The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate by Shannon and Dean Hale - ESSENTIAL

Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale  The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate, 90 pgs.  Illustrated by LeUyen Pham  CHAPTER BOOK Candlewick Press, 2017.  $14.99 

Content: G.  

Princess Magnolia (who is secretly the Princess in Black) leaves her kingdom to go to a playdate with Princess Sneezewort, but she doesn’t realize that a monster is following her.  During their playdate, they hear someone cry for help because the monster is trying to eat their kitten.  Both princesses make up excuses to leave the castle and don their disguises, so they can help the distressed.  They work together as Princess in Black and Princess in Blankets to help trap the monster.  

This is a fun addition to the Princess in Black series.  The Princess in Blankets is trying to be brave like her hero, the Princess in Black and she’s a likable character.  The pictures are fun and the chapters are short and easy to read.  

EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.