The Wide-Awake Princess

by Katherine Paterson

Book Overview

In this amusing, eloquently told story, created by Katherine Paterson specifically for artist Vladimir Vagin to illustrate with his beautifully detailed watercolors, there was born a wise little... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395537770
• ISBN13: 9780395537770
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 47 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.8" x 10.7"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Inspiring tale brings the poetry of justice to life

Children will enjoy this tale and relate to the feeling of being awake when others are asleep. What we do with this gift, is another story ... "A great difference came over the country. Not magically in a moment, but like yeast working in dough, the spirits of the people began to rise." The bread of the people appears, by the end of the book, to be within reach. Yet it is not clear what will become of the monarchy. Are we to have a benevolent queen rather than a despot? Or will all the study of history and letters that she has encouraged among the people lead them to reorganize the society and government? The character of the princess, who becomes queen, gives us hope. Since it is but a fairy tale, we do not see what happens once the revolution succeeds, but we can believe that, "Nourished by the bread of justice The work can be achieved From which plenty comes." (Brecht) Most encouraging about this tale is that the gift the princess receives from her fairy godmother is something that readers can give themselves. Rising, waking, these simple acts ignite social change. We have faith that the good people will, as Vivekananda urges, "stop not until the goal is reached."