Princess Pistachio [Hardcover]

Pistachio has always known she was a princess. When a mysterious gift turns up on her birthday, shes sure its only a matter of time before her real parents, the king and queen of Papua, arrive to take her away. In the meantime, though, she still has to eat her spinach and get up for school. Her friends still laugh when she wears her new gold crown to class. And her annoying baby sister insists on Pwaying pwincess, too. When Pistachios angry wish makes Penny disappear, she will need the courage of a true princess to get her back.Princess Pistachio was translated from French by Jacob Homel, the son of award-wining author and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay. As Pistachio and Penny learn, great things happen when family sticks together.Gays tale is a clever twist on the many, many secret-destiny stories that haunt childrens literature (not to mention childrens own imaginations)....The skillful combination of text and illustrations addresses many serious concerns of early childhood - and even of parenthood - without straying from the book's tone of fun and frivolity. (Among the issues so adeptly addressed are adoption, sibling relationships, classmate rejection and a missing child.) The characters are pen-and-ink creations tinted with bright watercolors; Pistachio's russet braid and freckled face are reminiscent of Pippi Longstocking and the author's own Stella. Playful names (Pistachio's teacher is Mrs. Trumpethead) add to the fun. A playful and entertaining take on children's perennial questions surrounding ideas of personhood, family and community. **Starred Review**Marie-Louise Gay's whimsical artwork has delighted children since her 1984 picture book, Lizzy's Lion. Princess Pistachio is an early reader that will appeal to ages 4-8.Young readers transitioning to chapter books will be enthralled by Pistachio and her big personality and imagination....A wonderful new offering from Gay to take her picture book readers to the next stagePrincess Pistachio is a beautilÖ