Sir Princess Petra's Talent

The Pen Pieyu Adventures #2

by Diane Mae Robinson

Book # 2 in the Multi-Award-Winning Humorous Fantasy Series for Kids.

Sir Princess Petra has already proven she is a kind and noble knight. This, however, does not please the king and queen---they want her to behave like a princess and forget this
silly knight nonsense of hers!

But when the king writes a new rule in the royal rule book that requires her to attend Talent School and acquire a princess talent certificate or suffer the spell of the royal magician, Petra, reluctantly, agrees to go. But who could have guessed what Sir Princess Petra’s Talent would be?

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy

88 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 2013

About the author

Diane Mae Robinson is an international multi-award winning author with 15 international book awards and 1 prestigious provincial book award. Diane writes fantasy/adventure children books and children/teen non-fiction books. The author's latest release The Dragon Grammar Book is an Amazon Bestseller in Teens/Language Arts. Diane is also an artist, art teacher, writing instructor, international short story contest judge, and editor of children books.

Book Awards for Sir Princess Petra, Sir Princess Petra's Talent, Sir Princess Petra's Mission:
- 2013 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award (Literary Award)
- 2013 Purple Dragonfly Book Award
- 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Award
- 2014 Sharp Writ Book Award
- 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Award
- 2015 Children's Literary Classics Book Award
- 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award
- 2015 Los Angeles Book Fair Award
- 2016 Readers' Favorite International Book Award
- 2016 Book Excellence Award
- 2017 Children's Literary Classics Book Award
- 2019 Book Excellence Award

Book Awards for The Dragon Grammar Book:
-2018 Book Excellence Awards, Winner, Education & Academics
-2018 Readers' Favorite Book Awards, Gold Medal, Children-Education
-2018 Literary Classics International Book Awards, Gold Medal, Educational Books
-2018 Lumen Award for Literary Excellence

More about the author at www.dianemaerobinson.com

Reviews

[Julie Grasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

We journey back to the land of Pen Pieyu, with the delightful Sir Princess Petra. I really like that Ms Robinson took the time to familiarise a new reader with Petra's antics from book 1.
There have been many celebrations since Petra's momentous taming the fire breathing dragon Snarls, who subsequently has become the Royal Barbeque expert. I love it. he he. But once again our brave Petra finds herself up against the Royal Rule Book. The kind and queen in a desperate attempt to rid their young princess of all this silly Knightlyness, decree that Petra must obtain a talent from the Land Of Lost Donkeys.
Well, Petra is not perturbed. Off she goes and along her journey she is challenged by a knight with quite the penchant for pink. He is very intent on preventing her from obtaining her talent certificate. Why, I can not tell you, but it is quite hilarious. The delightful Petra always finds a way to befriend her foes and the odd pink knight, whom is called Prince Duce Crablips accompanies her to Talent School. There King Asterman does his best to get Petra to do some very silly talents like Etiquette, or Crochet, or Fainting Fast, or Cloak Sewing or worst of all in our fiercely independent princess's opinion, Preparing To Be Engaged School. Yuk! (That was from Petra not me he he)
But Petra can't be hoodwinked the way everyone who encounters Bograt the Bogwitch is. No Petra will not have a bar of all those other silly things, she wants to attend Writing School.
Petra sets to work and with her vivid imagination she writes a most excellent poem. Only after 100 pulled faces, does King Asterman ascends to give her her Writing Certificate.
Hurrah, Petra has obtained her talent, but on the way, the adventure in her spirit rears up and Petra convinces Prince Duce and Snarls to accompany her into The Vast Wilderness.
There they meet the furry Ganutes, who reveal to Petra that she is in fact not the first to venture into their lands. The irrepressive Bograt The Bogwitch has gone before them. Well, this is great news to Petra, as that is one of the Royal Rules that entitles the person to become a Knight of The Royal Court, imagine it.
So Petra returns to her kingdom and insists that Bograt be given the title she has well earned, and a great celebration is in order. But not before Petra must display her talent.
Here is the most enchanting part of the story.
Petra tells a beautiful tale, taught to her by her Nanny before she went off seeking fortune. Petra mesmorises them all with her tale and thus, the art of story telling has returned to the Land Of Pen Pieyu.

This was a wonderful story, where we see Petra's beautiful personality develop even further. I absolutely adore Petra's innocent antics, making this a super clean and appropriate read for children aged 5-8. I loved the story that Petra told, it was magical and I can definitely see a spin off book., hehe. The illustrations throughout the book again are enchanting.
We loved it, and give this second book in Ms Robinson's tales, 5 stars.

[Shelle Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is book two in the Pen Pieyu Adventures and is about a nine year old princess who has worked to become a knight of her kingdom despite the fact that her more conservative parents would rather her be a “proper” princess. In this story the King has written a rule that in order to keep her knighthood she must journey to Talent School and get a certificate in a proper princess talent.

She and her royal steed, the dragon Snarls, set off for Talent School and along the way meet Prince Duce Crablips who has made it his mission to stop her from reaching Talent School. When it is discovered that it is all misunderstanding, fun adventures ensue with the trio going to Talent school and then adventuring their way home again meeting new friends, taking on new challenges and finding out new secrets.

It is simply a delightful read. For starters the artwork on and in the book is simply gorgeous. The story illustrations are pencil sketches with remarkable detail. My son simply gushed about it. He falls asleep with a sketch book in his hands most nights, however in his sketches, that he has made since reading this and the next book, I can see major inspiration in his use of shading and line details from the art in the book. It takes a lot to impress my young man when comes to art. I have to agree with him in this case. Petra and her friends come alive through the artwork.

Smiles abound in this infectious tale where the food of choice for most of the characters seems to be onions as a hand fruit, cooked in many different ways or simply juiced into a cocktail. The names in this series are also quite wonderful. Places like the bogs of Mesoggie and The Kingdom of Lost Donkeys, where the donkeys do indeed seem to have disappeared and names Like Seymour Forest the ganute who does actually live in vast forest and Letgo the crocodile. I did also enjoy the themes of friendship, teamwork and belief in oneself that runs throughout the story.

The book opens with a quick synopsis of book 1 which is fabulous, because that was the one book I wasn’t able to get a copy of for this review. I think it is a wonderful tool for young readers whose comprehension skills are as yet undeveloped to help them back into a world they may read about sometime ago.

This is a fabulous story about who you are and not letting stereotypes define who you could be.

5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[S.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is original, kinda quirky and plenty of fun.

The first thing I have to say about this book is that it looks awesome. I loved the fantastic illustrations scattered throughout, and title/chapter fonts and the typeface. They all look brilliant and work so well together. The book’s styling is definitely spot on.

The next thing I want to say about this book is that it was awesome. I’m not normally a Princessy story kinda guy, but I have to say that this one was rather cool.

Princess Petra has happily settled into her chosen life of Knight status (achieved in book 1 I believe) rather than a life of all things Princessy. But, just as she thinks all is cool, her dad (the King) decides to write a new rule in the kingdom’s rule book. It seems that all of a sudden it’s imperative that she do a little bit of off-site training to achieve a talent. Well, the training choices available are very Princessy, rather than Knighty, which prove to be a challenge for Petra’s personal preferences.

So, she sets off with her trusty dragon, Snarls, for Talent School. Along the way she meets a chap (a pink Knight) who happens to be a Prince, who (unknown to her) has actually been betrothed to her in marriage. Well, the weird thing is, Prince Duce Crablips of the Kingdom of Crablips is trying to stop her from gaining a talent, which would result in their instant engagement. Neither of them want to be engaged. In a twist, the Prince decides to accompany Petra to Talent School, so he can fulfill his ambition to learn how to crochet.

Well, that’s all I’ll reveal. As you can see, this plot is original, kinda quirky and plenty of fun. I loved the humorous tone of the story and think the author has done a great job.

My bottom line: Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is a clever and fun adventure. I love the styling, I love the humor, and I’m sure that my daughter will love it too when I pass the book on to her.

Note: I don’t claim to be a pro-reviewer, I am a reader. My reviews are based on my personal thoughts around the story that the book is trying to tell. I try to focus on the story (which is the reason I read) rather than dissect the book and pass comment on typos, writing style or structure.

A free copy of this book was provided to me by the author for a fair and honest review.

[Wanda Luthman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two

I very much enjoyed book two in this series. Sir Princess Petra doesn't want to go to Princess School but she manages to find a work-around. She is strong and kind and a wonder role model for children. She keeps the King and Queen on their toes and she challenges their desire for her to be a proper Princess. The author knows how to entertain young readers with fun and interesting characters alongside a healthy does of humor!

[Bichhio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story full of lifelike characters, fun and adventures



First of all, this book comes with a synopsis of the first book of the series, for the lazy ones out there who prefer skimming to reading, that is. But why would you want to skim with this series? Unless you are idiot, you'd be kicking yourself if you don't read them all. This particular book reminds me a lot of the childhood stories of kings, queens and princesses I used to read years ago. This book is however suitable not just for kids but also adults; its dialogs are so elevated that you, the reader, are never for once treated like kids. The style itself is quite reminiscent of old school fairy tale adventures, but the author weaves the tale in a rather unconventional style which makes it quite interesting and entertaining, something that you can read page after page without yawning! Here is a sample passage from the book:



"The king gave his you-had-better-be-quiet glare toward Petra, then continued to read, loudly, "The hereby-said Princess Knight will acquire a talent certificate or be in forfeit of this royal rule. Forfeiting this royal rule will entitle the royal magician to turn the hereby-said Princess Knight into a frog to live in the bogs for a period of five years." The king smirked and plopped back onto his chair. "You made that all up!" Petra gave her best that’s-not-fair stare. ""



Now I don't know about you but I have never read quite anything like that in my life! Not to mention that the story successfully provides you a glimpse at a princess who is not treated the way she wants to be treated; now, in how many traditional fairy tales do you find that kind of stuff? To top it all, the dragon in this story is more of a 'culinary' tool rather than the traditional ferocious, fire-belching creatures we are all accustomed to!



"Snarls, wearing a white chef's hat and a ruffled apron, had just entered the room juggling six shiny, silver trays of hors d’oeuvres."



Along with the dialogs and descriptions, the illustrations in this book further help the reader in visualizing all the characters just as they are imagined by the author. The epilogue is quite apt.



Suffice it to say, the book is quite suitable for young children because its short chapters, easily digestible lucid prose and interesting characters are the perfect recipe for keeping children glued to it. On the other hand, it comes with a very solid story written in an unconventional style which is sure to attract adult readers as well (like it attracted me). There is plenty of humor included in the style to attract both kids and adults.



"The crowd stopped their whimpering, muttering, shaking, crying, gasping, whining, and fire breathing. Even the king and queen seemed to have come back to their senses and appeared to be listening. All eyes focused on Petra. She smiled as she gazed over the crowd. “Stories are a good thing.” In no time, the crowd was going wild with the idea. “Story! Story! Story!” they shouted in unison, raising one arm with each new shout."



Highly recommended!

[Rosalba Mancuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time I am very glad to speak about a children’s book. This work is suitable for children aged 7-12 years. That is a fairy tale enriched with magical words. Its title is Sir Princess Petra’s Talent’s and its author is Diane Mae Robinson, an established and rewarded writer of Children’s books and a writing instructor at the Creative Writing Institute.

The book I am reviewing is the second episode of The Pen Piery Adventures, a series set in the reign inhabited by the little, brave Princess Petra, her parents, namely the king and his queen and a royal council that supervises Petra’s friends while they try to follow the rules established by the royal book to became royal knights.

The book opens with the synopsis of the first episode, where the little, nine years Petra gets the title of royal knight to have hushed the howling dragon Snarls. The latter becomes a friend of Petra, but in the book two, the parents of Petra expect their beloved princess to behave as a true Princess and not only as a royal knight. The king, hence, orders Petra to attend the Talent School to gain a talent certificate. If she refuses this proposal, she will be turned into a frog!

Naturally, Petra accepts to attend the School. In this new experience, the Princess is accompanied by her friends Snarls and Prince Duce Crablips of the Kingdom of Crablips. But which will be the talent that Petra will choose at the Talent School? The answer is in the book that I want to define a graceful masterpiece of the children’s literature.

Many readers or aspiring authors believe that writing a children’s book is easier that writing a fiction for young adults. Indeed, in order to fit style of writing for little readers, a writer must have high skills in creative writing. Thanks to her excellent writing skills, Diane Mae Robinson has been capable to create a perfect story for children.

Sir Princess Petra Talent’s is well written and created by using the proper words, sentences and adjectives, the sequences of words build a sort of poetry and this style makes the story more and more poetic and enchanting. This style emerges during each chapter of the book. Moreover, this work contains a high educational purpose because it teaches children to develop their talent and abilities and overcome the several obstacles imposed by life.

This tale teaches, above all, to face problems in a fun way. The adventures of Petra and her friends are, indeed, recounted with a humoristic tone and with words capable to lighten every difficult.

But not only, Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is also a book about the most important ethical values in life, namely sense of friendship, respect for other people and for nature, for the sky and the going of the seasons. This book is also enriched with drawings describing the story written by Diane Mae Robinson.

The writing of the author seems to paint and shape the same pictures of this fairy tale. To tell the truth, I read this book with the mood of a child and I remained happily charmed. I am sure readers will have the same opinion and much more!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second experience of Sir Princess Petra and I had enjoyed reading about this princess who would rather be a knight. The class of children I had read this too loved the book too.

So when I was offered the chance to be part of the blog tour for book 2 I jumped at the chance. This begins with a brief explanation of who princess Petra is, I feel this is useful as the children I was reading the book too were able to be reminded of her previous adventure. As well as children who had not heard her story before were able to 'catch up' before her next adventure.

Princess Petra is enjoying being a knight, she has a dragon that she has befriended and life is good, that is until the day when the king tells her she needs to go to get a talent for princesses. This does not go down well with princess Petra as she feels that her skills of being a knight are much better than any talent she could ever gain from some school!

In the end she attends but she doesn't attend smoothly and tries to get out of it anyway possible. When she arrives at the school she is introduced to king Asterman and he asks what talent she would like to learn. Again princess Petra tries to make his life as difficult as possible by choosing talents that the king feels are not suitable for her.

Yet again this is a wonderful story for boys and girls of all ages. I feel that younger children would enjoy this being read to them, there are some 'tricky' words for younger children, however this gives an ideal opportunity to discuss these.

The story is a wonderful one to get round stereotyping of princesses and how they are meant to behave and act. Boys as well as girls will enjoy this story.

From a teachers point of view I enjoyed reading this story to my class, there are many adjectives used in the book and this helped the children to understand what an adjective is and how it is used. We were then able to create a lesson based on adjectives and describing a character. There are a few illustrations in the book but not too many, when the children came to drawing and describing Princess Petra they were all different as they didn't have many images to go by. I liked this as it helped them to develop their imagination. Something that in today's society seems to be lacking some what. It is also a good book as it encourages children to not judge things on first view, they think that a princess should be a certain way, this is completely different to how she is in the book.

I would like to thank Diane for sending me this copy to review and for being part of her blog tour.

For this review and others please visit:

Mrsbbooks2011.blogspot.co.uk

[Barbara Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Pen Pieyu adventure series. The author provides a synopsis of Book One to get all readers up to speed though the book can stand on its own. Sir Princess Petra is no ordinary princess; she is spirited, stubborn, sensitive, and devoted to her friends and subjects. In the last book, the reader met a nine year old girl who was determined to become the first knight in her magical kingdom. Petra achieved knighthood by slaying the howling dragon named Snarls in a series of adventures; he later becomes her friend and master connoisseur in the palace kitchen.

At the beginning of Book Two, the king and queen summon Petra informing her that she must go away to the Land of Lost Donkeys to attend training in a Talent School in order to become a “proper princess.” This does not sit well with Petra, but she is an obedient daughter and loyal subject and so she acquiesces to her parents’ request. On her journey she meets Prince Duce Crablips who is secretly betrothed to her, but who would really like to go to school to learn how to crochet. The selection of talents available to Petra at the school are all unappealing, sewing, etiquette and knitting are not her cup of tea. Together with Snarls and Prince Duce, they eventually find a satisfactory course and complete certificates before being forced to make a quick exit. The three compatriots become embroiled in an adventure with the ganutes on their way home to the kingdom. Petra assists all her friends in employing their new found talents; Pen Pieyu attains subjects with new talents in the process. Petra enthralls her parents and her subjects with her new abilities, which I suspect might be the start of a new adventure.

This series is the perfect chapter book for new or reluctant readers. Because I write picture books, I have a definite preference for illustration in children’s books; the black and white pencil drawings in this book are a definite enhancement to the plot. The short length of the chapters are perfect for serial read alouds in the classroom or multiple bedtime stories. Petra is a strong role model for encouraging a young girl’s potential. Her strength of character along with the other rich and humorous characters extend the book’s appeal to boys as well. There is humor, adventure, magic, fantasy and just enough silliness to appeal to children and parents of children from early elementary through middle grades. I anticipate a lot more exciting adventures and lessons in store for Petra’s fans as she matures. Another good chapter book by award-winning author, Diane Mae Robinson.

[T.L. Needham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Princess Petra’s Talent: The author, Diane Mae Robinson, an award-winning writer of children’s books, is also a writing instructor for the Creative Writing Institute. This book opens with a synopsis of the first Princess Petra book, wherein; the nine-year-old Petra won the title of royal knight after hushing the howling dragon Snarls, who becomes her steed. Alas, in this second tale, the King expects Sir Princess Petra to behave like a girl, not a knight, and conspires to marry her off to another king’s prince, to secure a friendly alliance. Thus, the king, commands Petra on a quest to gain a talent certificate at the Talent School. If she refuses the King’s command, she will be turned into a frog! However, the competent, confident, and always resourceful Petra has other plans, and so, in her own words:
“You just never know what’s going to happen on an adventure, do you?” Petra bubbled.

At this point, late in the story, as Petra shares her new gift for telling tales, I prefer to again share her own words to reveal what wonderful writing in this charming and engaging story:
“Petra put out her hands to quiet the crowd. “A story doesn’t always have scary words… Some stories are happy or sad or funny. Stories tell a tale worth remembering. They’re creative and interesting. Stories have all kinds of characters doing all kinds of things and sometimes, they have kings and queens and princesses, witches, dragons, magicians and midget knights, pink knights, and even furry creatures.”

Thus, Petra sums it up, just as I shall sum of this review:
“Stories are a good thing.”

And, the author is to be commended for clearly revealing the secret to her gift for writing and crafting a wonderful child’s story, when Petra says:
“To be a great artist you must create with passion…”

Thus, the moment of self-realization, as any child hopes to achieve, Petra adds:
“She gasped when she realized that this power, this magic, was within herself—“

Thus, we close with these poetic words given to Petra by the author, in revealing the emerging spirits that bring on the beautiful transformation into autumn:
“The changing of the seasons had arrived. Leaf-gathering sprites, cloud-shaping elves, and all the wind weavers recognized the summons and were slowly emerging from their sleepy hollows.”

Thus, we have a wonderful fairy tale enriched with magical words and magic moments.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

`Prince Nastybun removed his purple, knitted gloves and looked to be in a huff. "Are you not the princess royal knight?"

Canadian author Diane Mae Robinson freely states `My mission in life is to inspire children to believe in the magic within themselves, to become heroes, and to accomplish great things' and to that end she is proceeding with her series of richly detailed imaginative fantasies focusing on a young princess who feels the need to be a knight - thus the perhaps confusing title of Sir Princess Petra. Diane earned her journalism diploma from the Schools of Montreal and an advanced diploma from the Institute of Children's Literature in Connecticut. She also teaches art and writing in addition to her own primary interest of writing her own novels. Though young and new to the field of publishing she has already been awarded honors and medals.

THE PEN PIEYU ADVENTURES opens with SIR PRINCESS PETRA and though it is a brief 68 pages in length it is enhanced by creative illustrations and a story with a character that obviously has a future. At Longstride Castle, in the Kingdom of Pen Pieyu, it is Princess Petra's ninth and royal birthday. Her father, King Longstride, has promised her anything her heart desires. Petra chooses to become a royal knight and protect her kingdom. (Thus far, Longstride castle has no knights as all of the silly soldiers are still trying to become knights.) After much commotion in the royal throne room, King Longstride has no choice but to grant her request. The royal rulebook says nothing about a girl becoming a knight but only that the proposed knight must perform a deed from a list of three. The choices are: to capture a crocodile and make his skin into a royal leather chair; to hush the howling, nasty dragon, Snarls, in the Forest of Doom; or to eat a roomful of raw onions. Petra takes option two and faces Snarls the dragon, but as in all fine fairy tales, the two become friends.'

Diane peppers her book with fanciful drawings by Samantha Kickingbird (and a terrific cover by Errol Villamante) of maps, scrolls, figures of the cast as well as the story at the end. She keeps the book short (a true plus for young readers) and makes her dialogue full of contemporary humor with just the right touch of lightness. In other words, Diane has mastered this genre. Or as other have said, her books are `amazingly fresh, charmingly funny, and embrace timeless values kindness, understanding, and respect'. Highly recommended.

[Tina at Mommynificent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to first say that I adore the cover of this book! And the black and white illustrations inside the book are even better, I think. I just love them! The illustrations capture so beautifully the indomitable spirit of Sir Princess Petra. And the characters she meets throughout the book are hilarious in prose, but the illustrations take them to another level altogether!

This is the second installment in the Pen Pieyu Adventures. Like the first one, it is full of silliness and hilarity and continues to turn stereotypes on their head, teaching children to give people the benefit of the doubt rather than believing gossip about them. My favorite quote from the book is this gem that Petra says to her dragon steed, "You know from experience that not all is as it seems, and rumors can't be trusted. And you must admit, you love an adventure as much as I do."

This book also includes some nicely disguised poetry instruction. I feel fairly certain that children reading this will not realize that they have been taught what ballads, sonnets, and limericks are, and yet they will know all the same as well as having read and enjoyed a silly poem composed by Sir Princess Petra herself. I also appreciated the positive mentions of homeschooling tucked into this book in a few places! (I do wish that Petra's parents weren't presented as such idiots in these books. It does add to the fun and set up the plot each time, but I wish the author could have come up with another way to do this. For me as an adult, it begs the question of who did such a brilliant job raising and homeschooling this feisty yet lovely child, but I'm sure very few children with think of that.)

The books in this series are early chapter books, around 100 pages each, and are fun and suitable for children ages six and up. They move very quickly and are quite short, so I think they’d be particularly suitable for reluctant readers. I also think boys would enjoy these books as Sir Princess Petra thinks and behaves in the way I imagine most boys wish girls would think and behave – kind, down-to-earth, adventurous, and never squeamish or manipulative.

I received an electronic copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review which I have given both here and on my blog: http://mommynificent.com/2013/09/26/s...

[ACS Book-finder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read this wonderful little book before the actual release date of September 24. It is the second in this particular series. The first book was “Sir Princess Petra” and describes exactly how and why Petra wanted to become a noble knight. A great little book to read and probably should be read before “Sir Princess Petra’s Talent” so you can understand some of the characters and who and what and why.

Now, back to my review of “Sir Princess Petra’s Talent”. This is absolutely one of the silliest books I’ve read, but oh what FUN!! The author has created such an imaginative story of magical characters. The King and Queen (aka Mom and Dad) want Princess Petra to be a proper princess and not the tomboy Knight that Petra is. And so the King (aka Dad) believes that if he writes a new law forcing all knights to go to Talent School that this will change Petra because certainly she will want to learn how to knit or cook. Petra’s adventure along the way and the creatures she meets along the way are delightful. The adventure doesn’t end once Petra and her friends arrive at Talent School, but continue after they have attended school and received their talent certificate. I won’t spoil the story and tell you what Petra’s talent was. You’ll have to read the book, but reading the book is not a waste of your time. While I don’t know that any child who reads the story may get the underlying theme of the book, which is basically you can achieve dreams and goals with hard work, I do believe they will enjoy the book because it is just plain silly and a lot of fun. It reminds me of how many children make up stories and use their imagination!

“Sir Princess Petra’s Talent” is a great little book and is targeted toward readers who are 3rd grade and higher. It is short book and can easily be read in one day by children. (Rev. P.Howard)

DISCLOSURE: A review copy was provided to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter (10) and I reviewed this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Here are some of our thoughts. For the full review, please visit our website.

DAUGHTER SAYS:

This story is about a Princess Knight named Petra who goes to a Talent School because her parents are trying to make her more like a real girlie princess. I like that there are pictures in the book and I think they were good and cool. I really like the one of where Bograt is being knighted. Petra is an interesting character and she tells good stories. I wish I could go on adventures like her. She is brave. My favorite part of the story is when the King and Queen find out that Petra did the Writing School instead of something more “princess-y”. I learned that even if other people tell you that you need to be a certain way, you should do what you feel is the right thing for you. I loved this book because it has a good adventure and it was funny. I liked that my Mom read it to me and my brother. It would be a very easy read for me. I think girls would like this book more than boys around my age because boys don’t like to read stories about girls – at least the boys I know. But, I think little kids (both boys and girls) would like this book read to them.

MOM SAYS:

My Bottom Line: Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is precisely everything an early middle grade book should be with a multi-dimensional main character who is a great role model for young girls; a great supporting cast of unique and quirky characters; a plot largely driven through clever dialogue amongst the characters and involving much adventure and folly; and unexpected turns and twists that will leave parents and their children laughing out loud. I find that both books in The Pen Pieyu Adventure series lend themselves particularly well to being read aloud and I recommend both books to families with children aged 5 years and older.

*** This book was provided to us free-of-charge through the Sir Princess Petra’s Talent Blog Tour hosted by Kid Lit Reviews in exchange for an honest review.***

[Gmr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who could have guessed indeed! But let me tell you readers, it is a talent that blossoms into something beautifully unexpected and impresses even her own skeptical parents, not an easy feat to say the least.

Now, you read the title section correctly....this is BOOK TWO in a planned THREE book (or more) series. No, I have NOT read book one but I plan on it. In fact, I have it on order at my local bookstore right now so soon I shall be enthralled with little Petra's first adventure and see just how she gained the title she proudly owns, BUT even with that in mind, I never once felt lost. I never once experienced a moment of "why-did-I-try-to-read-a-sequel-without-reading-the-lead-in-title". I was invited along for the ride as Sir Princess Petra set out with her dragon on the road to acquiring an officially certified talent and we never looked back. Well, okay, we did but that was to glare at the King and Queen because honestly, how could they possibly expect a Sir Princess as special as Petra to settle for a talent in...in...Sewing? Cooking? *sigh* Oh royal Mum and Dad, sometimes the best talents as those you tried to avoid at all costs....and your daughter's is by far moving.

As the story continues, additional characters are added to this motley crew as are facts to your "known" database. It adds depth to this short and sweet adventure and shows you just how big Sir Princess' heart truly is. In short, a lovely read for the kiddo's and readers of all ages. Despite the inclusion of a quest of sorts, it's definitely content appropriate across the board and will entice both boy and girl readers. So go ahead, push the envelope.


***review copy was received in exchange for my honest review...full post can be seen on my site***

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Julia for Readers' Favorite.

Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is the second instalment in Diane Mae Robinson’s illustrated series, The Pen Pieyu Adventures. This book includes a synopsis of the first, in which Princess Petra became Pen Pieyu’s only knight so far - much to the dismay of her mother and father, the King and Queen - and obtained a pet dragon with a penchant for barbeque. The new tale describes the King’s attempt to thwart Petra’s knightliness by requiring her to acquire a Princess-like talent, and Petra’s own attempts to avoid learning “sissy princess stuff”, like crochet or knitting. Through the book, she and Snarls the dragon have several adventures, meet many new friends and find the perfect opportunity to demonstrate their own talents.

Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is a pleasant read and great fun for kids; particularly, I imagine, for little girls, for whom chasing ganutes, befriending witches and planning duels would be a hoot. The story contains some very funny bits, even for adults, and very lively characters with great names - Duce Crablips, Norton Nastybun, Letgo the crocodile! I was disappointed to see some spelling errors, inconsistencies and missed words though (tyed/tied; your/you're; boarder/border; Mesoggie/Messogie; insist to/insist on; incredibly better/much better), particularly in a book that children will be reading at the exact time that they are learning about words, spelling and writing. That aside, the book is a charming adventure with some witty lines and funny characters. I loved the character of Snarls, and Bograt’s rumours, spread for her own gain and amusement. There is a lot of warmth in Diane Mae Robinson’s book, which children and adults alike will enjoy.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petra Longstride, princess of Pen Pieyu, the kingdom’s only princess knight (and the only actual knight), is angry. Her father, King Longstride, has made a new rule in the Royal Rulebook, one which states that all princesses in the Kingdom must go to a Talent School and get a certificate. Why can’t Petra’s parents just let her be a knightly princess, instead of a girly princess? Instead she has to go to talent school and figure out what talent she has.

This is a great sequel to “Sir Princess Petra!” There is action, romance (that Petra hates – apparently some guy is supposed to marry her, and he doesn’t want to, and Petra doesn’t want to marry him, so they call the thing off), excitement, burning buildings (Snarls, Petra’s friend and trusty steed, is a dragon…), and a lot of fun! I like the character of King Asterman, the guy who runs the Talent School. I really enjoyed the dialogue in the book. It made it fun to read. I love the character of Princess Petra! I like that she doesn’t want to be the girly princess!

The pencil sketch illustrations throughout the book are great and gives the reader an idea of what the characters look like. I also LOVED the talent Princess Petra finds out she has! The reading level is good for young advanced readers if you are looking for a god book for one. Ms. Robinson’s writing style makes this adventure fun and gets you into the characters. I am already looking forward to the next book!
*NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes off where the first book, SIR PRINCESS PETRA, leaves off. Diana starts this book with a quick summary to refresh the reader's memory, which was really helpful - thank you! Still, I recommend reading SIR PRINCESS PETRA first. Although both books can stand alone, I would have felt like I was missing something on some of the characters without already having the chance to have gotten to know them a little.

Princess Petra is simply a cute character. She's a head-strong little girl, who knows what she wants - not necessarily princess like, but who wants to be a prissy princess when they can be a brave knight? Her innocent decisions and reactions lead to the most delicious situations, putting a smile on the face. Despite the hairy and often humorous situations she runs into, she masters them all and ends up making a better world - kingdom - in the process.

This is an adventurous story, which gets going from the very first page and doesn't stop. The characters are all enjoyable, and the situations, although sometimes challenging for Princess Petra, are very appropriate for the age group. It was fun to journey with her through the well-described world, and although I sometimes felt that the story veered in different directions, it was exciting to see what Petra would face next.

Oh, and the illustrations were fantastic! There were just enough to help visualize Petra and her world without dominating the imagination. My daughter couldn't wait to see each and every one.

[Lian Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

King Longstride has decided that Sir Princess Petra must go to Talent School to gain a princess Talent or risk losing her knighthood. She chooses to go to Writing School, which is about as un-princess as she can get. On her way home to Pen Pieyu, She finds out about a new knight and makes a bunch of new friends. The title screams “Girly”, but even though I am a boy, I liked it.

2016 Rubric

Readability- 5: The story was easy follow and quite enjoyable. I really loved the poem and Nana Longstride’s Story.

Age Appropriate – 5: I think this would a be a great book for early chapter readers and it would make a great bedtime story for pre-school kids.

Illustrations- 5: These pencil sketches were filled with amazing detail and shading and really made the story much better. Bonus Points: 3

Ability to Hold Interest. -5: I didn’t even want to put the book down long enough to eat.

Did I Like It?- 5: Yes, it is a funny, witty and clever story. I read a review that said it was about girl power, but I don’t think so. I think it is a story about girls and boys being who they are and showing where they are strong. Princes Petra has to be pretty sure about herself to want to be something other than what everyone expects her to be and Prince Duce has to be pretty sure about himself to go to talent school and learn a princess talent like crocheting. When I was younger I crocheted all the time.

Rating: 5.6 /5

[Wayne Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story Within a Story

I have given a well-deserved five stars to Diane Mae Robinson’s delightful tale Sir Princess Petra’s Talent. But if I had the good fortune to live in her uniquely nutty fantasy world I would be allowed to give it the praise it truly deserves: five onions, fresh from the Royal Onion Room.

I’ve read all the wonderful reviews previously written for this series, The Pen Pieyu Adventures. Clearly, the author has a deft hand when it comes to exploiting the imagination. Within only a couple of pages I became a citizen of her world.

As other reviews have pointed out, the plot twists are relentless, each one producing a sweetly bizarre new character, and they are characters who subtly demonstrate that gender is of no matter when it comes to bravery and talent. After all, knights wear pink, don’t they?

A poem about jam made me chuckle, but what almost took my breath away was the story within the story read to the court by Sir Princess Petra, a story created with the Talent of the book’s title: writer. I leave you to read it for yourselves.

I want to mention that I chose to read this tale out of nostalgia for the days when my daughters were young and I read to them nightly. Shortly after I began reading Robinson’s book on a quiet Saturday morning, I began reading aloud, to me and myself. I wish I could have shared this book with my children.

[Ruth Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first experience with Sir Princess Petra, and I only wish my daughter was young enough to enjoy this book! I would recommend this book for about second to third grade (good for parent to read to younger children). I felt like I was reading about a girl so similar to my daughter it was scary! My daughter was a tomboy, and that seems to be who Sir Princess Petra is as well--much to the chagrin of her parents.

Although I had not read the first book in the series, I had no problem jumping right in on the action. I didn't miss a beat, and the story was fun and thrilling. It was nice to see a princess who didn't care much about a princess. I have grown quite weary of the "Dinsey princesses" and the "girly girl" books, and this is just what girls need in this day and age. It's okay to be who you really are, and this book emphasizes that point to a tee. The characters are well-developed, and the author could easily write more in this adventure series. And just so you know, there is a somewhat nontraditional prince as well. No spoilers, but it was a delightful character addition.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.

This was the first time I’d read about Princess Petra but the beginning of the book has a prologue that gave background information and explained how Princess Petra became a knight; so, although I hadn’t read the first book, I had no problem getting caught up.

What an adventure! This would be a fun book to read aloud to children. The descriptions of all of the characters are colorful and would be good for helping children to use their imaginations. I especially liked the cute names of the characters and kingdoms.

There are also some age appropriate lessons in this book. Princess Petra is her own person. She does what she believes to be the right thing and doesn’t worry about what others think. She doesn’t want to be a princess, she wants to be a knight. When she goes to Talent School, she doesn’t pick a course that would be expected of a princess, she picks one that interests her even though she’s discouraged from doing so. On the other hand, her friend, who is a prince, decides he wants to learn to knit.

Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is a great book!

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Princess Petra's Talent is an unusual princess, which doesn't not please her parents, the King and Queen, one bit. The King has come up with a plan. He is sending Princess Petra to get her Talent Certificate in an activity that is more fitting to a princess than the knighthood she has chosen. After an exasperating battle of wills, Princess Petra sets out on an adventure to discover her talent, one that will surprise everyone.

Sir Princess Petra's Talent is a whimsical tale and the lighthearted, but often stubborn, Princess Petra will amuse readers. Her antics leave her parents and other royal officials bewildered, but Princess Petra has a big heart and even though her methods are quirky she always finds a way to help others. Her stubbornness plays a role in her selection of a talent, but no one could have ever imagined how much joy and happiness her special gift would bring the Kingdom. Petra teaches the King and Queen, as well as young readers, that we all have our own unique talent and if we look inside ourselves we will discover our talent so we can share it with others.

I highly recommend picking up Sir Princess Petra's Talent.

[Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Petra, a precocious young princess, earns her knighthood, her father the king is not at all pleased. In order to prepare his daughter to one day become a suitable queen, he insists she attend talent school where she will learn to behave like a proper princess.

Armed with her quick wit, and a fierce determination, Princess Petra sets off to earn a talent. As she journeys to talent school, traveling with her trusty dragon, Snarls, she acquires new friends along the way. Together, Princess Petra's motley entourage makes enlightening discoveries and encounters merry adventures throughout their expedition.

Princess stereotypes are gloriously debunked in this book about a royal who dares to be herself. Princess Petra will charm and inspire youngsters as she fearlessly outwits those who would thwart her progress in achieving her own goals, all the while helping others realize their own dreams. Author Diane Mae Robinson's second book in the Pen Pieyu Adventures is a delightful read and one that is sure to engage and enthrall young readers. Sir Princess Petra's Talent is recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

[Diane Estrella · Rating 3 out of 5]

And, The Pen Pieyu Adventures continue on…..

In book two of this delightful children’s series, Sir Princess Petra must find a talent worthy of her princess status. Although I did not read book one in this series, I was generally able to easily follow along with where the original story had left off. The author does a great job of making each character unique and memorable. I enjoyed the spirit of adventure and ingenuity this fantasy tale displayed and the subtle life lessons included of: following the rules, looking out for others, and pursuing your heart’s passion.

The pictures included were a wonderful accompaniment and only added a positive element to the overall story. I think kids will like reading these tales and let their imaginations follow the characters on their various quests. After all, who doesn’t want a pet dragon and to be a knight at nine years old, I ask you???

Sir Princess Petra’s talent is able to touch the hearts of many and I think the author gives children the encouragement to follow their dreams and realize that, at any age, they can reach the world.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Princess Petra's Talent is the second book in The Pen Pieyu Adventures series.
Although I had not read the first book in the series, the beginning of the second book has a prologue that gave background information and explained how Princess Petra became a knight; so, I had no problem getting caught up and didn’t feel lost. Petra is a strong role model for young girls. In Sir Princess Petra’s Talent, Petra is being sent to talent school by her parents, the king and queen. She is not happy about this, but parents will be happy to know she behaves appropriately and in the end, she learns a new talent that benefits the entire Pen Peiyu kingdom.
Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is a fantasy, adventure children’s chapter book with moral, values of kindness, acceptance of other, believing in yourself and just enough humor to entertain the young ones. I loved the sketches as they give you an idea of what the characters look like.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another humorous romp through the world of Pen Pieyu has left me laughing and loving these amusing characters and their bold, morally directed adventures. I wasn't sure what to expect from this second story, as the first had set a rather high bar, and I didn't know whether the humor and insightful writing could continue as the world continued to expand, but I should have had more faith in Robinson. Not only does this book take many of the best and most memorable elements from the first book, but also deepens the attraction and strength of Sir Princess Petra, who fights against gender stereotypes in this novel and redefines what it means to be a brave woman. The premise of this series is quite simple, yet there is a depth to this child-targeted writing that makes it important, even for older readers. Anything that can instill good values through literature and fun is worth pursuing, and in that category Sir Princess Petra's adventures could serve as a fanciful tool for children everywhere. I'll be the first to admit - I'll read the next one!

[Brittany Cuenin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Petra is a charming and fun adventure with a fascinating princess. Having recently taught a course on fairy tales as well as read the popular, Ella Enchanted, I've been drawn to princesses who find adventure and show their personality. Princess Petra certainly gives the reader that spunk and excitement when creating her own path at Talent School. Even more so, I enjoyed the details like almost Dickensian names, the royal magician, plot twists, along with the adventure.

Many young readers, boys and girls, would be happy to jump into Robinson's world and follow the path of Princess Petra. The illustrations really emphasize the character of Petra as well as the other characters; I loved the hand drawn sketches! Without giving away plot surprises, I was thrilled to see Petra embrace her talent, and I think many parents and teachers will, too.

This is a delightful, charming tale for readers who love a spirited character - I recommend it!

[Noha Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in The Pen Pieyu Adventures. I loved the first book and the 2nd book exceeded my expectations. Sometimes with series, the subsequent books are never quite as good as the first book. That's not the case here. Sir Princess Petra's Talent has stepped it up a notch by adding more details about the main character and returning characters, and introducing new characters that are just as much fun.

The adventures in this book are just as humorous--if not more so--as the first book. The characters really do get into some strange situations. Petra and her zany sidekicks, Snarls, and Duce Crablips really steal the show at Talent School and their subsequent adventures. And Petra is still the charming heroine who lives by her good values.

An absolutely charming series. Highly recommended.

[Elizabeth Conway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues Sir Princess Petra's adventure as the first ever knight in the kingdom of Pen Pieyu. Petra's parents are now requiring her to go to talent school and get a certification to become a well rounded princess for her country!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story just as much as the first book in the series!! We get the opportunity of following the great characters from the first book and a new fun and unique character in this book and Ms. Robinson doesn't disappoint!! The story line if catching and I couldn't put the book down!! I did have one small problem, which is the fact that the King, Queen and Princess Petra didn't feel like a family unit and I would have liked more emotion there but as a kids book this book is great and the illustrations are amazing!!

[Deb Julienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the adventure continues....

I am in love with this book series!

This book could have been written for my granddaughter, so is always trying to do the things her brother does.I love that's the Princess isn't a prissy girl but wants the chance to do ANYTHING. Including going back to school to find/learn a talent.

It was a grand adventure that any child would love to read about imagining it was them on the quest. The story was fast-paced, full of humor, and even had a message tucked in for good measure.

I loved the whimsical illustrations, and Snarks the Dragon is one of my favorite characters. I wish this book had been around when my kids were little. Make that when I was little ;-)