THE PRINCESS GOWN

No princess-loving reader could resist this lovely confection. But beyond the pretty dresses to gaze upon, a well-crafted and thoughtful story keeps the pages turning as well. Hanna’s father, a tailor who aspires to be “Embroiderer to the Princess,” enters his wedding dress in a kingdom-wide contest. The family has gone into debt creating the masterpiece, and if it doesn’t win, Hanna’s mother says that the family will end up in the poorhouse. The night before the contest, Hanna discovers a spot on the dress that may or may not have been her fault. Everyone panics, but Hanna and her grandmother discover a unique way to cover it, by embroidering the princess’s favorite animal, a squirrel, on the corner of the dress. Not only does the dress win, but the style becomes all the rage. The entertaining plot, inspired by an actual event, supports themes of rising above mistakes, creativity and courage. Laugesen’s soft, sweeping artwork, especially of all the dresses, is practically edible. A tale fit for a princess, or at least an aspiring one. (Picture book. 4-6)