The author of hundreds of children's books and a Caldecott Honor author and artist have created an unforgettable princess sure to charm and delight young readers. Princess Hyacinth has a problem: she floats. How does one deal with a floating princess?
Readers will see right away that this tale of the floating princess will not be the usual princess story one may be accustomed to. Princess Hyacinth's story is quite original and is as entertaining for the adult readers as it is for their little one. The story is written in a conversational tone, adding to the fun of reading it aloud. It is also quite visually stimulating. The font changes color and size every few lines, reflecting what it reads; for example, the sentence "Princess Hyacinth floated" is located at the top of the page with the tips of the letters actually cut off the page - it looks like it's floating away! This attracts attention to the words and makes it easier and more fun for beginning readers to follow along. The pictures are a combination of sketch and watercolor (for the characters) and computer animation (for the backgrounds). Some of the pages will certainly surprise you, and you'll find yourself pausing the story for a second to study the artistic design. The character's faces, however, are left quite plain. Perhaps this is so the readers' can imagine the details.
The pictures are sure to engage your little one. Taking time to discuss what they see (what are the bushes shaped like? What are the children doing outside of the window? How is the Princess being kept from floating in this picture?) These discussions will encourage attention to detail and a fuller understanding of the story. The humor is well written and appropriate for a four-year-old, making for fun interaction with your child and the book. The humor includes things like naming the male protagonist of the story simply 'Boy', mentioning the 'royal underwear' multiple times, and the narrator's very casual tone, "Princess Hyacinth floated higher and higher. But Hey! She loved this free-bird feeling!" The fun descriptions also encourage a lively and fun read aloud; "She zoomed and caromed and cartwheeled. She did handsprings and headstands, flip-flops and fandangos..."
This was a great story to read my four year-old niece when she was sick with a fever and needed to stay inside. It was a gorgeous fall day and Emily could see the neighborhood kids outside riding their bikes with training wheels and playing in the leaves. She was glued to the window begging to go out and play, but her fever persisted. So, her mom and I read Emily this book figuring she would relate with poor Princess Hyacinth who never got to play outside because her mother was afraid she would fly away. Emily did enjoy the book and saw the lesson in it; that sometimes parents worry for good reasons.
--Audra
Florence Parry Heide is an award-winning author of more than a hundred children's books. She lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Lane Smith a Caldecott-honor-winning writer and illustrator. He lives with book designer Molly Leach in rural Connecticut.