The Princess and the Giant - Story Snug

The Princess and the Giant by Caryl Hart & Sarah Warburton

The Princess and the Giant is one of our favourite picture books from those that were publishedย last year. Not only does the storyย have a very independent minded, helpful and determined heroine but it also advocates the enjoyment that stories can bring and the joyย 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 himย but nothing helps and the queen orders her soldiersย to lock the giantย up. However,ย Sophie gets there first and reads him a bedtime story. The giant wants more stories and when Sophie discovers that the giantย 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

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.

 


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28 responses to “The Princess and the Giant by Caryl Hart & Sarah Warburton”


  1. Sharon powell avatar

    This sounds like a lovely book. I love rhyming text x #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      I find a good rhyming text really fun to read ๐Ÿ™‚


  2. Kate Fever avatar

    Love rhyming text, and this sounds like a lovely story to share. Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested


    1. Catherine avatar

      Rhyming text is so fun to read out loud isn’t it ๐Ÿ™‚


  3. Raising Mighty Girls avatar

    Love the rhyming and the mighty heroine! #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      Mighty heroines are great aren’t they ๐Ÿ™‚


  4. The Reading Residence avatar

    This looks lovely, I can see both of my kids enjoying this one, thanks


    1. Catherine avatar

      It is, Sarah Warburton’s illustrations are fabulous ๐Ÿ™‚


  5. Yet Another Blogging Mummy!!! avatar

    This sounds a good twist on a classic fairy tale #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      It’s a really fun twist too ๐Ÿ™‚


  6. RACHEL BUSTIN avatar

    looks a great little book #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      It’s a fun read ๐Ÿ™‚


  7. Sarah MumofThree World avatar

    This sounds very funny and cleverly written. One for my little niece, I think!


    1. Catherine avatar

      I am so in awe of authors who can write good rhyming texts, Caryl Hart does it so well ๐Ÿ™‚


  8. Natasha Mairs avatar

    This would be perfect for my two youngest, as my little girl loves princesses and my boy as I thing for giants! #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      A win win book for both children then ๐Ÿ™‚


  9. Fiona Cambouropoulos avatar

    this sounds like a lovely classic children’s tale #Readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      It is. I love it when fairytales are reworked and given a modern twist ๐Ÿ™‚


  10. Acorn Books avatar

    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


    1. Catherine avatar

      The mouse butler is cute, their maid is a cat in a frilly apron ๐Ÿ™‚


  11. chantelle hazelden avatar

    This sounds very sweet, a modern day fairytale of sorts ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for sharing with #ReadWithMe


    1. Catherine avatar

      It’s a very modern fairytale – the Queen chops wood while the King is in the kitchen ๐Ÿ™‚


  12. Erica Price avatar

    I like the sound of the rhymes combined with humour. The pictures look lovely too.


    1. Catherine avatar

      I love reading rhyming picture books, this one is definitely a fun one to read aloud ๐Ÿ™‚


  13. Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) avatar

    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 ๐Ÿ™‚


    1. Catherine avatar

      I’m sure they would. It’s a story that really stands up to repeated readings ๐Ÿ™‚


  14. Kate Fever avatar

    Anything with rhyming text is always a hit here! Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested


    1. Catherine avatar

      I find good rhyming texts so much easier to read ๐Ÿ™‚