Monday, July 29, 2013

Book review: The Paper Bag Princess

“Ronald,” said Elizabeth, “your clothes are really pretty and your hair is all neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum.”


My curiosity was certainly piqued when I read those lines. “This does not quite sound like a fairy tale with ‘happily ever after’”, I thought. 

“The title of the book is ‘The Paper Bag Princess’, why was she called that Mama? Does she not have any clothes? What happened to her?” Those questions (by Dumpling) came fast and furious and so, I sat down and read it with Dumpling.

:: About the Author

Written by Robert Munsch who studied 7 years to be a Jesuit priest, he uncovered a talent in stories and writing when he worked in daycare. This eccentric author (who later decided that he was “lousy priest material”) has a strange habit of visiting schools and daycares for free and (get this!) he usually does not tell them that he is going!

So I went and knocked on the door of Ms. Clebanoff¹s grade 2 and said, “Hi! I’m Bob Munsch. Remember you asked me to come and visit when you wrote me last year?”
Mrs. Clebanoff just stood there and didn’t say anything so I tried again.
I said, “Hi! My name is Bob Munsch and I am from Canada and your class wrote me a letter and asked me to come and visit and I was driving by on the Ventura Freeway and I came by for a visit and do you want me to tell some stories to your class or should I go back to the Ventura Freeway and stop bothering you?”
Mrs. Clebanoff said, “Canada? Bob Munsch??? Stories????”; And then she finally figured it out and yelled, “Kids, drop everything, we have a visitor!”  Source

:: The plot
Now, with a spunky author like that, how can his stories be boring? :)
Dumpling read it to me and chuckled along the way. The story celebrates feisty females through the main character Elizabeth who met a nasty dragon which burnt away everything she owns and abducted her fiancé. A battle of wit versus brawn, how will Elizabeth be able to rescue her prince and outsmart the dragon?
I like the modern twist where Elizabeth stood up for herself and for her beliefs and did not allow the prince to walk all over her. As it is a fairly short story, the story grew on me only as I read it a second and a third time, but grew it did. Dumpling and I also had discussions around the Prince's choice of words and his attitude. I feel that the story, being quite 'straight-to-the-point', can be used as a read-aloud for 3 year olds instead of the recommended for ages 4 – 7. Great for little girls and certainly as a gift too. 
Author:  Robert Munsch
Illustrator: Michael Martchenko

I received this title from My Imagination Kingdom in order to do a review on and give my opinion of it. 

Up for grabs! I am also pleased that My Imagination Kingdom is doing a giveaway of this title! 

I have 2 copies (each worth $14.90) to give away! Here's how to win! 


Important: 
Please remember to:
1) Leave a comment in the comment box on why you wish to win this title

2) Leave your email address - this allows us to contact you if you win it. Winners will be randomly selected. 
(Note: this giveaway is only for Singapore Residents only) 

I was also invited guest post at My Imagination Kingdom to share my experiences and tips on read aloud and literacy. Hop on over to find out more!  

35 comments:

  1. Hope to win this book for my girl so that she can learn how to be the girl in the story who knew how to stand up for herself when the need arises.
    Name:Amie
    Email: amycpj@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. angelchen@hotmail.sg
    Because it sounds like a fun book for a bedtime story with my kiddos, that especially love fairy tales!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Keen to win this trial to introduce unconventional fairy tale to my kids.
    Winnie
    lamwinnie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love fairy tales with a twist in it! Hope to win it for my knight and princess!

    Connie
    sherbetgal@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Would love to win this for my girl as we don't usually read fairy tales.
    love only those with a twist and a good morale lesson to discuss!

    Jacquelene
    furrypawie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hope to win the book for my princesses.

    shwong2003@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. My daughter seems convinced that she is a princess, and even at age 2, has more spunk than stereotypical princesses! This book would help her expand her scope of what a princess can be!
    My son would also enjoy the book, and most likely be the one reading it to his sister, his stereotypes of princesses would hopefully be changed!!
    Ratna.s.mishra@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I wish to win one of the copy cos my princess will love the story!
    Eileen Chua
    chuaeil@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love the story! I want to re-read this book and keep it for my granddaughter(s)!

    eamilto: khor.pc@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. My boys would love the book to add on to their reading collections :)
    j_xian@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. My girl loves to read. Would love to win a copy of this book for her.

    Dee
    dee@prunenurture.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. My kids are avid reader and tis would be a lovely addition to their books collection. Love that the story has a different twist to it!
    Mikki
    Etoilebb08@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. hope to win it because reading is one of our favourite past time!

    Shih Hui
    xihui14@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the book recommendation. Looks like a nice read ! Hope to win it not only for the kids but also myself ! wahahaha

    Shirley Yong
    yokoluvstospree@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love this book and would like to have one for my daughter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oops...my email is lynnen78@gmail.com

      Delete
  16. I love fairy tales, especially those with a good twist! Would be fun reading with my daughter

    sakuraharuka at live dot com

    Ai @ Sakura Haruka

    ReplyDelete
  17. Would love to read it together with my 2 children :)
    jeffrey_soh@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. My son read this from a friend and loved it so would like to introduce this unconventional princess tale to her 2 younger sisters.

    ReplyDelete
  19. The book intrigued me, would love to read it to my son and add to his mini library. =)
    email: monikachristine@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. This looks like a good story and I hope to win it so I can read it to my kids during bedtime. We are always running out of new stories although we visited the library once a week.
    Email : chanxgg@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. u0703890@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would like to share this story in the classroom. u0703890@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wish to win this trial to introduce unconventional fairy tale to my 3 kids.
    joyce koo
    kkjc88@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I would love to win this for my daughter so that she can learn that a princess is not just about being a pretty face but to be herself and stand up for what she believes.

    Email: susan at ajugglingmom dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love how spunky the author is.. and would love to win a copy for my princess!!

    My email: aliciawee@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Would love to win a copy for my son.
    Cheers!

    Ling

    btmv10@yahoo.com.sg

    ReplyDelete
  27. Would love to win this for my Angel who loves to read cause she deserves a great book for her to read again and again! My email is cresswee@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love a good story anytime. Flroindatay@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win a copy for my boy.
    wfclinda@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Would love to win this for a friend's daughter! Thanks for the giveaway!
    john(dot)jus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. My kids would find this book ultra entertaining, just like your last book review on the real story of the 3LPs... Thanks for the giveaway :) jellypurin@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Haven't been reading many fairy tales to my boy, this sounds like a fun one he would enjoy. And I can read it for my girl when she is older :)

    j.etudes@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sounds like a nice fairy tale with a good twist. Am sure my girl will enjoy the book

    Mich
    micheleckp@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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