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Princess Mirror-Belle
Princess Mirror-Belle and the Dragon Pox
A princess story with a difference from the creators of WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
30 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2014
5 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,233 books1,930 followersGrowing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 12, 2016
I enjoyed this book but I really missed Julia Donaldson's signature rhymes and rhythms. I ADORE the glitter on every page. A fun read.
July 2, 2018
I didn't particularly like it. Miss 3 did for a bit - mainly, I think, because the idea of getting to blame someone who hopped out of the mirror appealed!
Miss 3 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 3 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
February 21, 2020
Great book by one of my favourite authors; Julia Donaldson. Great story of a girl who has chicken pox and looks in the mirror and sees a very similar girl with chicken pox and how her imagination takes her away while recovering.
Could use in class to talk about another story that Ellen makes up, or the importance of telling the truth.
Could use in class to talk about another story that Ellen makes up, or the importance of telling the truth.
April 27, 2018
My daughter and I really enjoyed sharing this book. The fantastical fun reminded me in tone of “Delilah Darling in the library’ (by Jeanne Willis) and Lauren Child’s ‘I’m not sleepy and I will not go to bed’.
July 15, 2025
A story about Ellen who has chicken pox and her naughty reflection Mirror-Belle who has dragon pox. Everything is more magical and fantastical in Mirror-Belle's world. Is Mirror-Belle real or a figment of Ellen's imagination?
3 stars.
3 stars.
February 22, 2020
I liked that the princess mirror belle said Dragon pox instead of chicken pox
I didn't like when she poured all there stuff into the bath.
I didn't like when she poured all there stuff into the bath.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2020
I would have preferred this book if the bathroom in the pictures wasn't pink and the words 'toilet paper' had been used instead of 'loo paper'.
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June 28, 2020I❤❤❤the mirror belle series xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
September 4, 2021
Very funny book.
June 30, 2022
it was good but its for like 4 year olds
November 25, 2022
Colourful and fun book. A little girl who blames her image for everything. A bit of humour.
October 27, 2025
Apie mergaitę ir jos atvaizdo kopiją-princesę, kuri bandė išgydyti vėjaraupius su jos ypatingu vaistu.
March 7, 2026
We missed Julia Donaldson's signature rhymes and rhythm but we loved how fantastical this story was (and the glitter on every page was a nice touch!!) 3.5 Stars
March 24, 2015
Ellen has chicken pox. She’s trying really hard not to scratch, but it is hard not to think about the itchy spots…that is until Princess Mirror-Belle suddenly appears and tells Ellen all about her life in a magical place beyond the mirror while they try and prepare a bath that will cure them of chicken pox - or rather, dragon pox – as that is what Mirror-Belle claims to have.
Is it wild imagination, or is Mirror-Belle real? Readers can debate all they want after diving into this fantastical tale. This is the UK edition, so American readers may not be familiar with certain terms. Mom is mum, and toilet paper is called loo paper.
Is it wild imagination, or is Mirror-Belle real? Readers can debate all they want after diving into this fantastical tale. This is the UK edition, so American readers may not be familiar with certain terms. Mom is mum, and toilet paper is called loo paper.
March 4, 2015
I loved the glitter on every page. the story was fun and it used a lot of imagination.
May 8, 2016
This poor little girl with chicken pox is obviously delirious with high fever and suffering from hallucinations ;-)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews