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Princess Smartypants
Princess Smartypants Rules
Suddenly deciding that she would like to have a baby, fate lends a hand and brings Princess Smartypants a baby to her world, yet after a few days of hands-on mothering, the princess rethinks her wishes and finds her new bundle the proper home in which to be raised.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2004
1 person is currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Babette Cole
109 books76 followersBabette Cole was a British children's author and illustrator. Born on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands in 1949, she attended the Canterbury College of Art (now the University for the Creative Arts) and received first-class BA Honors. She worked on such children's programmes as Bagpuss (working with Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin) and Jackanory for BBC television.
As a children's writer, Cole created more than 150 picture books. Her best-seller Doctor Dog has been adapted as a successful children's cartoon series. Much of her work is earthy comedy, having titles like The Smelly Book, The Hairy Book, The Slimy Book and The Silly Book.
She spent her time writing, visiting schools and traveling. After a short illness she died on 15 January 2017, aged 66.
As a children's writer, Cole created more than 150 picture books. Her best-seller Doctor Dog has been adapted as a successful children's cartoon series. Much of her work is earthy comedy, having titles like The Smelly Book, The Hairy Book, The Slimy Book and The Silly Book.
She spent her time writing, visiting schools and traveling. After a short illness she died on 15 January 2017, aged 66.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 1, 2017
This is a book that parents aren't impressed with, but, kids like. I'm sure a lot of parents cringe when Princess Smartypants asks about having a baby without being married. But, when you think about it, small kids have questions like that. In the book, princess smartypants accidentally makes a baby with a recipe gone awry and then ends up hatching dragon siblings for it to help it behave. It's just a weird book. My 6 year old liked it though not enough for an immediate repeat reading. I found parts of it a bit cringeworthy, but, of course that could be because this book is written for children.. lol
February 1, 2015
Ok the illustrations and the principle of a girl princess who breaks from stereotype, the friendly and helpful dragons - love the idea.
What then happened to the story?
A princess wants to have a baby because baby dragons look cute and has a row with her parents when they say she cannot have a baby without being married.
Hello? You just insulted everyone who is a single parent or unmarried parent. You isolated girls who don't understand about sex and left parents to now explain why a princess couldn't have a baby without being married(?).
And then you let the princess cool up a super baby just like one would a cake and have to save him from super-villains.
Then you put the clincher by saying that looking after a kingdom is easy, and looking after a baby is easy if you only have 2 dragon nannies.
This book had such potential and then turns into an anti-single Parent, anti-moms who struggle to raise a child book.
If I missed the point and this was meant to be ironic then I apologize except to say if I cannot get the irony, why should my daughter?!
What then happened to the story?
A princess wants to have a baby because baby dragons look cute and has a row with her parents when they say she cannot have a baby without being married.
Hello? You just insulted everyone who is a single parent or unmarried parent. You isolated girls who don't understand about sex and left parents to now explain why a princess couldn't have a baby without being married(?).
And then you let the princess cool up a super baby just like one would a cake and have to save him from super-villains.
Then you put the clincher by saying that looking after a kingdom is easy, and looking after a baby is easy if you only have 2 dragon nannies.
This book had such potential and then turns into an anti-single Parent, anti-moms who struggle to raise a child book.
If I missed the point and this was meant to be ironic then I apologize except to say if I cannot get the irony, why should my daughter?!
February 4, 2010
If I could give this zero stars...I would! This is the type of book that makes me crazy! The story, in my opinion, is horrible. The characters? Horrible. Illustrations? Not good. 40 thumbs down from my classroom! Not a good one. Avoid it.
September 18, 2018
Tämä kertoi tytön voimaantumisesta; saada päättää itse elämästään, esim. lapsen hankkimisesta ilman aviomiestä. Tarina oli vaan kovin äkkipikainen ja tiivis, eikä ilmeisesti ole auennut ihan kaikille aikuisillekaan. Tyttö (prinsessa Hoksnokka) myös uhmasi auktoriteettia, eli äitiään, samoin kuin muissakin osissa.
September 22, 2011
This story is about a spoilt princess who baked a baby my accident who ruined her parent’s art exhibition. Count Rottenghut than kidnapped the baby to get revenge on princess smartypants. With the help of the princess’s dragons she was able to rescue the baby. I liked this story because it’s a story in series and it referred to a previous story about why Count Rottenhut wanted to seek revenge. It has nice large detailed pictures, to express feelings and actions Babette used capital letters. The story was nice and short with a good amount of text on each page. I would recommend reading this book as it is an unusual story with funny illustrations which would appeal to any child.
October 17, 2010
I'll have to look this book over again and see exactly what I didn't like about it because all I wrote down was "horrible." I think it was just an obnoxious book.... OH! She makes a baby... It was weird and I just didn't like her making a baby out of cooking ingredients and just having a baby because she didn't want to find a prince to have one with. I didn't find it appropriate for small children.
January 12, 2018
My conservative upbringing makes me cringe a little at Princess Smartypants - and party of me delights in reading it. Not everyone wants to get married. Nor does Princess Smartypants. In this book she wants a baby, but her parents say she can't because she doesn't have a prince. She ends up getting a baby by mistake when a recipe goes awry. Then she finds out it's not that fun and finds two dragon eggs to hatch and become her full time babysitters.
After reading a couple Princess Smartypants books I had to find out about Babette Cole. I think I like her!
Why did she write stories like this?
.... partly because she liked to shock and partly because she felt she had a duty to make sure children were properly informed. (from an obituary in The Guardian)
And you know, that isn't always a bad thing!
October 18, 2020
I only leave one star reviews in cases where I feel a book is harmful. My kids picked this up at the library, and I'm thankful I read it first. The idea that a white child can order a "brown baby" and make that baby the same way she makes food, is dehumanizing to people of colour. The illustrations depict a baby with big white teeth and dark skin, with little other distinguishing features, a stereotypical way of depicting POC. Super disappointed in this book. It was published in 2004! Not that long ago...
August 11, 2018
Babette Colen kirjat houkuttelevat minua kirjastossa lainaamaan kyseisiä opuksia ja joka kerta petyn niihin syvästi kotona. Edes kuulijakunta ei nauranut tälle, vaikka ilmeisesti tämän kuuluisi olla hauska?
November 24, 2019
Just ODD! Love the idea of a princess who 'breaks all the rules' but this is just strange. Am really not sure what the message is meant to me. Perhaps there was none which would be fine if it were not so odd.
June 14, 2018
Wasn't a fan of the story line or the illustrations.
Darn it, I was really wanting to like it. One of my co-workers told me about these books.
Darn it, I was really wanting to like it. One of my co-workers told me about these books.
August 3, 2018
What on earth did I just read?
June 12, 2021
Weird and confusing book. Not worth the time.
January 31, 2022
Meh. Dumb and a waste of time, in my opinion.
November 19, 2022
Apua, mitä juuri luin?! Hoksnokalla todella riitti vauhtia ja yllättäviä tilanteita.
April 8, 2018
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
I was obsessed with Princess Smartypants when I was little. I had the first book and read it so many times that it is falling apart. But I still have it and it's still awesome.This one is pretty good too. It's one of the most ridiculous books I've ever read, but it a good way. Weird things happen, like Princess Smartypants accidentally "making" a baby, but it's funny and silly and not meant to be taken seriously. It's not as good as the first one, but it is still a lot of fun. Some people have criticized the book, saying it is insulting to single parents, because the queen says a princess can't have a baby without marrying a prince. I don't think it's insulting, because Princess Smartypants proves her mother wrong by having a baby without a prince and figuring out how to take care of it on her own. If anything, this is all a big metaphor for single parenthood, in a weird ridiculous way. Just like in the first book, Princess Smartypants redefines what a "princess" is and what a princess can do. Anyway, it's a funny book with humorous illustrations. It's really out there, but still a fun read.
I was obsessed with Princess Smartypants when I was little. I had the first book and read it so many times that it is falling apart. But I still have it and it's still awesome.This one is pretty good too. It's one of the most ridiculous books I've ever read, but it a good way. Weird things happen, like Princess Smartypants accidentally "making" a baby, but it's funny and silly and not meant to be taken seriously. It's not as good as the first one, but it is still a lot of fun. Some people have criticized the book, saying it is insulting to single parents, because the queen says a princess can't have a baby without marrying a prince. I don't think it's insulting, because Princess Smartypants proves her mother wrong by having a baby without a prince and figuring out how to take care of it on her own. If anything, this is all a big metaphor for single parenthood, in a weird ridiculous way. Just like in the first book, Princess Smartypants redefines what a "princess" is and what a princess can do. Anyway, it's a funny book with humorous illustrations. It's really out there, but still a fun read.
December 6, 2014
Princess Smartypants lived in Totaloonie. She loved playing with clever baby dragons, wishing she had one of her own. She asked her mother if she could have a baby without being married, but her mother told her "absolutely not!" Princess Smartypants did not want to be married. Her mother was busy knitting sculptures for the Royal Art Exhibition, so she told the princess that she was in charge of the banquet that was for the the Grand Opening of her art show. Royal gravy must be served at the art show. Even though smartypants hated cooking, she went ahead and prepared for the banquet and called the royal grocer for a packet of readily-mixed packet gravy. The phone line sounded crackly and the royal grocer thought that Princess Smartypants said a packet of ready- mix baby. When the princess received her order, she did not read the front of the packet but only the direction to prepare her dish. She followed the directions carefully and the result was "INCREDIBLE." The result was a very large baby. The baby man ran through the house and destroyed many things, frightening all the guests until they fled. Evil Count Rottenghut saw his chance to grab the baby and take him to the Castle Creep. Prince Swashbuckle, who never forgave the princess for turning him into a frog, conspired with the evil Count, making plans in the Castle Creep to take over the kingdom of Totaloonie. However, the princess rescues the baby with her dragon friends. When the baby becomes a pest, the princess asked her dragon friend if she could have one of her eggs. The princess had to sleep on the egg for a week before two baby dragons were born.
The author of this book is also the illustrator, and she lives in England. She used water colors that are soft and glowing to create the pictures. The pictures depict plenty of action. The expressions on the character's faces are funny and precise. The illustrations are often so cluttered and confusing for children. I feel like I do not recommend this book because of the confusing art work, and the story is not good. There are many wonderful books for children to read, but this is not one of them.
The author of this book is also the illustrator, and she lives in England. She used water colors that are soft and glowing to create the pictures. The pictures depict plenty of action. The expressions on the character's faces are funny and precise. The illustrations are often so cluttered and confusing for children. I feel like I do not recommend this book because of the confusing art work, and the story is not good. There are many wonderful books for children to read, but this is not one of them.
April 12, 2010
“Princess Smartypants Rules” is the sequel from Babette Cole’s famous children’s book “Princess Smartypants.” This time, the princess of hip is in an all-new adventure featuring her tough yet gentle friends, the dragons
“Princess Smartypants Rules” is an excellent book explaining about how the female heroine took matters into her own hands when her baby was kidnapped and her realization about the difficulties of taking care of a child. Princess Smartypants at first wanted a child because she cares for the dragon babies. However, when she was faced with taking care of a real baby, she finds out that one must be responsible for the child’s actions, such as the baby’s mischievous behavior. Babette Cole’s illustrations are truly remarkable and more exciting in this sequel. The true highlight of the illustrations in this book is the image of the dragons burning down Prince Swashbuckle’s castle. This image is truly a magnificent and suspenseful scene as the castle goes up in flames and the five huge dragons start terrorizing the villains.
“Princess Smartypants Rules” is a perfect story about how to take responsibility for your own actions and the ups and downs of having a child to care for. Any adult who want a child to know the responsibilities of taking care of a child, this book is extremely appropriate for children of all ages and also for the adults.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www0.epinions.com/review/Princ...
“Princess Smartypants Rules” is an excellent book explaining about how the female heroine took matters into her own hands when her baby was kidnapped and her realization about the difficulties of taking care of a child. Princess Smartypants at first wanted a child because she cares for the dragon babies. However, when she was faced with taking care of a real baby, she finds out that one must be responsible for the child’s actions, such as the baby’s mischievous behavior. Babette Cole’s illustrations are truly remarkable and more exciting in this sequel. The true highlight of the illustrations in this book is the image of the dragons burning down Prince Swashbuckle’s castle. This image is truly a magnificent and suspenseful scene as the castle goes up in flames and the five huge dragons start terrorizing the villains.
“Princess Smartypants Rules” is a perfect story about how to take responsibility for your own actions and the ups and downs of having a child to care for. Any adult who want a child to know the responsibilities of taking care of a child, this book is extremely appropriate for children of all ages and also for the adults.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www0.epinions.com/review/Princ...
December 26, 2015
What a way cute book! It can be read alone or with other book by this author about same character. Princess Smartypants is the coolest princess ever! These books are so fun and they definately give an approving nod to kids being themselves and not pretending to be who they are not.
The storyline is very cute and funny and the pictures are great. My daughter(6) and I enjoyed reading these and laughing over them!!
The storyline is very cute and funny and the pictures are great. My daughter(6) and I enjoyed reading these and laughing over them!!
September 25, 2014
This book was such a letdown. I was drawn in by the cute title and pictures, but disappointed by the lackluster plot and obscure message. Usually stories come with morals, but every so often they're just silly. This is definitely on the sillier side, but I found myself weirded out more than entertained. Princess Smartypants had an odd dream to have a baby...that just seems weird to me in a children's book.
May 24, 2016
UPDATE: 5/24/16
Now that I've read the first Princess Smartypants book and re-read this one, I've revised my review from 1-star to 2-stars. I'm still not a fan of this book, but it makes more sense after reading Princess Smartypants.
Now that I've read the first Princess Smartypants book and re-read this one, I've revised my review from 1-star to 2-stars. I'm still not a fan of this book, but it makes more sense after reading Princess Smartypants.
June 25, 2012
This book didn't keep my daughter's attention for more than a few pages and I didn't enjoy reading it either. Maybe it will get a second chance some day but for now, it's going back to the library where someone may enjoy it more.
November 27, 2013
Final Project: This book was different but i think a middle school girl could read this book to get motivated to do whatever it she wants to do. Just because someone says no you cant doesn't mean you should give up you should actually do what the princess does and try and prove that you can do it.
September 25, 2014
I did not like this book, although I thought I would given the cute title and illustrations. I was displeased with the plot and the characters. It doesn't seem like the book was organized properly, there was no clear story line, and descriptions were lacking when I felt like I needed them.
January 27, 2015
I choose this book because "smartypants" can be used as an insult in bullying and I was hoping the book would address such a thing. But instead it was this crazy book that I didn't not like at all. I feel this book is not the least bit appropriate for children.
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April 14, 2008Cole, Babette K-1st
July 16, 2014
she makes a baby and lets the dragons babysit. How many books for children show a girl NOT interested in looking after a baby?
January 13, 2013
Comical illustrations and a humorous story
June 14, 2013
I could have sworn PS got married in the 1st book. Maybe she was just shacking up... We were confused, but still enjoyed this unconventional princess.
March 14, 2014
Eh, not a huge fan of how she got her babies. And the prince from the first book... didn't like his role in this one (but it did fit with the story)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews