SONG FOR A PRINCESS

In this original fairy tale, a little brown bird that loves words listens intently as a princess and her friend tell each other stories and play in the garden. He catches the words and weaves them expertly into his nest. Lauren Child–esque illustrations capture the princess and her garden in their splendor and interpolate the words—collaged in in ransom-note fashion—inventively throughout. When the princess’s friend leaves, the princess is left despondent, and the garden becomes dark and dull, so the birds that live there try to find a way to cheer her and bring the sun back. Even though the dazzling feathers of the peacock, the grace of the swans, the playful maneuvers of the jackdaws and other various gifts have no effect, no one thinks for a moment that the plain little bird will have success—though he has a secret treasure that only readers know about. A quiet jewel about friendship and renewal, this is a princess story without the usual clichés as well as a tale that shows the beauty and regenerative power of words. (Picture book. 4-8)