The Princess and the Giant is one of our favourite picture books from those that were published last year. Not only does the story have a very independent minded, helpful and determined heroine but it also advocates the enjoyment that stories can bring and the joy of learning to read.
The Story: The giant, who lives at the top of the beanstalk in Princess Sophie’s garden, is keeping everybody awake with his snoring. Brave Princess Sophie climbs the beanstalk and tries various ways of helping him but nothing helps and the queen orders her soldiers to lock the giant up. However, Sophie gets there first and reads him a bedtime story. The giant wants more stories and when Sophie discovers that the giant can’t read, the queen’s soldiers help her to find a solution to his problem…
Sophie lives with her parents, a modern king (who wears an apron and does the housework) and queen, in a tiny house. Fairytales play an important part in their lives and there are references throughout the text to porridge, bears and a gingerbread house. Stories also play a big part in Sophie’s plan, they calm the giant so that eventually he can sleep without snoring.
Caryl Hart’s bouncy, rhyming text is complemented by Sarah Warburton’s colourful and incredibly detailed illustrations which are full of humour. We love Sophie’s butler, a very dapper dressed mouse who pours tea, holds a torch in the dark and serves drinks and my daughter loves the giant’s bunny slippers. It amuses us that, despite their old, scruffy clothes, Sophie and her parents always wear their crowns and we love looking at the pictures in Sophie’s fairytale book.
Sophie is a heroine that children will identify with, she’s a thoroughly modern princess who is moved to help the giant. She makes an extremely positive impact on his life and I love the way that, despite being so big, he is portrayed as having insecurities like everybody else. The giant’s enthusiasm for reading and stories cements his friendship with Sophie and we love the way that his problems are solved by books and reading.
Age Range: 3 +
Author: Caryl Hart / Illustrator: Sarah Warburton
The Princess and the Giant (Princess Series)
by Caryl Hart [Nosy Crow Ltd]
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$9.26
Thank you so much to Caryl Hart for sending us a review copy of The Princess and the Giant. We love all the Princess books but this is our favourite so far. Published by Nosy Crow you can also listen to a podcast of the story which is a frequent accompaniment to our longer car journeys.
Anything with rhyming text is always a hit here! Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested
I find good rhyming texts so much easier to read 🙂
I love books with rhyming texts and this sounds like a fun story – will have to try and find it for my girls as I’m sure they would love it 🙂
I’m sure they would. It’s a story that really stands up to repeated readings 🙂
I like the sound of the rhymes combined with humour. The pictures look lovely too.
I love reading rhyming picture books, this one is definitely a fun one to read aloud 🙂
This sounds very sweet, a modern day fairytale of sorts 🙂 Thanks for sharing with #ReadWithMe
It’s a very modern fairytale – the Queen chops wood while the King is in the kitchen 🙂
This sounds like a great modern twist on traditional fairy tale settings. I am intrigued by the mouse butler, love little touches like that. #readwithme
The mouse butler is cute, their maid is a cat in a frilly apron 🙂
this sounds like a lovely classic children’s tale #Readwithme
It is. I love it when fairytales are reworked and given a modern twist 🙂
This would be perfect for my two youngest, as my little girl loves princesses and my boy as I thing for giants! #readwithme
A win win book for both children then 🙂
This sounds very funny and cleverly written. One for my little niece, I think!
I am so in awe of authors who can write good rhyming texts, Caryl Hart does it so well 🙂
looks a great little book #readwithme
It’s a fun read 🙂
This sounds a good twist on a classic fairy tale #readwithme
It’s a really fun twist too 🙂
This looks lovely, I can see both of my kids enjoying this one, thanks
It is, Sarah Warburton’s illustrations are fabulous 🙂
Love the rhyming and the mighty heroine! #readwithme
Mighty heroines are great aren’t they 🙂
Love rhyming text, and this sounds like a lovely story to share. Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested
Rhyming text is so fun to read out loud isn’t it 🙂
This sounds like a lovely book. I love rhyming text x #readwithme
I find a good rhyming text really fun to read 🙂