Reviews

Princess Lemonella by Saarein te Brake, Sassafras De Bruyn

librarianryan's review

3.0

This book straddles two lines. I like that you can have a princess who is not happy and smiles all the time. That it is okay to say no to a prince. That when you are ready you will smile and be happy. I was hoping it would be more about “resting witch face” where it does not mean you are not happy just because you do not look happy. Instead it's about finding the right prince for you, and once you do, the smiles and laughter will come. This is the part, that while I love a happy ending, is just too simple. Nothing about what made them smile, and made them happy with each other. I know I ask a lot of a picture book, but it can be done. The illustrations are on point and well done.

kaycee_k's review

3.0

Princess Lemonella by Saarein te Brake & Sassafras de Bruyn I was looking forward to this book. I thought it had the chance of being great but for me, I wasn't totally feeling this story. I think there is one thing that could have made it better and that would be giving a reason why she's grumpy all the time. I love the art! It's beautiful! I do have to say the name play of the characters are wonderful!

marziesreads's review

4.0

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars, rounded to 4 stars because of the illustrations.

A sly take on the fairy tale princess, this picture book takes playful shots at Rapunzel, Cinderella and The Princess and the Pea and how those princesses found the right prince. A tribute to bonding over your common nature, Brake's text and De Bruyen's beautiful illustrations make a cute short picture storybook. Encouraging princesses to wait to find the right guy before marrying is probably a good idea, but I longed for more insight about Lemonella, why she was angry and dissatisfied all the time, and for the book to be more about the princess than just the princess finding the right guy.