Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent
Fiction Series
For ages 5 to 7
Pajama Press, 2017 ISBN: 978-1772780215
Princess Pistachio has a dog who spends his days sleeping, with short breaks for meals. In short, his life is very boring, which worries his little mistress. She tries to get Dog to do something but the pudgy canine has no interest in playing with a ball or going for a walk. Pistachio decides that something must be done.
The very next morning Dog is stuffed into Pistachio’s backpack and he is taken to her school. When she gets to class Pistachio realizes that she has forgotten to bring something for Show and Tell. When it is her turn to present something to the class she brings out the one thing that she has in her backpack that might be considered worthy of Show and Tell: Dog. Now some people’s dogs would be entertaining and perhaps cute as well, but Dog is none of these things. The only thing Dog does that is remotely interesting is to eat an eraser. How humiliating.
A few days later Pistachio is walking home from school with her friend Madeline when she sees a flyer. The Doggone Theatre is holding auditions for a “Talented, intelligent, beautiful dog to play a starring role” in their new play. Pistachio immediately decides that she is going to take Dog to the audition. Madeline thinks she is being ridiculous. After all, Dog is fat, lay, and not exactly the brightest bulb in the candelabra. The discussion between the friends turns into a very unfortunate disagreement that leaves Pistachio fuming.
When Pistachio and Dog get to the theatre Pistachio is rather daunted when she sees how talented all the other dogs are. While the other pooches are practicing their tricks, Dog does what Dog does best. He sleeps. When it is his turn to go on stage and show the director what he can do, Dog once again does what he does best. He lies there fast asleep. Pistachio is “so disappointed,” but it turns out that Dog has a skill that all the other dogs are lacking.
This delightful Princess Pistachio chapter book adventure is deliciously funny and thoroughly satisfying. Pistachio is not daunted when she is presented with a problem, and her optimism is refreshing and inspiring.
