Ten Big Toes and a Prince's Nose

by Nancy Gow, Stephen Costanza (Illustrator)

Overview

Poor princess! When suitors saw her feet, they ran for the door before even getting to know her. And in another land, far away, a kind prince had a similar problem: although he was funny and kind, he also had a huge nose that scared off every maiden he met. But a serendipitous meeting on a ski slope teaches this adorably flawed (and well-matched) pair an important lesson:
I am what I am and that's all right with me.
I don't have to be different, I just have to be.
I don't want to be somebody else. No sir-ree!
I am what I am and that's all right with me.
With whimsical surprises, lavish art, and a fantastical story about love and acceptance, this picture book will delight readers of any age.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402763960
Publisher:	Sterling
Publication date:	10/05/2010
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	NC660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 2—In this rhyming story, a princess is lovely and fair, "with ruby red lips and a mane of brown hair...," but she has "gigantic feet." The princes she meets cannot look past them and see her for herself. Every night the princess's mother sings a rhyme to her daughter, ending with, "I don't want to be somebody else. No sir-ree!/ I am what I am and that's all right with me." Far away lives a prince who loves to laugh. He also happens to have a "nose like a barn," and when maidens look at his beak, they say, "oops, gotta run!" Predictably, the prince's father sings him the same rhyme that the princess's mother sings to her. One day the two young people meet. The princess "glided with ease down the slopes of the Alps. (She was not wearing skis)." At first, they keep their big nose and long feet hidden, but as they fall in love, they decide to reveal the truth to one another: "They laughed and they giggled, and then he proposed." Large pastel-colored illustrations completely fill the spreads. This predictable tale carries an obvious but nonetheless important message of self-acceptance.—Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

School Library Journal

"There once was a princess so lovely and fair / with ruby red lips and a mane of brown hair. / Her voice was like honey, her smile soft and sweet... // but the beautiful princess had gigantic feet." No prince can see she is charming, because they can only see her big feet. Far away is a young prince with a nose as big as a barn. He, too, is charming, but maidens rebuff him because they can only see his gigantic nose. The obvious ensues when the two meet on a ski lift and fall in love (the princess's feet are so big they look like and act as skis, and his scarf hides his nose). Told in chatty rhyme from the title to the very last page, this cleverly plotted tale conveys its message--"I am what I am and that's all right with me"--with aplomb. The saturated colors and folk-like feel of the artwork are just right for this jaunty tale, a children's version of eHarmony.com. Fun that's just the right size. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews