I Want to Win!

March 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 1-Little Princess is determined to bring home all of the big trophies at school. She tries her hardest in each subject, agonizing at the chalkboard over math problems, flinging paint onto her canvas in the art room, struggling to compose a poem, and causing an explosion in the science lab. Alas, each trophy goes to someone else. "It's not fair," she sobs. But one small trophy still stands on the shelf, unnoticed. To her utmost delight, she wins it for "TRYING THE HARDEST... fair and square!" The quirky pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations, which are replete with amusing details, enliven the simple, sweet story. The protagonist's facial expressions are particularly comical. Fans will cheer on Little Princess in her quest for victory.-Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2012
Little Princess wants to win at everything, but her cousin wins the math trophy, Polly wins the painting trophy, etc. One last little trophy is reserved for the one who has tried the hardest, and for this no one can beat the Little Princess. The best-efforts-win message is contrived, but Ross's wacky pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations are entertaining as usual.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)