Princess Max Conquers the World

by Kevin Cripe, Branislav Sosic (illustrator)

Max enters a 4th grade classroom wearing a pink dress and is immediately made to feel alienated by most other students and staff. Max has towering confidence and on the playground one day he shows that he has enormous talent at basketball. From there some people start to change their minds. Max just stays true to who he is. He is cocky and determined and has a good sense of humor. At the tournament at the end of the story Max does some amazing things.

Genres: Childrens

42 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2024

About the author

Hi,
I was an elementary school teacher in California for 27 years and retired to Panama. As teacher I ran an after school chess program for my mostly Latino student population. We went to over 200 chess tournaments and 14 national championships and I watched as children used chess to become first generation college graduates.
I have written and had illustrated some children's book. each book deals with an issue. The first completed book deals with politics and because our politics is dark , the book book is dark and edgy. My progressive friends like it a great deal and my conservative friends not as much :)
"The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf: The Complete Story" tries to make sense of how we arrived to our current state of politics. (It is for children ages 10+) There are discussion questions at the end.

Reviews

[Lokes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, wow… first of, I. read this story because I won it in a giveaway.
This had a very good concept, maybe quite similar to books like „my shadow is pink/purple“ or „how to be a real man“, but it would improve greatly with an editor. There were quite a few writing/spelling mistakes, let alone grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes.
Many of the sentences were connected by more than two ‚but‘s or ‚and‘s, while at the same time using vocabulary that is not suited for an elementary school level (which is the obvious target audience) and even if the illustrations are quite sweet, there are - again - many mistakes (I won’t even mention the elementary school (?) character who runs around having „daddy rock“ emblazoned on his shirt 😭).

This should definitely go through a thorough round of editing and reviewing, but I think the story definitely has potential - it just need to be reached.

[Seviryn Hemlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an endearing story about staying true to yourself. I personally resonated with this story from some of my own experiences as a Nonbinary person, and I wish we had more stories like this when I was younger.

We follow Princess Max and his overflowing confidence as he faces and overcomes difficulty in acceptance. The story is perfect for middle grade children who may also find they struggle to fit in and need the representation to understand there are other people out there that are like them.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a free ebook copy of this in a Goodreads Giveaway. This is my honest review.

I love the main character of this book (Max) and how little he seems to care what other people think of him. I don't think child-me could've ever been that brave—and I was known to wear things that got me side-eyed in 'high school' (I used to wear cat ears all the time and a choker that looked like a collar. I still blame anime.)

As a little girl, I was definitely more of a tomboy. You couldn't have forced Elementary-School-me into a dress. Thankfully, nobody ever tried. I imagine it'd be harder for boys to dress however they want without being criticized. I still remember a boy being forced to go home in my High School for wearing a kilt. A kilt! It wasn't even breaking the dress code; it was long. No way would ANY boy have gotten away with wearing a dress in any of my public schools.

This really did remind me of Elementary school, though. The girls used to play jump rope, the boys used to play basketball, but I'd be the lone girl on the court. As much as I love Max and his confidence, his best friend is my favorite character for reminding me of myself back then and being such a great friend.

I can't believe they let him play the actual Basketball game in a dress. Very satisfying to see him win and earn everyone's respect. Goes to show you shouldn't judge someone based on what they want to wear—or their appearance. This book sends a great message about acceptance. Both of yourself and others. I was so sad when only that one girl came to his birthday party but so happy at the same time because he was just glad that 'someone' turned up.

The artwork is great! Overall, this was an enjoyable reading experience. Definitely recommend.

[Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

I was exciting to see how this book read, as I had grown up where there was little literature regarding various identities or breaking from social norms.

The book was quite endearing, with Max entering on the first page and immediately making a name for himself. I think this book details elementary school pettiness well and I think much of that has to do with the authors observations in their personal life.

The only thing about this book, as someone who doesn’t know much about basketball, is that there is some additional jargon pertaining to the sport that might confuse a young reader.

Other than that, this book is written for young people and I believe it could easily resonate as well. Additionally, the author also deserves a pat on the back for recognizing their own biases and explaining where they were coming from.

Definitely a great book for children and parents! I would recommend!

[EstephBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

At first, I thought that Primcess Max was for younger kids, but I saw way too much text and fewer illustrations. So, I went to check the book on Amazon and found out the age range was 8-18.

Taking that out the way I became to see the book for what it was. It's an inclusive story about a little kid who likes cute dresses and performs really great at basketball. Princess Max is an amazing friend and always sees things from a positive perspective.

We need more books like this one so that kids begin to understand that being "different" is not a bad thing. That everyone is quite different from each other. And that we can like an infinite variety of things at once.

I personally didn't like all the basketball references. Certain pages could have been a little shorter.


I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I'm leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to meet the coolest kid on the block in Princess Max Conquers the World! Max isn't your average 4th grader; oh no, Max rocks a pink dress with the kind of confidence that puts superheroes to shame. The story kicks off with Max facing some serious side-eye, but guess what? Max doesn't give a flip! Cue the epic basketball showdown where Max schools everyone with jaw-dropping talent. The best part? Max stays true to himself, unapologetically cocky, determined, and with a humor game strong enough to make even the grumpiest grown-up crack a smile. This book isn't just about hoops and dreams; it's about being a badass, breaking stereotypes, and conquering the world with flair. So, if you want your kids to learn about confidence, humor, and owning who they are, Princess Max is a great read that'll have them cheering for the real MVP – Max!

[Charlotte Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Max Conquers The World is a funny, heartfelt, and empowering children’s book about confidence, courage, and being unapologetically yourself. Max walks into a new classroom wearing a pink dress and immediately challenges expectations not by explaining himself, but by simply being who he is. The story balances humor, heart, and excitement, especially as Max’s basketball skills surprise everyone and slowly change the way others see him. What makes this book special is how naturally it weaves in themes of kindness, inclusion, and self-acceptance without ever feeling forced.
This is a wonderful read for families, classrooms, and libraries, and a great starting point for conversations about empathy, respect, and celebrating differences. A truly uplifting story.

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful children's book that beautifully addresses themes of individuality, confidence, and acceptance. Max, a 4th grader unapologetically embracing a pink dress, faces initial alienation but shines through with towering confidence and undeniable talent at basketball. The story showcases Max's unwavering authenticity and determination. Max's journey is not just about conquering the basketball court; it's a triumph of self-expression and resilience. The book instills a powerful message about embracing differences and celebrating individuality, making it a delightful and empowering read for young minds.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and will share it with family and friends. Max loves basketball, dresses, and cares about people. This story is appropriate for all ages and reminds us the importance of true connection and being our authentic self.

The illustrations were fantastic.

Thank you to the author and publisher for selecting me to receive this book in a giveaway.

[Julia Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. The storyline has potential. Honestly the writing had what seemed to be run on sentences. Also there was A LOT going on for it to be a children’s book. Definitely needs another round of editing but also depending on the age group trying to reach some simplification.

[Amy Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love children books! I feel like authors that write children’s book don’t get enough hype. I think all authors are amazing just because they wrote a book! Great hook! Thank you for giving the opportunity to read this book.

[Cassandra Krump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads Kindle Giveaway