear to the prince. That predictability is nonetheless genuinely satisfying, as there are enough elements of excitement and energy within the action and the telling to engage and maintain children's attention. It seems to me that this book would be appropriate for readers from age K-Grade3. Although be prepared to explain what it means to “tack”, or “yaw” if your young readers are not schooled in nautical vernacular, just as I was not.

[Beatriz Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the book because I liked how on the cover there was a princess on a treasure box on the beach shore, and I love princess fairy tales. The whole book had illustrations as if someone had water painted each page, they looked beautiful and I appreciated the illustrator's work.

I really enjoyed this book, it is a book that both little girls and little boys would like because it involves a princess and a prince. The prince and princess were very stubborn and they did not want to have arranged marriages by their parents. The prince would get married to the girl that told him a story with an ending that he did not know. He thought that was a good condition, because he had read a lot of books and it would be impossible for him to not know a story's ending. On the other side, the princess wanted a prince whom she chose herself. If she did not choose him, she would rather be sucked into an ocean storm! The princess should have been careful for what she wished for because she ends up being washed overboard her royal ship into the dark sea. The princess ends up wandering around a strange city and the adventure begins. She ends up meeting the prince and from there she tells him a story that he does not know the ending to. The ending is very predictable as the princess ends up being reunited with her family and ends up marrying a very special prince.

[Shawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I chose the "The Storytelling Princess" to try something different. The always say "never judge a book by it's cover." As soon as I started this read I was bored. The illustrations were plain and not appealing. The story was ver predictable. The pictures might as well have been in black and white.
The story begins with the prince and the pricess not wanting to get married. The prince comes up with the idea of only wanting to marry a princess who can tell him a story he doesnt't know the ending to. The Princess said she rather be swepted out to sea than marry someone she did not pick.
The princess and the prince ended up falling in love with eachother.
There is a line in the book where the mother found her daughter alive "My dear G-!" I thought "Oh my gosh!", would have done just fine. I think if I was a kid listening to this story I would have been bored out of my mind. Maybe that is why the book was a success? It helps kids fall asleep. I'm still wondering why a dobermin pincher was in the picture when they found the prince and the princess together? Also why was there a mess of books all over the place? Does the prince not have any servants to clean up for him? How this book won any rewardsd is beyond me?

[Xiaoxiao Zhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Princesses these days don't just wander through the forest singing to woodland creatures and waiting for their prince. This princess braves a shipwreck, disguises herself as a sailor and weaves her own tale on her way to winning the prince's heart. It's a charming, if a bit predictable, take on the modern fairytale.

I loved the illustrations in this book. I thought that the meaning and point of the story was really cute especially if you were reading this book to little girls. It's inspirational because they little girl is determined to do it her way and even though things may not go how she expected, it still all works out in the end and is fun to read and follow along.

I thought this was a cute story. I think it is easy to hold children's attention because the story is very clear and it's one of the stories where you wonder what is going to happen next. I enjoyed reading the story and waiting to find out what would happen next. I though it was a good book!

I found this to be a great, fun story. The illustrations were very colorful and unique, and they complemented the story very well. It's not your ordinary princess story, which makes it all the more fun. Children would definitely find this to be an interesting tale, filled with adventure and romance.

[Daniella Variale · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Storytelling Princess is a captivating story about a prince and princess who object to arranged marriages. The prince, who is an avid reader, says he will only marry a princess that can tell him a story with an ending he does not know. The princess says she would rather be lost at sea than be forced to marry someone. The strong and independent personalities of both these main characters are notable and unique.
I can imagine this book being a success among children because of the large amount of irony in it. In my experience with children, they often think irony is funny. For example, the irony of the princess telling the prince her own personal story, which he judges to be fake though the audience knows it is not, is something that can easily enthuse a child.
This story also has numerous layers to it because there are more problems for the characters as it progresses. This makes it easy to initiate discussion with children about the different dilemmas for each character.
Lastly, I enjoyed this book because of its traditional "happily ever after" ending. I take pleasure in finding different stories other than the well-known classics that joyously finish with the same slogan.

[Victoria Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the book, The Storytelling Princess, by Rafe Martin, describes the devotion of a prince and princes wanting to find true love. A young prince and princess have their sole-mate picked out for them however they have an entire different decision on that. Two kings announce to their child that they have chosen their wife/husband for them and it was time to get married. However, both of the young adults do not feel that it is right. The princess and her family go to meet this prince, but their ship gets wrecked. The princess is thrown from the ship and found safely on a trunk that floats her to shore. Once ashore the princess goes to the prince to try and tell him a story that he does not know. Over the time of her telling him the story they begin to fall in love. The two get married and live happily ever after with the prince/princess of their choice.
This book stood out to me because it is not like the other fairy tales. It does not have the stereotypical plot of a normal fairy tale. The artwork is outstanding in this book. I feel that the illustrator took her time to make the illustration come to life when the reader is reading the book.

[Nikkibr89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Storytelling Princess’ portrays a young prince and princess who are both willful and love reading. Separately they refuse to marry their arranged partner insisting that only they will choose who they marry. In a tragic accident on the open seas the princess is washed overboard and finds herself in a foreign land in sailors clothes. She uses the disguise to win money in a context to tell the prince a story that he did not know the ending to. Bewildered by the amount of books he had read, she decided to tell the tale of her own journey and he became enthralled. By the end of the tale they choose to marry each other unaware that they were each other’s intended match from the beginning.
This book has so many wonderful qualities to it that can be used throughout the classroom. It can be used to teach independence and choice, it can be used to teach about verbal stories and their benefit, it can even be used to teach about what women can accomplish when they set their mind to it.

[Analissa Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

For children this book can either be a fairytale about how a prince and a princess came to marry, or it could be a lesson that everyone has their own story. When reading this book I could see that this was going to be a unique story line when the prince says he wants someone to tell him a story with a ending he did not know because many stories have very similar plot. As an adult reading this children's book, what I go from it was, everyone has their own story and everyone's story is different with a different ending. Sometimes people should be reminded this because it shows how each person stands out in their own way. This is something children should learn young because perhaps if they ever wanted to become an author they know of at least one story that will eventually have a unique end, their own.

[Alaina Sloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading this book aloud to groups of mixed-age children in the library, ranging from kindergarten all the way up to 3d grade. The story of an adventurous princess who refuses to have an arranged marriage and sets off to find her own prince, and the story of a prince who refuses to have an arranged marriage and only agrees to marry someone "who can tell me a story whose ending I don't know." The princess (disguised as a sailor) finds herself in a another kingdom taking up the challenge broadcast all over the kingdom to tell the prince a story whose ending he doesn't know. As they battle wits over the story, the kids quickly figure out that this prince is the one the princess was supposed to marry in the first place and they love seeing how the prince and the princess figure it out, too.

[Kyounga Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Title
The title is a good summary of this book. It is not a fancy title, but it reveals the plot of the book which is good for children to understand the role of a title in a book.

The Illustration
The illustration is very detailed and the painting is very artistic in which children feel like they are watching a fantasy movie. Each page's picture is like a high-end work.

The story
This story is a little bit like Anderson's fairy tales which promote children's imagination. But there is a different. The princess, the main character is very independent and adventurous in the book, whereas the the female characters of Anderson's book are depicted as a traditional woman who is passive, introvert. This book is a modern version of Anderson's fairy tales. It gives many lesson to children: adventure, creativity, and independence.

[Kendall Kraiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book; however I did not love it. I thought the story was cute but the way the author wrote the book was...boring at times. The illustrations were okay (I think children between grades 1 and 3 would enjoy it). It did go against the usually prince saves the princess story which could open a discussion about gender issues (which is the category that this book feel under). I would probably do an activity before, during, and after the book that had to do with predictions (I'm sure everyone will think that the prince saves the princess before the reading). It will show the children that we have certain perspectives about people that might not be true and that it is important to not judge someone before you get to know them.

[Nicholas Linsk · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Storytelling princess was about a young prince and princess who made pre-arranged marriages for each of them. Neither one knows each other, and was both opposed to the idea and would one marry who they chose. The prince who loved to read would marry a princess who could tell him a story whose ending he could not guess. The princess would rather be washed out a sea rather than marry a prince who she did not choose. The princess gets washed out to see and survives only to be washed up on the beach where the prince lives. By telling him her real story he is unable to guess the ending and they win each other hearts. However they find out that they were indeed the two that their parents had arranged to marry from the start. They all lived happily ever after.

[Jenna White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. I chose it because it sounds like it would be appealing to little girls that would be my students because every girl dreams of being a princess when they are young. It was a happy ending that will make everyone feel good. It would be a good lesson to teach about pursuing your dreams and not letting anything get in the way of them. Also, it teaches kids stand up to those people who do not necessarily support you 100%. I loved how the girl is reunited with her family at the end after being separated at sea.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH, I just loved this book. There were many different levels and twists throughout the book. The price and princess are engaged, but they both want to chose their own partners. Throughout the book we see that they two actually pick each other. It does have a gooshy ending, but the stories that are told throughout the book make it good. The detail is wonderuful and the illustrator used great detail in the paintings. The book is fun and past paced, so no one would get bored reading it. I truly enjoyed this book.

[Michelle Lasser · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of the book sounds a lot more interesting than the book actually is. I feel like I was really excited towards the beginning about the whole idea and what seemed like it would be a semi-romantic plot, but I was quite disappointed. I feel the story got more and more boring as I read on. I really liked the plot in general but the lack of detail of the stories she told the prince made me feel like the book was missing pages. I suppose I just wanted the story to be elaborated, and it wasn't a very successful short story.

[Elayna Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The princess only wanted what she wanted. She told her parents she rather be swept overboard in a storm at sea than marry a prince she didn't choose for herself. And that is exactly what she did. She set off on her own and in time she came to a big city. In the big city she told some stories about a thing or two. She was then ussured into the prince thrown room. She said "you think you can tell me a story i don't know". Well you cant. STORY AFTER STORY. I feel like this story would be appropriate in elementary aged students. It is on the longer side and has a lot of words.