Princess Grace

Grace

by Mary Hoffman

Grace has the chance to be a princess in the school parade. But what does a princess do, apart from wearing beautiful clothes and looking pretty? Does she have to be pink and floaty, with a crown? Grace and her friends start finding out about princesses in China, Egypt, the Philippines and Zimbabwe.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Princesses, Cultural, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Fairy Tales

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 10, 2008

About the author

See also works published under Mary Lassiter

Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.

Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 3-year old is obsessed with princesses, so on a recent trip to the library when she got her very own library card and saw this book on the shelf, she knew she had to check this book out first.

I'm getting a little wary of the whole princess thing and have been trying to direct her to some additional interests and role models. I'm not ANTI princess, mind you. I just want her to branch out a little, teeny, itsy-bitsy bit.

We got home and opened this book, and I couldn't love it more if I tried. Grace's school puts a float in the parade with a Queen on it and this year, they've decided to add two princesses. As Grace want to learn what makes a princess a princess, so she, her friends, and her teacher start looking into it. They learn that the European princess of the Rennaisance is far from the only type of princess. There have been warriors and spys, and Cinderella tales from diverse cultures.

In the end, Grace's whole class ends up on the float dressed as a variety of princesses--and princes!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

British author Mary Hoffman, who published her first story about a feisty, story-loving girl named Grace around twenty-five years ago, returns to her adventures in this fifth picture-book, this time addressing the "princess craze." When Grace's teacher announces that their school will have a float in the community parade, and that two girls from their class will be chosen to be princesses on that float, she is beside herself with excitement. She loves princesses, and the wonderful fairy-tales from which they come! But when she attempts to describe what she will wear to her Nana, the question of who princesses really are, and what they do, arises. Soon Grace's entire class is learning about the many interesting princesses from world history...

Like its predecessor - after the initial Amazing Grace , this is only the second book about this character that I have read - Princess Grace pairs an engaging tale about a high-spirited, sympathetic young heroine with colorful, appealing artwork. The illustrators here, Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu, mention in a brief note on the colophon at the front of the book that their work is inspired by the original artwork done by Caroline Binch for the earlier books. Comparing this with the first, I think that overall they have succeeded in capturing the same sensibility, although I do think that Binch's Grace is a little sharper looking, with a little more individuality and character, whereas this Grace looks a little smoother, a little more generic. Leaving that aside, I enjoyed the story here, and appreciated the two central messages - that actions mean more than appearances, and that there are a diverse range of princesses hailing from a diverse group of cultures - that it conveys. Recommended to anyone who has read and enjoyed earlier Grace books, as well as to those looking for picture-books that address 'princess mania' in a more constructive, thoughtful way.

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the father of a princess obsessed little girl who has learned via parenting that obsessions and insecurities about appearance starts amazingly early with girls, I greatly appreciate a book such as this one which shows that there's much more to being a princess (what do they do beside look pretty is the question that sets this story rolling) than the Disney variety.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "Grace" books have all been pretty message laden, but they still manage to have nice story lines and be believable. Here Grace and her classmates learn that there are far more princesses out there than those in the Disney pantheon. And that's a message that needs to get out there!

[Sau Tsui]

A lovely diverse book involving a girl named Grace who lives with her mother and grandmother. At the book beginning, Grace has been brought up reading fiction fairytales in which she believes princesses are based on beautiful gowns and looking pretty although throughout the book it progresses in grace learning about what it is truly like to be a princess as there are many forms of them. As the book progresses Grace develops her own princess identity in which she comes to realise that she is not like the fiction fairytale princess yet a real-life princess due to her teacher providing her with information about princesses around the world. Overall a lovely book that shows diversity in ensuring a variety of young children can become prince and princesses.

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel children's books should all have a girl that is strong! The story line is great. Grace finds out that princesses are not just beautiful, they're spies or warriors then the whole class girl or boy dress up for the parade!

[Sau Tsui · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely diverse book involving a girl named Grace who lives with her mother and grandmother. At the book beginning, Grace has been brought up reading fiction fairytales in which she believes princesses are based on beautiful gowns and looking pretty although throughout the book it progresses in grace learning about what it is genuinely like to be a princess as there are many forms of them. As the book progresses, Grace develops her own princess identity in which she comes to realize that she is not like the fiction fairytale princess yet a real-life princess due to her teacher proving her with information about princesses around the world. Overall a lovely book that shows diversity in ensuring a variety of young children can become prince and princesses.

[Brigid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Not really sure if my 3-year-old (who is obsessed with princesses) understands it just yet, but it was exactly what I wanted her to know: There's more to life (and being pretty and even to being a princess) than just pretty dresses and that princesses can be pretty tough, too. The nod to different cultures was fantastic and I hope I can find a book or books that share the stories mentioned within this one for my daughter to read in the future. I do understand another's comment about the boys being left out, and it's true, but that's often the case these days with princess stuff. I don't think it's meant to be a boy-centric book but I'm glad the author did toss in the question as to why the boys weren't being represented and how they addressed it at the end.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this book lately. We have oodles of little girls that love princess books and they have moms that don't love pink wearing, girly, can't do anything on their own except get rescued by a man princesses. This book shows that there are lots of types of princesses who did great things besides get rescued by a man. Princesses come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for every child!

Grace has to be a princess and she can't think of what princesses do exactly. Her Nana explains about some warrior princesses in history, and other things that princesses have done. Grace then decides she wants to be an African princess, so they get Kente cloth and make her a dress. It also notes that boys can be princes.

[Babette Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the same author who wrote Amazing Grace ten years ago (can a black girl be Peter Pan in the school play?), a great take on the whole Disney etc. princess craze. Looks at the question, "What does it really mean?" in ways that takes the children involved (including some boys)seriously, doesn't lecture or preach, and opens up options.

Recommended ages: for all those "into" princesses

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given that this is a picture book about Grace, who "had wanted to be a princess for as long as she could remember," the story is off to a very good start.

Disclaimer: I think that female humans can do better than aspiring to be pretty little princesses.

Anyway, by the time I've read the first page, I can tell that author Mary Hoffman is a skilled picture book writer. Also, the drawings are excellent.

I think I'm likely to like this book somewhat. As it turns out, I wind up liking "Princess Grace" A LOT! For two reasons.

#1. UNCOMMON SCOPE REGARDING INTERESTING PRINCESSES

Whether or not your child aims to be a princess, or be like a princess, this book includes references to genuinely interesting princesses, including:

* Amina of Nigeria
* Pin-Yang of China

#2. GRACE ACTUALLY LEARNS THINGS. SHE GROWS. SHE THINKS DIFFERENTLY

Oh, how grateful I am for that! And the final line of this book just thrilled me.

IN CONCLUSION

This book is for female children who aim to be more than pink and pretty. Thanks, parents for choosing this picture book.

Also I'm very pleased to savor the easy diversity in the illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu.

Totally a FIVE STAR book, in the opinion of this Goodreads reviewer!

[Aleishka Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the message behind “Princess Grace” because it shows that princesses aren’t only those in fairy tales. Throughout her class they had the queen choose the princess/es and this year two girls were going to be selected as princesses in the town parade which they celebrated on a float. Grace couldn’t wait to be one of them and looked for books and asked her teacher about princesses, to see what kind of princess she wanted to be, until she decided to be an African princess with Kente cloth that they had brought from Gambia. There were multicultural students who were able to participate in being princes and princesses. I really enjoyed the book because it didn’t leave ethnicities or boys out of the participation, and they were all able to experience being in that awesome parade.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to re-read this book because I remember Grace from when I was a kid. I loved the artwork to the diverse characters. I like the fact that Grace and her teacher examined what it means to truly be a princess and she wanted Grace to do her own research and define being a princess on HER terms. I also liked that mentioned princesses from other cultures and how they included some history within the story . I love Grace books for little girls. They are truly timeless.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don't write reviews for children's books, but this one was amazing. I absolutely loved Grace and her gradual understanding throughout the book that a princess is more than just a girl in a frilly pink dress.

Grace learns that princesses can be warriors or heroes, even spies! They can come from different countries and different ethnic backgrounds. Finally, Grace realizes by the end of the story that boys are allowed to feel and dress up like royalty, too.

5/5

[Lauren Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about princesses and how they aren't always pink and frilly like shown in fairytales. As well as the different types of princess there can be, this book also makes children aware of different cultures that they may not have been aware of before. It is also great to see a BAME main character, something that i believe needs to occur more often!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I love that the cover is completely upended by the theme. The book is a little long for preschoolers but they are not the target audience. Read the author's note, even though it should be accompanied by a bibliography. Ask your librarian for more books about interesting & adventurous princesses!

[Sarah Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Grace talks about what princesses really do. I think this book would be important to have in your classroom. The book talks about Princesses from all over the world including Kenya and China. The book shows how each of the princesses dressed as well.

[Josephine Burks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the message of this book. Not all princesses need to wear frilly, fluffy, pink dresses. They can be adventurous and wear whatever they want. My daughters loved the book too. They even chose it!

[Ms. Jeane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved LOVED this story! I am hoping that this story can open my daughters eyes to the different REAL LIFE princesses there have been throughout history that are not set in a a white.

[adeservingporcupine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edie recommended this to me because her class read it in school. What a great princess book! A must read for all kids.

[Michelle Grorud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty is more then just a dress.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the message but not the delivery.

[Mrs Tupac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with an uplifting message

[Sophie Klockow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connection: wanting to be a princess when I was little
Use in classroom: history of different real princesses from different countries, not just the disney image and what that job entails

[Jenna Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. A great and an important read.

[Maeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace shows readers that there is more to princesses than pink, flowing gowns.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely book to make children aware of a range of cultures.

[Greer Daniels]

good both for ethnic diversity

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preschool Storytime - Read a couple of princess books, looking for alternate view points. I liked this book and the illustrations were lovely.