Elements of the Cinderella story (greedy stepmother and stepsister) and quest motif are rather typical, but the heroine of this tale is anything but. Princess Rosamond is smart, hard-working, and very capable of protecting the royal treasures from the scheming Queen Zantippa and her daughter Zenobia. She doesn’t hesitate to risk it all when her father, the king, becomes ill; she knows she must be the one to find the healing waters. Walsh’s colorful paintings infuse energy, humor, and a sense of courage into the tale. San Souci has written previously about strong female characters, but Princess Rosamond, based “loosely” on several traditional tales, is among the spunkiest and most resourceful yet. True to folklore tradition, Rosamond succeeds in her quest, and the wicked queen and her equally evil daughter do get their comeuppance—in a manner that will delight readers. A delightful read filled with engaging art and some subtle plays on language. (sources) (Folktale. 5-10)
