THE PRINCESS AND THE SUMMER CAMP

One very, very spoiled princess, "a royal pain" really, is sent away to summer camp in order to learn how to make a friend or two.   To her surprise, no one takes her luggage to her cabin or brings her breakfast in bed!  Tuna Fish Girl from the bus becomes her bunk mate and shows her around.  After she "rescues" Princess Lulu from "drowning" and Princess Lulu rescues her from a skunking, the two become great friends.  

Princess Lulu Goes to Summer Camp by Kathryn Cristaldi is a great beginning reader.  A fun and sweet story for all.   

THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS BOOK

The Princess and the Pony by author-illustrator Kate Beaton definitely turns the typical princess story on its head and takes it to new hilarious heights. Princess Pinecone is the smallest warrior in a kingdom of warriors, and she can't wait for her birthday. She's tired of getting cute, cozy sweaters--this year she wants a big, fast, strong warrior's horse. But the horse she gets does not quite live up to what she imagines, and Princess Pinecone worries that she'll never be able to compete in the great battle with her small, round, hopeless pony. How will they ever stand a chance going up against all the other big, mean warriors in the kingdom? 

Full of both humor and heart, this is a wonderful picture book to share with preschoolers to second graders, whether they are fans of princess books or not. 

FIND THE RED-HEADED FROG!

Shoe repair guy, Johnny, is so poor and desperate for money that he is willing to help a beautiful princess find her brother, a frog with red hair. Yes, that's right a frog! Really, he was a PRINCE who was turned into a frog by an evil witch and is now somewhere in Florida. She's desperate and would even marry him if he can find her brother! What sane guy would turn down an offer of money and marriage to a hottie of a princess? Not Johnny.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn is an action packed fantasy adventure chockful fairytale characters, talking animals, and of course, romance.

For readers in 6th-8th grade.

ANNIE, SLEEPING BEAUTY'S NON-MAGICAL SISTER

On her sister's sixteenth birthday, Annie helped the palace guards search for illegal spindles, but before the day ends her sister falls under the bad fairy's spell and falls asleep for who knows how long. It's up to Annie, the sister with no magical fairy gifts whatsoever to bring her family and the rest of castle back awake and break the 100 years spell, otherwise she might never see her family again.

First, she must go and recruit Gwendolyn's betrothed to kiss her awake and just in case, as many other princes as possible. But when any royal beings go near Annie they lose their magical luster. The princes don't look as handsome and lose some of their charms. Everyone looks a little older, and not as perfect, but she will do whatever it takes to bring her sister and the rest of the castle out of the wicked spell before the whole kingdom falls into ruins or... the wrong hands.

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker writes another fun fairy tale adventure for readers in 4th - 8th grade.

A FUTURE QUEEN IN A QUANDRY

Dear Liza has arrived in London to make her society debut. But when her parents die in a tragic accident, she is left penniless and must find work to stay alive. Luckily, she is hired on as the hand maiden of Princess Victoria, who is one day to be queen. It is up to Liza to keep the best interests of Victoria at the forefront of the petulant princess's life, thwarting the over-protectiveness of Victoria's mother and deterring the unwanted advances of Sir John. It isn't long until Liza is being courted by her own beau, and a delightful romance is weaved into this exciting Victorian era novel. PRISONERS IN THE PALACE: HOW VICTORIA BECAME QUEEN WITH THE HELP OF HER MAID, A REPORTER, AND A SCOUNDREL (A NOVEL OF INTRIGUE AND ROMANCE) is written by Michaela MacColl and is a very enjoyable book for readers in middle school and older.

NOT SUCH A LITTLE SECRET

Life as a princess isn't always what it's cracked up to be, particularly when the Queen is mean and horrible. But when you are tricked into becoming a princess, it is even worse. Jane is whisked away to a strange castle by an odd new girl at school. Jane's summer vacation couldn't be a stranger adventure. She flies on giant bees, eats slugs and helps save the land of Staffa and her people. Though the book is quite quirky, THE LITTLE SECRET by Kate Saunders will appeal to fans of unrealistic/fantasy fiction. For grades 4 and up.

NEVER ENOUGH FAIRY TALES...

RAPUNZEL AND OTHER MAGIC FAIRY TALES selected and illustrated by Henriette Sauvant, and translated by Anthea Bell was a short but sweet conglomeration of some all-time favorite fairy tales and some I'd never heard. I was initially attracted to this collection of fairy tales because of it's size and beautiful cover page. I especially liked this collection because you could easily read these fairy tales out loud to a group of kids without losing their attention. The illustrations are gorgeous and tell a tale by themselves. A great book to read for grades 2 and up!

FAVORITE FAIRY TALES

The Twelve Dancing Princesses was always one of my most favorite fairy tales--the story of twelve sisters who elude their father and dance the night away wearing out their shoes every night. It has all the elements of a good story, princesses, dancing, mystery, magic and romance. In Jessica Day George's Princess of the Midnight Ball the author takes the fairy tale and further develops the story. In addition to the above elements she has included evil kings, princess and kindly old crones. The story is taken to new heights and has become something not to be missed.

For grades 5-8.