Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Angelina at the Palace
Illustrator: Helen Craig
Picture Book Series
For ages 5 to 7
Viking Juvenile, 2005 ISBN: 978-0670060481
Angelina's wonderful ballet teacher, Miss Lily, has invited Angelina to go with her to the Royal Palace of Mouseland. Angelina is to be Miss Lily's "helper" to prepare the royal princesses to dance at their parent's wedding anniversary celebration. When Angelina and Miss Lily get to the palace Angelina is a worried that she won't know how to behave in the presence of the well behaved and beautifully dressed princesses. In fact she gets so worried that she becomes clumsy and awkward. There is only one thing to do, Angelina most go home before she makes even more of a fool of herself.
But then something happens which changes everything - Miss Lily gets sick and it is now up to Angelina to get the three princesses ready for their show. Angelina soon discovers that the princesses are not as perfect as they seemed; they get into fights with each other and it is up to Angelina to calm them down and to create a dance that suits all of them complete with magic fairies, a dragon, a fairy island, and a brave knight.
Full of the charming and detailed illustrations which have delighted Angelina fans all over the world for some years now, this beautiful picture book is sure to resonate with anyone who has felt nervous about making a fool of themselves. The reader is reminded that even princesses can be badly behaved at times - just like the rest of us.
