The Very Little Princess: Zoey's Story (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

By Marion Dane Bauer

Book Overview

Regina is only 3-1/4 inches tall, but she knows from the moment she wakes up in her dollhouse bed that she is a princess. Why else would she have such a lovely pink gown? Why else would she have such... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375856935
• ISBN13: 9780375856938
• Release Date: July 2011
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.7" x 0.3" x 5.3"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Very Little Princess

Zoey is a feisty, endearing character with "too-curly hair." One day, her mother drops her off at Hazel's house. "Of course," says the narrator, "visiting your grandmother probably is natural for you. But it wasn't for Zoey." It turns out Zoey had never met her grandmother before that day. In the days following, Zoey learns a terrible truth about her little family. In "The Very Little Princess," the storyteller's voice becomes a gentle wise woman that leads the reader through shifts in point of view, through complex plot points, and through emotional struggles. Another writer may struggle with this intricate process, but in the hands of master writer and storyteller Marion Dane Bauer, it's seamless. And magical. Just like the story. While exploring her new bedroom, Zoey comes across a dollhouse, and a perfect china doll with alabaster skin named Princess Regina. And this doll turns out to be very special indeed! The grandmotherly storyteller punctuates the unfolding story with gentle wit and humor: "Having a doll come awake is a little like having a mouse run across your toes when you are sitting in the bathroom." The ensuing story becomes one of enduring friendship. On one hand, this is a fantasy about a doll that comes to life, reflecting a Pinocchion journey from a self-absorbed perfect china doll with alabaster skin to a caring human being complete with freckles. But, and perhaps more importantly, this is a tale of friendship, love and loss. And family. Marion does not back away from the emotional truth behind mental illness and neglect. At its heart , this is a story of what it means to be human. Not perfect. But human. And what it means to be loved.

My daughter loves it!

My 6-year-old daughter (an avid reader) read this recently, and declared it the best book ever. She raced through her other library books, and went back and read this one again. I'm impressed.

A fine reader for grades 2-4 evolves an unexpected plot

Marion Dane Bauer's THE VERY LITTLE PRINCESS tells of Zoey, who has always dreamed of bringing a magical doll to life and who finds trouble when her dream comes true and she has a mean doll who bosses her around. Zoey's new doll is a spoiled princess - and Zoey can't control her! A fine reader for grades 2-4 evolves an unexpected plot.