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Such a Prince
An opinionated, love-starved princess. Her status-conscious parents. Two muscular, but rude, hunks. Their kind, thoughtful brother. Three not-so-perfect peaches. An impossible challenge. And a whole lot of rabbits!
Told from the point of view of a very untraditional fairy, this hilarious version of "The Three Peaches" shines a new light on the traditional tale and features a unique narrative voice and madcap illustrations. As in all good fairy tales, the vain, rude characters get their comeuppance, the fairy works her magic, and the princess gets her prince. So he's a little on the skinny side--he has a big heart. (The heart is a muscle too, you know.) Everything else is fair game in this side-splitting take on the classic formula.
Told from the point of view of a very untraditional fairy, this hilarious version of "The Three Peaches" shines a new light on the traditional tale and features a unique narrative voice and madcap illustrations. As in all good fairy tales, the vain, rude characters get their comeuppance, the fairy works her magic, and the princess gets her prince. So he's a little on the skinny side--he has a big heart. (The heart is a muscle too, you know.) Everything else is fair game in this side-splitting take on the classic formula.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2007
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Dan Bar-el
21 books97 followersDan Bar-el is an award-winning children’s author, educator and storyteller. His writing includes chapter books, such as The Very, Very Far North and Audrey (cow), picture books, such as Not Your Typical Dragon and It's Great Being a Dad, and graphic novels, such as That One Spooky Night and Dog Night at the Story Zoo.
For the past twenty-five years, Dan has been working with children ages 3 to 13. He’s been a school age childcare provider, a preschool teacher, a creative drama and a creative writing teacher. He’s developed a multitude of creative activities for children including movie making and a radio show involving school-age childcare centres across Vancouver. As a preschool teacher, Dan created Stories in Our Own Words, a program for 3 & 4 year olds based on the ideas of famed educator and author, Vivian Gussin Paley that fostered the development of the children’s own stories by recording them and then acting them as a group.
In the past, Dan trained and worked professionally as an actor, has written for theatre, as well as written and performed comedy across Canada. These days, when not writing or teaching writing to children through the organization CWC, Dan merrily travels around the country visiting many schools and libraries.
Hiking and travelling are two of his passions. In 2004, he completed the 800 km pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostella in Spain, and more recently, he did the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu in Peru. Cooking, baking and eating the results of said efforts are some of his others pursuits. Dan lives in Vancouver, BC with his wife, artist and goldsmith, Dominique Bréchault, and Sasha, the most adorable cat in the known universe.
For the past twenty-five years, Dan has been working with children ages 3 to 13. He’s been a school age childcare provider, a preschool teacher, a creative drama and a creative writing teacher. He’s developed a multitude of creative activities for children including movie making and a radio show involving school-age childcare centres across Vancouver. As a preschool teacher, Dan created Stories in Our Own Words, a program for 3 & 4 year olds based on the ideas of famed educator and author, Vivian Gussin Paley that fostered the development of the children’s own stories by recording them and then acting them as a group.
In the past, Dan trained and worked professionally as an actor, has written for theatre, as well as written and performed comedy across Canada. These days, when not writing or teaching writing to children through the organization CWC, Dan merrily travels around the country visiting many schools and libraries.
Hiking and travelling are two of his passions. In 2004, he completed the 800 km pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostella in Spain, and more recently, he did the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu in Peru. Cooking, baking and eating the results of said efforts are some of his others pursuits. Dan lives in Vancouver, BC with his wife, artist and goldsmith, Dominique Bréchault, and Sasha, the most adorable cat in the known universe.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 28, 2019
This hilarious retelling of the French folktale of the Three Perfect Peaches is narrated by unorthodox fairy Libby Gaborchick (spelled with one "c," please!), giving it a distinctly Jewish flavor. When Princess Vera is taken ill, Libby diagnoses her problem immediately: lack of love. The cure? Three perfect peaches, and marriage to the man who delivers them. Enter three brothers (naturally): Sheldon, Harvey and Marvin. The older two are "big hunks," but their lack of filial devotion, and rudeness to their elders - "This is the way to talk to a stranger?" asks Libby, after meeting Harvey - doom them to failure, in their quest to win the princess. It is the youngest - skinny but kind-hearted Marvin - who succeeds, with the help of a special whistle...
Fractured fairy-tales have to be done just right, demonstrating an understanding of, and respect for, the original material, while also presenting an original and entertaining innovation. Sometimes they work, and sometimes (as with Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude ) they fall flat. This retelling by Dan Bar-El definitely works, and I found myself laughing throughout. I was surprised, actually, at how much I enjoyed Such a Prince, as I don't usually care for the more "cartoony" fairy-tales, and the cover illustration had me convinced that this was such a one. I was also reminded, in the course of reading, of the Norwegian tale, Herding the King's Hares, which I just read the other day, in the D'Aulaires' East of the Sun and West of the Moon . I'm certainly glad I gave this a chance, and recommend it to fairy-tale fans with a good sense of humor!
Fractured fairy-tales have to be done just right, demonstrating an understanding of, and respect for, the original material, while also presenting an original and entertaining innovation. Sometimes they work, and sometimes (as with Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude ) they fall flat. This retelling by Dan Bar-El definitely works, and I found myself laughing throughout. I was surprised, actually, at how much I enjoyed Such a Prince, as I don't usually care for the more "cartoony" fairy-tales, and the cover illustration had me convinced that this was such a one. I was also reminded, in the course of reading, of the Norwegian tale, Herding the King's Hares, which I just read the other day, in the D'Aulaires' East of the Sun and West of the Moon . I'm certainly glad I gave this a chance, and recommend it to fairy-tale fans with a good sense of humor!
December 2, 2009
This is a very amusing tale; it’s my favorite type of take off on old fairy tales: smart and laugh out loud funny.
The narrator of this story is the witty Libby Gaborchik, who just happens to be a fairy, a seemingly Jewish grandmother type fairy.
The prince to be is a bit scrawny. My favorite line in the book is not one of the many hilarious ones, which I also enjoyed, but a lovely line about this potential prince and his big heart: “The heart is a muscle too, you know.”
I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t even notice every illustration as I first read. But the illustrations are terrific. The expressions on the faces of the people, and the rabbits too, are priceless. A few of the illustrations have humorous text within them. This would be a wonderful read aloud book, but only if all the text within the illustrations was also read and shown.
This story is a great deal of fun, one of those picture books that will be enjoyed by adults and older children at least as much as by younger children. I was entertained and I thank my Goodreads friend Abigail for alerting me to this book.
The narrator of this story is the witty Libby Gaborchik, who just happens to be a fairy, a seemingly Jewish grandmother type fairy.
The prince to be is a bit scrawny. My favorite line in the book is not one of the many hilarious ones, which I also enjoyed, but a lovely line about this potential prince and his big heart: “The heart is a muscle too, you know.”
I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t even notice every illustration as I first read. But the illustrations are terrific. The expressions on the faces of the people, and the rabbits too, are priceless. A few of the illustrations have humorous text within them. This would be a wonderful read aloud book, but only if all the text within the illustrations was also read and shown.
This story is a great deal of fun, one of those picture books that will be enjoyed by adults and older children at least as much as by younger children. I was entertained and I thank my Goodreads friend Abigail for alerting me to this book.
October 29, 2023
Very cute story I didn’t realize it was a retelling! Would read to mid elementary school age. Was a bit long but the pictures were nice.
July 17, 2021
Such a funny picture book in the classic fairytale vein--the voice has such a humorous tone to it; I was smiling the whole time I read it. A fairy meddles in the affairs of a royal family, helping a kind pauper boy through the silly tests the king poses to decide a husband for the princess. A bit more text heavy so better for mid elementary school kids--might be hard to hold the attention of my preschool storytime crowd but may be fine for one-on-one reads. The colorful illustrations are very kid-friendly, too.
March 20, 2024
I did a read aloud of this book with my grade 4 students. They loved it! Their reactions to the characters who were rude or judgemental were priceless. This book was one of the Blue Spruce nominees from 2009.
March 4, 2016
A fun fairy tale about a princess that needs to eat three perfect peaches to recover from her illness. Many tried, but all failed until Marvin with the help of Libby Gaborchik (your friendly neighborhood fairy) gets it right. The King isn't too keen on Marvin for a son-in-law and devises all sorts of tests which he hopes Marvin will fail. But Marvin (once again with Libby's help) succeeds.
Fabulous illustrations!
Fabulous illustrations!
June 24, 2008
Tabloid-style coverage, Looney-Toonesque illustrations and the feisty narration of a bohemian godmother transform the traditional tending of a love-sick princess into a comical read-again caper.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
November 28, 2013
I thought this was okay. An interesting retelling of the three apples fairy tale (three brothers take the princess three apples, but only the youngest, good-tempered one's work and the king tries to prevent the wedding by giving him missions hoping he will fail). The fairy is telling the story and gives comentary throughout. It's a children's book so I'm not really the target autdience.
July 1, 2016
I'm torn between the hilarious Yiddish fairy (at least four stars) and the poor, useless princess—"love-starved" being secret code, of course, for "exists only as a catalyst for various citizens of the kingdom to get what they deserve" (beaten and kicked out of the palace, to marry a princess, and to live in the castle, respectively)(no stars). So, we compromise.
August 31, 2016
This story feels so familiar, in fact we discussed the myriad tales we've read that have similar themes and plots. So at times, the story felt very predictable. Still, the colorful and cartoonish gouache and colored pencil illustrations really complement the narrative well (we loved the rabbits!)
Overall, it's a fun, fast read and we enjoyed reading it together.
Overall, it's a fun, fast read and we enjoyed reading it together.
August 10, 2012
I liked the story but not the pictures as much. The commercial Disneyeske illustrations were to distracting for me; so much so that I had trouble not seeing it "live" and waited for a song to break out.
December 15, 2009
Picture Book. Told from the fairy's perspective, it is the story of The Three Peaches. It is quite funny and has random little moments that cause laughter in it. I like it.
August 31, 2022
Marvin gets a blushing bride with the help of a fairy godmother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2016
Review to follow soon.
November 21, 2015
I love the tabloid design of the book... The story is pretty standard, but well-written and cute characters. The illustrations made the story fresh.
July 26, 2016
Funny little book. Very untraditional.
January 8, 2013
While its a good story, I found the way it's written to be a bit confusing.
April 11, 2017
Loved this one. It was humorous and teaches a good lesson. That when you are a good person good things will happen to you. If you're a rotten person and selfish then well what comes around goes around. And fairies don't have to be fancy. They can just be everyday individuals. So treat everyone you come in contact with kindness.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews