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THE FROG PRINCESS RETURNS

From the Tales of the Frog Princess series , Vol. 9

This humorous, ongoing extension of the frog-turned-prince saga should appeal to fans of the series who want more of the...

When Queen Willow vanishes, Princess Emeralda, aka Emma, embarks on a quest to find her and restore harmony to the fairy community in this latest addition to the Tales of the Frog Princess series.

As the Green Witch, the independent, white princess also has the “responsibility of watching out for the humans and fairies in Greater Greensward.” Even though Emma has transformed her fiance, Eadric, back from a frog into human form, his parents still oppose their marriage. Accordingly, when attractive, nasty, white Princess Adara arrives unexpectedly, claiming to be a distant relative, the interloper’s pursuit of Eadric arouses Emma’s suspicions. Before Emma can convince Adara to leave, she’s embroiled in bitter, disruptive fighting among the fairies over who will be their new ruler. Accompanied by devoted Eadric and hindered by irritating Adara, Emma travels on her magic carpet to Soggy Molvinia, wielding her magical powers on the fly and hoping to discover missing Queen Willow. Featuring comic scenes, a romantic subplot, and wacky animal, fairy, and witch characters, the fantasy falls a bit flat, feeling formulaic at this point despite its independent heroine, breezy first-person voice, fairy-tale elements, and fast pace.

This humorous, ongoing extension of the frog-turned-prince saga should appeal to fans of the series who want more of the same. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Pub Date: June 6, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-68119-137-9

Page Count: 208

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017

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SECRETS OF THE PURPLE PEARL

From the Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science series , Vol. 2

Unforgettably quirky, fast-paced fun.

In a race against their enemies, the Porch girls must find a peculiar pearl in order to foil a fiendish plot.

After defeating a monstrous Kyrgalops in The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science (2024), Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch find themselves (after a series of madcap events) at Lake Kagloopy’s Purple Pearl Hotel with their mentor, Millicent Quibb. Quibb informs the trio that they must find the titular pearl before the members of their evil mad-scientist rivals, the KRA, do. If they fail, the KRA (whose members include the malevolent mayor, Majestina DeWeen, and her slimy sycophantic lawyer, Ashley Cookie) plans to use the gem to bestow the Gift of Endless Vibrancy on the villainous Talon Sharktūth. Hilarity ensues as the Porches attend the annual Shrimp Ball, encounter Umbrella Turkeys, search for Cloudite (floating cloud rocks), and don invisible but smelly woolen coats. Jokes aside, the girls’ story is intriguing, offering more clues to their mysterious backgrounds and tantalizing tidbits promising later adventures. McKinnon offers bountiful backstory (alongside a running joke to encourage readers to pick up the preceding volume) and enough guffaw-inducing jokes, zany footnotes, and creative jargon to enthrall readers both new and old with her delightful sophomore effort. Mixing humor, found family, and well-wrought worldbuilding, this sequel is a certain crowd pleaser. Final art not seen; in the previous book, the grayscale illustrations showed the girls with varying skin tones.

Unforgettably quirky, fast-paced fun. (appendices) (Adventure. 8-12)

Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025

ISBN: 9780316555296

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: July 19, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025

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THE WILD ROBOT PROTECTS

From the Wild Robot series , Vol. 3

Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.

Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.

When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.

Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)

Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023

ISBN: 9780316669412

Page Count: 288

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023

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