La Princesa and the Pea

by Susan Middleton Elya, Juana Martinez-Neal (Illustrator)

Overview

The Princess and the Pea gets a fresh twist in this charming bilingual retelling, winner of the Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration.

El príncipe knows this girl is the one for him, but, as usual, his mother doesn’t agree.

The queen has a secret test in mind to see if this girl is really a princesa, but the prince might just have a sneaky plan, too . . .

Readers will be enchanted by this Latino twist on the classic story, and captivated by the vibrant art inspired by the culture of Peru.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399251566
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/05/2017
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	121,411
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Susan Middleton Elya is the author of many books that cleverly incorporate Spanish vocabulary into lively verse, including La Madre Goose: Nursery Rhymes for Los Niños, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, Little Roja Riding Hood, illustrated by Susan Guevara, and Oh No, Gotta Go!, illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Her writing has been described as “Perfect for bilingual classes stretching their English wings and a charming way to introduce Spanish to English speakers” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
 
Juana Martinez-Neal grew up and studied painting in Lima, Peru, and now lives with her family in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her illustrations for this book were inspired by the culture and arts of the indigenous people of Huilloc and Colca Canyon, Peru.

Editorial Reviews

★ "This engaging read-aloud is a fresh reimagining of a classic [. . .] The endearing and playful illustrations set the story in Peru [. . .] And the pea under the mattresses test? Let's just say that the prince makes sure his chosen one passes with flying colors."—School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Reading this would be a fabulous way to compare and contrast and use [readers's] knowledge of the first story and the colorful illustrations to make inferences as to meanings of words and phrases."—School Library Connection, starred review 

"The classic Hans Christian Andersen tale unfolds with Latin flair [. . . .] Martinez-Neal's darling, soft-edged mixed-media illustrations bring the brown-skinned characters to life in costumes from different regions of Peru"—Kirkus

"Martinez-Neal's illustrations, featuring stylishly exaggerated figures rendered in warm tones and delicate lines, are inspired by the textile designs of the indigenous people of Peru. With eye-catching details on every page, this book is sure to capture the imaginations of young readers. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout, and clever rhymes make this a book to enjoy more than once."—Booklist

"Martinez-Neal's graceful illustrations . . . really make this lively title a winner . . . . an enjoyable retelling for young audiences, [and] professionals looking to expand the diversity of a fairy-tale collection or unit of study will find it particularly valuable."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

★ 07/01/2017
PreS-Gr 2—The traditional Hans Christian Andersen tale gets a makeover in this modern version with a twist. In her signature style of stories peppered with a liberal dose of Spanish and humor, Elya relates the account of a prince who wants to marry and his mother, the queen, who takes charge of vetting the possible candidates. In rhyming text, the author describes the lonely prince. Then one day "came a maiden, en route to her castle…/She winked at the prince, who fell for her fast./No matter what Mom does, I'll marry this lass!" The endearing and playful illustrations set the story in Peru. The Spanish words sprinkled throughout the text are in a different color and font, and kids will easily understand them through the context. (Those in need of additional help will appreciate the glossary with definitions and pronunciations.) And the pea under the mattresses test? Let's just say that the prince makes sure his chosen one passes with flying colors. VERDICT This engaging read-aloud is a fresh reimagining of a classic. A must for all libraries.—Lucia Acosta, Children's Literature Specialist, Princeton, NJ

School Library Journal

2017-06-27
A Peruvian príncipe sets out to foil his mamá and marry the girl of his dreams in this Latinx-inspired adaptation of "The Princess and the Pea" from Spanish-language-adaptation veteran Elya (La Madre Goose, 2016, etc.).En route to her own castle, the titular princesa catches the eye of the prince, who invites her to stay the night. The classic Hans Christian Andersen tale unfolds with Latin flair in rhyming couplets sprinkled with Spanish vocabulary terms. The appeal here is for non-native speakers seeking an introduction to the language. At times the dual-language rhyme becomes awkward with phrasing that misses the mark in both languages, "The girl stretched her brazos / and yawned with her boca"—as if she'd yawn with anything other than her mouth? The text also fails to establish the mother's motive for putting the pea under the mattresses, and for this reason background knowledge of the original is a prerequisite to truly enjoy this adaption. Martinez-Neal's darling, soft-edged mixed-media illustrations bring the brown-skinned characters to life in costumes from different regions of Peru, while guinea pigs and alpaca fleece create an atmosphere of a busy rural textile industry. While the charming illustrations give this title great shelf appeal, lack of narrative depth makes it best suited for comparison with the original rather than a title that stands on its own. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

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