Books › The Frog Princess
The Frog Princess
First published 2004 · 240 pages
A delightfully swampy, fractured fairy tale that proves sometimes you have to lose your crown to find your true self.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like splashing through a sunlit swamp with your best friend. It is a delightfully irreverent take on classic fairy tales, trading glass slippers for webbed toes and stuffy ballrooms for muddy adventures. The narrative moves at a brisk, joyful pace, carried by a heroine whose awkwardness is her greatest charm. The prose is snappy and accessible, filled with witty banter and physical comedy that keeps the tone lighthearted even when the stakes rise. It is a story about shedding the suffocating expectations of others and discovering that true confidence often looks a little messy. Perfect for readers who prefer their princesses with a loud laugh, a clumsy streak, and a healthy dose of independence.
- Mood
- whimsical
- cheerful
- swampy
- lighthearted
- Tone
- humorous
- irreverent
- playful
- wry
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- subverting expectations · unlikely friendships · inner confidence · redefining royalty
- The writing
- Accessible and snappy, relying heavily on witty banter and physical comedy to maintain a buoyant energy.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from feeling awkward and inadequate under royal expectations to discovering self-assurance and genuine connection in an entirely new skin.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love fractured fairy tales, spunky and imperfect heroines, and humorous animal adventures.
Content notes
- mild peril
About the book
Princess Emeralda aka Emma isn't exactly an ideal princess. Her laugh is more like a donkey's bray than tinkling bells, she trips over her own feet and she does not like Prince Jorge, whom her mother hopes she will marry. But if Emma ever thought to escape her troubles, she never expected it to happen by turning into a frog! When convinced to kiss a frog so he might return to being a prince, somehow the spell is reversed and Emma turns into a frog herself! Thus begins their adventure--a quest to return to human form.
Fascinating and hilarious characters ranging from a self-conscious but friendly bat to a surprisingly loyal snake and a wise green witch confirm that readers won't soon forget this madcap story. A fantastic debut from the talented E.D. Baker.
Description from Open Library.
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