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THE PRINCE'S DIARY
written by Renee Ting
illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba
Shen's Books, March 2005
Trade Picture Book
ISBN# 978-1-885008-27-5
Buy the book - click cover


!!!THE PRINCE'S DIARY was named the No.1 2006 Valentine's Day Pick by BookSense in conjunction with the Association of American Publishers' (AAP).


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Honors for THE PRINCE'S DIARY:

     THE PRINCE'S DIARY was named the No.1 2006 Valentine's Day Pick by BookSense in conjunction with the Association of American Publishers' (AAP). Woohoo!


Reviews for THE PRINCE'S DIARY:

     "'The Prince's Diary' by Renee Ting is a picturebook retelling of the classic Cinderella tale — from the Prince's point of view! "Dear Diary, I have fallen in love with the most beautiful girl, but I don't even know her name!" the prince writes, one lovelorn day. He must devise a way to search the land for his one true love. The Prince's Diary lets the reader know what the prince was really thinking when he met Cinderella's stepsisters, and offers a "behind-the-scenes" twist on a timeless fairytale. Each two-page spread features an exuberant color illustration by Elizabeth O. Dulemba on the left and the prince's story on the right. The Prince's Diary is a charming fable especially recommended for young readers on the verge of making the transition from picture books to chapter books."
                                                — LookSmart EDUCATION | Knowledge for Parents

     "What was Cinderella's handsome prince doing while his future lady was toiling away at her work and wishing for a way to the ball? The Prince's Diary, a sweet new picture book from Renee Ting and Elizabeth O. Dulemba, answers that question. The book gives a charming and humorous flip side to the famous fairy tale, showing the prince bored stiff by his mother's marriage schemes and by all the young lovelies who would like to be his bride. What would he like to do instead? He wants to visit the whistling, rag-bedecked girl he keeps spotting.. He doesn't know her name, but he writes in his diary, "I think I'll call her Cinderella."
     Does the book take some liberties with the fairy tale? Definitely. There is a ball, a glass slipper, a prince, and a toiling girl named Cinderella (I mean Cynthia), but that's about it. Which is absolutely fine: folk tales are intrinsically changeable. The famous Disney film took incredible liberties with the story: the Grimm's collected tale "Ashenputtel" contained no fairy godmother at all, but a magic tree (which hinted at the ghostly existence of Cinderella's dead mother) that shook down magical dresses from its enchanted leaves.
     Although the step-mother's evil intentions towards Cinderella are creepily palpable in the Disney version of the story, the film actually sapped the original tale of some of its darker elements (in the original tale, the step-sisters don't just get their hopes dashed, they get their feet bloodied and their eyes pecked out). The Prince's Diary goes a step further in lightening the story and gives us a cheery, unflappable Miss, who although apparently barred from the ball by her step-mother (and who doesn't make a gown-decked appearance at all), never lets her spirits droop and who never stops smiling.
     Smile or no smile, the big question we must ask any version of the famous tale is this: does Cindy get her man? If a horse ride, shared blackberry scones, and furious step-relations are any indication, then this "Cinderella" hints at a happy ending worthy of all its predecessors. Elizabeth Dulemba's comical, perky drawings and Renee Ting's sweet text make this picture book a wonderful addition to the Cinderella tradition."

                — Kathryn Atwood of the BookPleasures.com and Midwest Book Review

     "Blackberry scones?
     Cinderella (her real name was Cynthia) and the prince had the love of blackberry scones in common. Both also loved horse-back riding.
     But she didn't lose a glass slipper. He didn't search for the slipper's owner to find the girl of his dreams.
     Much of what we learned from the famous fairy tale were all derived from misunderstandings, according to 'The Prince's Diary,' a new take on the story, written by Renee Ting, illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba and published by Shen's Books.
     It's always best to get the inside story direct from the 'horse's mouth.' The legend will remain the romantic favorite, no doubt, but you'll gain satisfaction and delight by peeking into the, until now, lost diary of the man who fell in love with a hard-working girl, who wasn't well treated by her step-mother and two step-sisters.
     Many children will be delighted to have read or read this twist on the familiar fairy tale.
     Adults like to read new variations on legends that have become a fabric of their imagination, too."

                                                — John Scott Cooper, The Waycross Journal-Herald

      Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and her Prince Charming. In Renee Ting's The Prince's Diary, the classic fairy tale is told through diary entries and from the perspective of Prince Stephen.
     In The Prince's Diary, the young Prince Stephen has fallen in love with a beautiful girl. But he doesn't know her name, so he calls her Cinderella.
     The handsome prince's days are spent working on boring kingdom business. His free time is a series of meetings, arranged by his mother, with women who might become his wife. But what Prince Stephen wants to do is meet his Cinderella.
     The Prince's Diary gives us the "true" story of what the Prince thinks about the stepsisters, what really happened at the gala ball--and the truth about the glass slipper is finally revealed.
     The illustrations are inviting, whimsical, charming and humorous and will appeal to children. The story is a fun, quirky and new take on the traditional story of Cinderella. Children from age 5 to 9, as well as adults will enjoy the story of how "happily ever after" actually happened.
     Armchair Interviews says: If you want a change from the familiar, The Prince's Diary is a good choice.

                                                — Andrea Sisco, Armchair Reviews

Reviews posted at AMAZON.COM:

     We've all heard Cinderella's version of her "happily ever after" story, but what about her Prince? This delightful book gives us his version of events, and provides a fresh perspective on a well known tale. The diary format allows us to get inside the Prince's head as his mother tries to find the perfect match to be his wife. Kids will love the accident prone Prince, while parent should find the new point of view a refreshing change of pace.
                                               — Andrew W. Johns, Alexandria, Virginia

     The Prince is the character from the Cinderella tale, retelling this classic from an unusual perspective. On the date June 19 in his diary, the Prince writes, "I saw Cinderella again today! I was out inspecting a section of broken fence when she came into view...carrying a basket of wet clothes that she hung out to dry." The story follows the traditional story line, but seems fresh and embellished in being told once again from this novel perspective.
                                               — Henry Berry, Southport, Connecticut

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