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PRINCESS SNOWBELLE AND THE SNOW GAMES by Libby  Frost

PRINCESS SNOWBELLE AND THE SNOW GAMES

by Libby Frost ; illustrated by Libby Frost

Pub Date: Nov. 6th, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0025-0
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Princess Snowbelle of Frostovia and her brothers learn about team spirit when they compete in the annual Snow Games.

Snowbelle, Nicholas, and Noel are determined to break their losing streak in the Snow Games. But after the children of the royal family of Snowland win as usual, Sparkleshine, Jonathan, and James are so encouraging, friendly, and sportsmanlike that Snowbelle and her brothers quickly come to realize that winning is not the most important part of the Games. When Noel takes off too fast for the sled race and spins out of control, he sulks, but James comforts him. When Snowbelle’s velvet cape is caught on a branch during her horse race against Sparkleshine, her friend returns to help her and says, “Let’s finish together!” By the final round, the sculpture contest, Snowbelle declares that “Winning doesn’t matter!” The children all work together to create an amazing snow palace. There is nothing subtle about this story, but readers may be left with some questions, such as why does this annual competition involve only two families? Why do only the princesses have ridiculous names? “Libby Frost” is a collective pseudonym for author Teresa Heapy and illustrator team the Artful Doodlers; the bunny- and snowflake-studded illustrations are as treacly as the text. Biracial Snowbelle’s parents appear white and Asian; the guest family from Snowland is black.

Light reading with a heavy-handed message for fans of princesses and Frozen.

(Picture book. 3-6)