Sofia the first by Catherine Hapka

Sofia the First

by Catherine Hapka

Book

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Princesses, Kids, Family, Fiction, Fantasy

Paperback

First published October 30, 2012

About the author

Catherine (Cathy) Hapka has written more than one hundred books for children and adults, as a ghostwriter for series as well as original titles, including the Romantic Comedies Something Borrowed, The Twelve Date of Christmas, and Love on Cue. She lives in Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Jenni Arndt · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.

Sofia The First was a book that was quickly grabbed by my daughter on one of our trips to chapters. She was quickly taken with the sparkles and the super cute princess on the cover. There was no way I could say no so we came home and read it. In the end this was a cute story, but I think it had a lot of missed potential.

Sofia is a regular girl whose mother recently married a king. Becoming a princess is wreaking havoc on Sofia’s nerves as she struggles to fit into the role and live up to her new step sister, Amber. Sofia looks for help along the way and gets it from the sorcerer of the castle (who is really no help at all) and the one and only Cinderella teaches her a bit about dealing with unruly stepsisters. I had expected a cute story about Sofia shaking things up in the palace and making the royals realize they didn’t need to be so stuffy all the time. But what we got was Sofia’s struggle to fit in and the lessons that make her perfect, and then she ended up being just that. My daughter did let out a few chuckles throughout and really enjoyed the wonderful illustrations but I would have liked to see Sofia being accepted for who she was, rather than becoming the perfect princess.

While I was disappointed in the direction Sofia’s growth took, I did enjoy her coming together with Amber and them working together to find a solution. This is a cute story with no real lesson to be had. It definitely has cute drawings, but don’t look for anything too deep in this one.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disconcerting mash-up of Cinderella and Rachel Dratch's recurring "Debbie Downer" character on SNL.

A self-deprecating child who evidently sucks at everything, including wearing frilly dresses (hey, girl, we've all been there), can't make it through a family party without magical intervention.

I think I resorted to fermented "magical intervention" once or twice in college, if you know what I mean.

Buy this title from Powell's Books.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super cheesy but the girls will love it.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We saw this book at the library and had to pick it up. Sofia the First is one of my daughter's favorite characters and TV shows. We're currently watching the whole series on Netflix to watch in the episodes in order - we usually catch episodes on Disney channel but they're out of order.

I had always wondered how Sofia had gotten her amulet and why she was called Sofia the First. While the TV show does have an episode where Sofia describes the King giving her the amulet as a welcoming gift, I still just felt they needed to tell the story sooner than that.

Well apparently they did - in book version. This book was published several months before the TV show first aired in January 2013. This book tells the story of Sofia coming to live in the castle and learning to get along with her new step-siblings, her step-sister in particular, and struggling to fit in with Royalty having not been born in that world. At the end of the story, you also find out how the show ended up being called Sofia the First.

If you picked this book up hoping for a more thorough plot, I could understand you being disappointed. While it does show growth between Sofia and Amber's sister relationship, there isn't a whole lot else. However, if you're reading this knowing it is the set up for the premise of the TV show, I think you'll be happy like my daughter and I were.

If your child likes Sofia, this book won't disappoint.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my kind of book, BUT... This could be a great way to transition kids with Disney princess addictions to something with a little more depth. Since it's published by Disney, it includes real drawings of Cinderella and the three fairies. Might be able to sell them on that fact.
Could also be a good one to give to girls who are dealing with a remarriage. Mix the fun of princesses with the other issues of having new siblings and a new parent (but not very deep in to these issues!).
Overall the story was pretty shallow and felt more like reading a 10 year old's made up story of "If I was a princess..."

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a children’s book about blending families after remarriage, and the fears some of the children involved can have. The story follows the feature length episode fairly closely, and is written in the voice of Sofia, the very cute and lovable main character of the series with the same name on Disney Junior. The guest princess in this story is Cinderella, helping to guide her along the way on her adventures. Sofia's story is easily accessible by all children, as the authors and producers make it a point to include princes to a degree as well. A cute story I would recommend to children of divorce, or any child feeling self conscious about themselves.

[nim · Rating 2 out of 5]

literally just trying to add books to my reading list for the book challenge thing rn. i didn't like it, but i'm rating it 2 and not 1 because children would probably like it. the fact that amber just "magically" redeemed herself in one page is absolute bs, though.

[Quasar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gag me. Another ginormous-eyed white princess story by Disney? As if that's not enough, the girl she worries is the "better princess" is blonde, the children of color are all exoticized in "traditional clothing", and there's no greater conflict in this new princess' heart than that she might make a fool of herself at the ball because she doesn't know how to waltz! Horrors. Oh, and then get this: Disney rips its own self off, and instead of creating new characters to love and respect, Sofia's tutors are Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, and her "fairy godmother"/princess mentor is Cinderella. At least there is a non-traditional family (though one that is no longer looked on as all that non-traditional: girl's mom marries new guy of the same race, he has two kids from a previous marriage, kids all feel like they might not fit into their new family).
Disney, you're wasting paper.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sofia Ensimmäinen -tarinat päätyivät meidän lukemistoon ja elokuvahyllyyn pitkällisen välttelyn jälkeen. Näin jälkikäteen en edes muista, miksi alkuun niin kovin pyrin välttelemään tätä Disneyn nuorta (ja uutta) prinsessaa. Olen ollut kovin hitaasti lämpeävä kaikille Disney Channelin tuotoksille, minkä uskon olevan perimmäinen syy myös Sofian välttelyyn.

Prinsessa Sofia -tarinat ovat kuitenkin hyvin hyväsydämisiä, auttavaisia ja lämminhenkisiä. Vaikka tarinoissa sattuu ja tapahtuu, niissä ei ole mitään turhan jännittävää tai pahansisuista. Varsinkin nämä kuvakirjat ovat kauniisti kuvitettuja, herkkiä ja omalla Sofiamaisella tavallaan hyvin suloisia. Tekstillä on leikitelty niin alkuperäisessä kuin tässä käännetyssä versiossa.

Kirja on prinsessafanien ja alle 3-vuotiaiden ehdottomia suosikkeja.

[Beatriz Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is intended to be an Ebook from Disney Digital Books. http://disneydigitalbooks.go.com/

Apart from this being an assignment, I have always loved Disney Princesses, so I was excited to read about this new Princess. This book was not very interactive because the pages were just regular pages that could have derived from a hard copy. The thing that made this book interactive was that there was an option to listen to the book. As the words were being read, the narrator would follow along with the red highlighted words. I really enjoyed that the narrator sounded quite pleasant, instead of boring. The book had be interested the whole time.

[Stephanie Skolmoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading a child a princess story that emulates kindness and "real life" challenges. Sofia the First is just such a story. This fairytale has a hint of Cinderella in it and the famous Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are the perfect tutors. There are some misunderstandings between stepsisters but kindness prevails and the happily ever after ending is intact.

This is a darling book and the perfect succession in "Princess" books!

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was cute but could have been done so much better. The pictures were awful and many of them didn't look like the characters from the TV show. The writing was really choppy and the story jumped around a lot. It was interesting that the story was done completely as if Sofia was telling it herself but it needed to be done so much better than it was. This book was ok but it was definitely not one of my favorite Sofia books.

[Jenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of a new disney princess - Princess Sofia. New to the whole royal thing (her Mum married the King!) Sofia struggles to fit in. Her new sister and brother play some tricks on her but with the help of some familiar fairies and another disney princess, Sofia wins the friendship of her new family and finds being a princess isn't so hard after all!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations in this book. Sofia, an average girl whose life suddenly transforms when her mother marries the king and she becomes a princess, Sofia the First. Sofia must learn to navigate the extraordinary life of royalty while holding on to her own hopes and dreams. Cute story that actually follows the movie.

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was actually pretty cool, especially with the classic Disney character cameos. The idea that whenever a princess needs help, another princess with show up was an interesting premise; however, I thought Cinderella was a little out of character when she appeared. Cindy, giving those step-sisters of yours a "second chance," what are you talking about?

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meet Sofia, a little girl who lives a rather ordinary life. But everything changes when her mother, Miranda, marries the king. Overnight, Sofia becomes a princess, moves into the castle, gains a step-brother, a step-sister... and the ability to talk to her new animal friends thanks to a magical amulet! Now, life is anything but ordinary for Sofia the First!

[Maeghan Nutmeg Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm biased because, regrettably, I adore the Sofia TV show on Disney Jr. Thanks, Z + L, for brainwashing me! Ha.

Cute.

I would recommend for kids who are already interested in Sofia, as it is more interesting if you already know the characters, IMO. Conflict quickly and neatly resolved, but still cute.

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another saccharine Disney offering, targeted for young girls. Overall, I wasn't impressed. The illustrations are just as good as you would expect from Disney, but the story was blah. I'm sure a television show or feature-length movie will soon appear, if it hasn't already.

Meh.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a poorly written picture book. It just is. It's cheesy, and the random Disney tie-in feels extremely inauthentic, abrupt, and strange. Little girls with princess fascinations will like it just fine, but I do not like it at all.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this for my 6 year old cousin. Then I went home and read it and found out it was for daughters of divorce. Oops. That's nice for the daughters of divorce but I hope she never has to run to the book to cope with a situation like that.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. I like the idea of the Amulet. Loved that Cinderella dropped in to give Sofia advice about stepsisters. I'm a big fan of Flora, Fauna and Merryweather as headmistresses of a school. Cinderella looks so pretty in the illustrations. Love her redesign. :)

[Cynthia Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Sofia the first. I think it's a great show for kids and has really good lessons behind each of the stories.
This was a very cute picture book. Some of the pages lacked interesting backgrounds, or any background at all but I understand that simple is sometimes better in children's books.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations with modern elements in the narrative, but the story just doesn't pull my heartstrings. The writing reminds me of fan-fiction and lacks that authentic voice. I would say it's definitely a must have for those entranced by the Disney Princess genre, though.

[LoveBug BookClub · Rating 3 out of 5]

We enjoyed this story about a sweet little girl who suddenly becomes a princess. She learns about herself as she finds her place in her new family. The illustrations are lovely.

Check out Leeanne and Johanna reading this book on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/d-K5xCJNqME

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Sweet, however the title is actually "Sofia the First" not Meet Sofia.

[Lupine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barf. That is all.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story. Absolutely love the illustration style.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

For little girls who are obsessed with princesses (or becoming princesses), this book would likely become a fast favorite! :)

[Caridad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for every Princess!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book and adorable illustrations, but the font was difficult for my daughter to read.