A review by kailey_luminouslibro
Princess Pistachio and the Pest by Marie-Louise Gay

4.0

Pistachio has to babysit her baby sister, Penny, and they go to the park. But Penny keeps getting into trouble. She shoplifts fruit, she dives into a fountain to steal the coins, and she climbs over a wall into the garden of an old woman who appears to be a magical witch. They escape before they are turned into toads, but Penny is such a handful, and Pistachio is fed up with her. But at least they are never bored!

Pistachio is a mess: tangled hair, sloppy clothing, and always falling into puddles. She's so hilarious and cute! I love how she is a perfect combination of girly princess and tomboy. She is passionate and wild and impatient. I love her character development in each of the books. She is definitely bratty and rude. Her friends tease her, and never seem to have anything nice to say.  But I can forgive that because Pistachio does seem to learn her lesson by the end. 

The illustrations are completely adorable. The bright colors and cartoony style are charming and sweet. I love the funny expressions on the characters' faces. It brings the story to life! I really like the pretty design of this book.

The writing is delightfully funny with rich words, perfect for expanding the vocabulary of young readers aged 8-11. I love that vivid words like "menacing, clenches, preening, triumphant, rustling, and frantically" are included in the book. The writing is clear and powerful. This is a great little chapter book for readers who are starting to read more on their own.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.