The Frog Princess
by E.D. Baker
Disney’s breakthrough cartoon The Princess and the Frog was based off of beloved children’s author E.D. Baker’s The Frog Princess. I guess Disney thought it would be more inspiring to little girls to change the title, but the same basic premise is the same: a young girl kisses a frog hoping to turn him into a prince, but instead she turns into a frog! She goes on a series of adventures to return to her human form, meeting animals, witches, and people along the way.
I actually liked the book better than the cartoon! Baker has a delightful conversational tone that’s accessible to young readers, and she writes very sweet, likable characters. While the movie was a little strange and even scary at times, the book reads as a regular fantasy novel. If you’re looking for a book to get your young daughter interested in reading, this is a great one to start with. It’s a unique take on the classic fairy tale story, one that doesn’t preach the intended message but lets the reader get there on her own. Also, it’s the first in a series, so your daughter or niece can read more tales with the same heroine.
I actually liked the book better than the cartoon! Baker has a delightful conversational tone that’s accessible to young readers, and she writes very sweet, likable characters. While the movie was a little strange and even scary at times, the book reads as a regular fantasy novel. If you’re looking for a book to get your young daughter interested in reading, this is a great one to start with. It’s a unique take on the classic fairy tale story, one that doesn’t preach the intended message but lets the reader get there on her own. Also, it’s the first in a series, so your daughter or niece can read more tales with the same heroine.