PRINCESS FUSSPOT

In Lodge’s chapter book, a rule-breaking little princess’ magical discovery brings happiness and fun to her sad kingdom.

Six-year-old Princess Francesca Fusspot isn’t impressed by the fact that her ancestors left the Land of Gunk to settle in The Land of Perfect, a place absent of fun where even the flowers and bushes grow in clean straight rows and official rules prohibit laughter, messiness, noise, and not walking in regimented lines.  Centuries after these rules were established, everyone—the townspeople and their monarchs, “King Soap and Queen Raindrop”—is still following them. Everyone, that is, except for Princess Francesca Fusspot. She defies regulations regularly by laughing and having fun, making friends with talking animals, not wearing gloves, and disliking itchy “princessy” dresses. She loves her parents, but they want her to be like everyone else in the kingdom, indulging in “no dancing, games, or any other sort of caterwauling” (there’s a continuity slip here, since Francesca’s mother said earlier that she would be expected to learn to waltz). Knowing that she’s “the only person in Fusspot history to disobey the Rules” makes Francesca feel “alone and slightly sick”—until she explores the “Forbidden Tower,” magically finds a kindred spirit, and comes up with a smart plan to change frowns into smiles. In this entertaining chapter book, elementary school–age readers are served off-the-wall fairy-tale elements, Ligon’s appealingly cartoony black-and-white and color illustrations, and a welcome message about how even one small person can make a difference. The author imbues the king and queen’s newfound appreciation for their daughter’s courage and wisdom with genuine warmth in a thoughtful contrast to the great deal of well-calibrated silliness that comes before (such as characters named for their jobs, which include Royal Door Slammers; the Royal Squeezer, who squeezes Queen Raindrop into her shoes; PinCushion, who dresses the Queen; and the Royal Screwball, whose job is to “swivel” the King around corners).

Humor, a dash of magic, and a wise, quirky, and relatable young hero.