Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
A Genuine and Moste Authentic Guide: Princess: - A Glittering Guide for Young La
For ages 7 to 10
Candlewick, 2006 ISBN: 978-0763634308
Madame Sparklington is retiring as principal of the Academie Royale Finishing School for Princesses and Refined Young Ladies. Luckily, she has set down all her wisdom in a book that any young lady with the wish to improve herself can pick up and study to her heart's content. This book not only offers young girls guidance on how to bring out their inner princess, but it also offers up encouragement and support on how to do so with grace, dignity, good manners, and kindness towards others. After all, a true princess is a princess through and through and not just on the surface.
Madame Sparklington begins her princess education by addressing the important question of "Etiquette and Manners." This section discusses much more than when to say "please" and "thank you." Madame Sparklington touches on everything from the need not to be a gossip to how one should stand to give the best impression.
Next there is the important matter of "Wardrobe" and "Accessories." Naturally, a princess in training has to know how to dress well, and Madame Sparklington sets about making sure that her young ladies know what is what. She offers up all kinds of advice, hints, and tips and then provides her students with the tools to help them plan outfits and choose the right accessories for certain occasions.
The next section, "Health and Beauty," is very well thought out. Clearly Madame Sparklington is a lady of considerable good sense. Her advice is sound and provides a good basis for any young girl's health and beauty plan.
Should the princess in training need help at a banquet, at her first ball, or when she meets her Prince Charming, Madame Sparklington has advice for these events as well. She ends her marvelous book with a selection of letters and postcards from her former students and her readers.
Young girls who dream of becoming a princess will love this book which, unlike many other princess-related books, is packed with useful information, good sense suggestions, excellent advice, wonderful beauty recipes and ideas, and much more. Not only is the content first-rate, but the presentation is a joy to look at. Lovely illustrations are complimented by fold out pages, envelopes to open, touches of glitter on the artwork and more.
This is one of the titles in the "A Genuine and Moste Authentic Guide" series.
