Pride and Joy
"Being an ally is no easy feat, and Pride and Joy shows kids everywhere not only how to do it, but why it matters! Insightful, inspiring, and important, this story reminds us that our words and actions have impact, always." (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD))
"Everyone needs an ally, especially LGBTQ+ youth. Books like Pride and Joy: A Story about Becoming an LGBTQIA+ Ally teach kids from a young age that the best kind of allyship is the kind that not only raises its voice but also takes action. At PFLAG, we've spent decades working with families and non-family allies, meeting people where they are, bringing them along on their journey--and always leading with love. With Pride and Joy.., young readers and their families now have a new resource for that important work." (Brian K. Bond (he/him), Executive Director, PFLAG National)
"Pride and Joy is not only a book with a heartfelt story, it's a beautifully illustrated book that has an important message. Creating allies and a world where closets don't exist happens one child at a time. And it begins with each of us and what we say, as much as what we choose not to say. Pride and Joy is a book that offers families courage, hope, strength, and most importantly, it inspires children how to be an ally in a timely and creative way. We could all benefit from a little more Pride and Joy in the world!" (Chris Tompkins, author of Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent's Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground)
"This book is so desperately needed. It should be placed on the curriculum of every school in the land!" (Paul Taylor, Non-Profit Leader, Media Consultant; Co-Founder, Evenings and Weekends Consulting, Toronto, ON)
Princesses Are Not Just Pretty
"After purple-haired Princess Mellie offhandedly remarks to Princess Allie and Princess Libby that she’s the prettiest of the three, it sets off an argument that quickly escalates into a beauty contest. All three princesses spend time perfecting their skyscraper bouffants and beautifying themselves—a particularly hilarious image shows Princess Allie doing squats with a scepterlike barbell. But on the day of the competition, all three get involved in messy rescue missions that find them being crowned the “yuckiest,” “drippiest,” and “muddiest” princesses in the land (but also the best). With sparkling wit and comically luxuriant illustrations, the princesses’ third outing reminds readers that grace under fire is as valuable as being able to walk in towering heels. (Ages 3–6. (Mar.)" (Publisher's Weekly)
"Who is prettiest: Princess Allie, Princess Mellie or Princess Libby? When Princess Mellie declares that she is, since “[i]t isn’t everyone who has purple hair,” Allie and Libby beg to differ. To settle the dispute, the princesses arrange to have a beauty contest and pick “four of the cleverest girls in the land” to be the judges. The text’s playful language pokes good-natured fun at the princesses’ self-absorption with their looks, as each tries to outdo the others in primping. On their separate ways to the contest, however, each spunky princess happens upon an emergency and does not hesitate to help—with the result that their carefully crafted ensembles are ruined. When they are lauded by the judges for being the “yuckiest,” “drippiest” and “muddiest,” readers understand that pretty may not be so important after all.
This is the third princess picture book by Lum and Hellard (Princesses Are NOT Perfect, 2010, etc.),and their collaboration sings. The witty narrative is supported and enhanced by the artfully froufrou watercolor illustrations in pastel colors. Full of droll visual details not mentioned in the text (such as the way the animals in the story interact), these extras add richness and layers to the story. Exuberant and humorous, this pretty book has style and, yes, substance. (Picture book. 2-6)" (Kirkus Reviews)
What! Cried Granny
1999 Red House Children's Book Award (Federation of Children's Book Groups)
2000 shortlisted, Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (German Youth Literature Prize)
An ALA Notable Children's Book
A Hornbook Fanfare Best Book of 2000
Winner, Grand Canyon Reader Award for Picture Books
2000 Storyteller's Award
2005 Reader's Award, 10th Annual Japan Picture Book Awards
"Children will snuggle down with smiles on their faces after this comic spin on the paraphernalia associated with a common ritual." (Kirkus Reviews)
"This chuckler of a bedtime romp pits the wiles of a young procrastinator against his no-nonsense grandmother." (Publisher's Weekly, Amazon.com)
"This is a darling, funny story of the gyrations a granny must go through to get her visiting grandson to bed. From shearing sheep, to stuffing teddy bears, this grandma works all night to get little Patrick to bed. Our whole family loved it." (Amazon.com customer)
"This book is hilarious for my toddler, who completely laughs like crazy everytime granny says: WHHHHATTT?!!! to Patrick. Also, the retro art style, which summons up books from when I was a child in the 1960's is really interesting to look at. A very clever and well drawn book. (Amazon.com customer)
"Great read aloud! I purchased this book for my classroom. My students love it. They ask me to read it again and again. . . and I do. I have already read it about 5 times this year and it never gets old. They love it, but you have to put on the Grandma voice when she says, "Whaaaaaaaat" and that makes it. haha" (Elementary School teacher)
Princesses Are Not Quitters
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Book of the Year
"Comical and addictive...a message parents can only be grateful for" (Sunday Times)
"An enchanting tale" (Good Book GuideAmazing)
"My niece is 5 years old and wants to be a princess. Princess clothes, princess stories, princess pictures. She thinks being a princess means you are the most beautiful of all, have the most beautiful clothes, and get the handsome prince. Beauty is the sole criterion for princesshood.
Thankfully, there's this book to teach her that the most important and admirable quality in princesses is that they try new things, work hard, are nice to others and never give up. This book gets 5 stars because it's funny, imaginative, excellently illustrated, and reminds kids that princesses have moral qualities of being good people. It's not enough to be beautiful, pampered, rich and wear beautiful clothing; a princess should also be kind, industrious and have a sense of self-respect and a strong work ethic." (Amazon.com customer)
"These royal girls don't give up easily; they get a social education and offer - implicitly - a lively motto about he perils of indolence" (Observer)
"This is the perfect updated fairy tale. It's light and charming, and makes you feel it's okay to let your little ones indulge their princess obsessions. The three bored princesses trade places with their servants for a day, and it turns out to be a real eye-opener. The princesses make a change for good, and end up sharing the palace workload on a permanent basis. The message of compassion is never too sappy, sweet, or preachy, and the illustrations are truly humorous. I also really enjoyed the rhythm of the text when reading it to my kids. My two girls love it!" (Amazon.com customer)
Princesses Are Not Perfect
"Princesses Are Not Perfect is good fun - it's a fresh twist on the usual princess stories, with plenty of elegance but nothing too twee. Although aimed primarily at girls, it's not exclusively for either gender - it's very inclusive and enjoyable. There's a gentle moral in there: people should do what they love, and don't have to be great at everything." (The Bookbag)
"In this rollicking sequel to Princesses Are Not Quitters! Lum’s trio of perseverant princesses discover that being royal does not make one perfect. The author gracefully leads readers to the conclusion that princesses—and others—succeed best when they do what they enjoy." (Kirkus Review)
"Industrious princesses Libby, Allie, and Mellie return for another go-round in their florid seaside palace in this companion to Princesses Are Not Quitters! Their DIY attitudes leave prissier princess stories in the dust; an excess of tremendously ruffled gowns, dramatic hairdos, and other princessy accoutrements ensure capricious flair." (Publishers Weekly)
"Found this book at the library and my 2 girls (5, 6) loved it. The pictures are wonderful and so is the message. While discussing the book my six year old said "This book is about lessons." What could be better....princesses and lessons!" (Mother of 2 girls)
"This amusing picture book from the Princesses Are Not . . . series opens as Princess Allie, a brilliant baker, Princess Libby, a capable carpenter, and Princess Mellie, a gifted gardener, decide to switch roles. With the slogan “Princesses are good at everything,” they accept their new challenges with confidence, but the results are amusingly disastrous. Ending on a reassuring note, “You don’t have to be good at everything to be a princess,” the well-structured, gracefully written text tells the story with a light touch. Meanwhile, the watercolor illustrations, frothy with billowing dresses, towering hairstyles, and other comical details, will entertain wannabe princesses royally." (Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan)
"I loved this book! I thought that the pictures were fun to look at and the lesson behind the story was even better! Even though sometimes we might think that we are perfect we are not, however we are good at (and better at) somethings that others are not. The colors and funny characters really made this story very enjoyable and fun to read." (C. Ball)
