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The Princess in Black Paperback – Illustrated, April 14, 2015

4.7 out of 5 stars 3,385 ratings

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A New York Times bestseller!

Who says princesses don’t wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black!


Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when . . .
Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping monsters is no job for dainty Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess Magnolia has a secret —she’s also the Princess in Black, and stopping monsters is the perfect job for her! Can the princess sneak away, transform into her alter ego, and defeat the monster before the nosy duchess discovers her secret? From award-winning writing team of Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham, here is the first in a humorous and action-packed chapter book series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black.
Discover teachers' picks. Discover%20teachers%27%20picks.


From the Publisher

princess in black, royalty, friendship
The Princess in Black
The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party
The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde
The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation
The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate
The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare
Customer Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars 3,385
4.8 out of 5 stars 2,323
4.8 out of 5 stars 2,343
4.8 out of 5 stars 2,312
4.9 out of 5 stars 2,055
4.9 out of 5 stars 1,941
Read the entire New York Times bestselling series! Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when... Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! Today is Princess Magnolia’s birthday party, and she wants everything to be perfect. But just as her guests are arriving... Brring! Brring! Princess Magnolia and her unicorn, Frimplepants, respond to the monster alarm, all they can see is a field full of bunnies. Where are the monsters? After battling monsters all night, a sleepy Princess in Black decides that she needs a vacation. Princess Magnolia and Princess Sneezewort have a princess playdate. But – oh no, a monster’s trying to eat someone’s kitty! Princess Magnolia is excited. Excited and nervous. She’s going to the Interkingdom Science Fair today!
The Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle
The Princess in Black and the Giant Problem
The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess
The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink
The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe
Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars 2,422
4.8 out of 5 stars 1,652
4.8 out of 5 stars 789
4.5 out of 5 stars 382
4.8 out of 5 stars 83
Every time the Princess in Black and friend the Goat Avenger get rid of a foul cloud, they accidentally blow it to another kingdom! How do you battle a stench? The Princess in Black is ready for her snowy playdate. But suddenly, a huge foot smashes their snow monster. “SQUASHY!” The Princess in Black and friends are enjoying a day of sun and sea when a real, live mermaid princess emerges from the waves! An angry emu suddenly causes a commotion at the Flower Festival, and Princess Magnolia isn’t prepared! Luckily, Prince Valerian—aka. Prince in Pink—is here to help. Princess Magnolia is thrilled when a kitten lands on her doorstep, but why does her feline friend wreak havoc every time she leaves?

Editorial Reviews

Review

This charmingly told book has lovely old-fashioned illustrations and a great message: You can’t judge a princess by the color of her gown.
—New York Times Book Review

The rounded, cartoony illustrations featuring chubby characters keep the fight sequence soft and comical. ... The gently ironic text
will amuse readers (including adults reading the book aloud). The large print and illustrations expand the book to a longish-yet-manageable length, giving newly independent readers a sense of accomplishment. ... Action, clever humor, delightful illustrations and expectation-defying secret identities—when does the next one come out?
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The authors of "Rapunzel’s Revenge" and "Calamity Jack," writing here for a slightly younger audience, successfully turn the treacly princess genre on its ear, offering beginning readers
a clever, adventurous, and self-reliant heroine who is equally at home in black or pink. Pham’s watercolor-and-ink illustrations, rendered in the style of the Disney classics, effectively contrast Magnolia’s identities and emphasize the text’s humor. Clever details (Duff and his goats eat popcorn on the sidelines as they watch the PIB do her thing) and short manageable sentences make for a promising, and sure to be wildly popular, new series debut.
—Booklist (starred review)

The Hales translate the humor and adventure that characterize their Rapunzel’s Revenge into prose form for a younger audience with aplomb and wit, giving amusing nods to both the Disney princess tradition and the superhero genre. Short sentences, a simple vocabulary with the occasional challenge, a manageable length, and a near picture-book level of illustrative density give this chapter book immense accessibility. Pham’s watercolor and ink art has a goofy cartoonishness, with the Princess’s doe-eyed damsel figure contrasting entertainingly with her ninja-like moves, and the monsters themselves are a parade of wacky Muppet-like creatures. Whether they prefer pink sparkles or superhero capes, readers, especially newly independent ones, will find themselves anxiously awaiting the next installment of the PIB’s adventure.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The
colorful illustrations on each page help move readers through the story as the heroic princess saves the day. The action-packed text in this beginner chapter book will enthrall and is ideal for independent reading or reading aloud. The ending leaves readers with just enough of a wink to hint at a future installment. Give this engaging read to fans of “Bink and Gollie".
—School Library Journal

The Hales drop narrative breadcrumbs throughout the story, setting up subsequent titles in the planned series, and they build comic tension by alternating scenes of the masked princess’s monster-fighting with ones starring Duchess Wigtower, who Princess Magnolia has left waiting back at her castle, and who has a fondness for uncovering secrets.... Pham offers little jolts of
energy and wit on every page, with full-page and spot illustrations that have the vivaciousness and irreverence of contemporary animation.
—Publishers Weekly

Finally,
a book for kids where a princess saves herself. ... Kids will love meeting this new non-traditional princess who bucks the stereotype of princesses past.
—Metro US

This
charming begining chapter book will please princess and action fans alike.
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

For readers who love "all things princess," it provides a
fabulous vision of how the definition of a role can expand.
—Blade

About the Author

Shannon and Dean Hale are the award-winning husband-and-wife team behind The Princess in Black, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Shannon Hale is also the author of the Newbery Honor novel Princess Academy as well as the New York Times best-selling series Ever After High. Shannon and Dean Hale live in Salt Lake City, Utah.

LeUyen Pham is the illustrator of many books for children, including God’s Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams and Aunt Mary’s Rose by Douglas Wood, as well as the Freckleface Strawberry books by Julianne Moore. LeUyen Pham lives in California.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 14, 2015
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0763678880
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763678883
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.2 ounces
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 7 years, from customers
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.38 x 0.28 x 8.19 inches
  • Book 1 of 11 ‏ : ‎ The Princess in Black
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Kindergarten - 3
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 500L
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 3,385 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
3,385 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this book's storyline, describing it as an adorable story of a princess with a twist that's engaging enough to keep children reading. The book is particularly praised as a great early reader chapter book for girls, with beautiful illustrations and writing that's great for newer readers. Customers appreciate the strong female character and the manageable chapter length, making it a perfect series starter for young readers transitioning to chapter books.

189 customers mention "Storyline"189 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of this book, describing it as an adorable story of a princess with a twist that is engaging enough to keep readers reading for more.

"Hi I am 11 years old and I hate reading but this book made reading so much more enjoyable!!!..." Read more

"It is a great book. It is easy to read and a cute story. My daughter and I enjoyed it." Read more

"...Each page contains great illustrations that will keep readers engaged with the story. My daughter and I loved this book...." Read more

"...and Dean Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham, here is the first in a humorous and action-packed chapter book series for young readers who like their..." Read more

106 customers mention "Book for kids"106 positive0 negative

Customers find this book appealing for young children, particularly as an early reader chapter book for girls, with one customer noting it keeps well the attention of little ones.

"...My daughter and I loved this book. It's full of adventure, heart, and the best part, is that it is about Princess Magnolia...." Read more

"This book has been great for my 2nd grade daughter who is reading on a second level...." Read more

"...of text on each page, so as you turn through the pages, it keeps the listener’s attention. Will certainly purchase more from this series." Read more

"...Such a fun little book, and great for kiddos learning to read and want to practice reading aloud. Ages 5-8" Read more

88 customers mention "Illustrations"88 positive0 negative

Customers love the illustrations in this book, describing them as beautiful and perfect in quantity, with one customer specifically praising the work of illustrator LeUyen Pham.

"...Each page contains great illustrations that will keep readers engaged with the story. My daughter and I loved this book...." Read more

"...; and the "Twinkle Twinkle Little Smash." The rounded, cartoony illustrations featuring chubby characters keep the fight sequence soft and..." Read more

"...The bookcover is beautiful and the art inside is equally awesome. The storyline could be improved but it is a pretty basic story at its core...." Read more

"...a paragraph or two (in large print) on most pages, great illustrations to bring the story to life, a compelling main character, and a plot line that..." Read more

74 customers mention "Readability"70 positive4 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with great writing that's suitable for newer readers and can be completed in one sitting.

"It is a great book. It is easy to read and a cute story. My daughter and I enjoyed it." Read more

"...some easy to read books, this book's pages contain the right amount of easy to read words...." Read more

"...She could manage the reading level, but doesn't yet have the stamina to get through a lot at a time, so I just had her read the first page of each..." Read more

"...There are some nice illustrations and a brief amount of text on each page, so as you turn through the pages, it keeps the listener’s attention...." Read more

56 customers mention "Character development"56 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly the strong female protagonist who straddles the princess and superhero genres.

"...that the story is about a girl who can be both a Princess and a great heroine...." Read more

"...that there are more and more books coming out with strong female protagonists...." Read more

"...pages, great illustrations to bring the story to life, a compelling main character, and a plot line that would hold her interest...." Read more

"...has qualities that all of us want to instill in our children: courage, strength and thoughtfulness...." Read more

35 customers mention "Chapter length"28 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the chapter length of the book, finding them short and manageable, with one customer noting they are not intimidating for young readers.

"...large print and illustrations expand the book to a longish-yet-manageable length, giving newly independent readers a sense of accomplishment...." Read more

"...This is our first BIG HIT. The chapters are short, the story is simple and the writing level is just right for her...." Read more

"...The chapters are short and the books are not too long. If your child is into princesses and is ready for chapter books this series is perfect...." Read more

"...The storyline could be improved but it is a pretty basic story at its core...." Read more

28 customers mention "Series quality"28 positive0 negative

Customers love this series, particularly as a great starter for children, with one customer noting it's a major hit with the 6-year-old set.

"My 6 year old daughter loves this book series...." Read more

"Great series of books for 5-6 year olds who love princesses and disguises!" Read more

"...She absolutely devoured the entire series. I even caught her sneaking away from other lessons to go read more!..." Read more

"...” things, fighting monsters and a princess character, this is a great series!" Read more

27 customers mention "Chapter book content"27 positive0 negative

Customers praise this chapter book as a great series for young readers, particularly noting its suitability for transitioning from leveled readers to chapter books.

"...She loves the colorful pictures and is a great start to reading chapter books with lots of pictures to keep them intrigued." Read more

"...The print is large. It is a perfect transition from picture books to chapter books. The chapters are short and the books are not too long...." Read more

"As many have already stated, these books are a fantastic transition to beginning chapter books and gorgeously illustrated...." Read more

"...It makes a wonderful bridge between picture books and ordinary chapter books." Read more

Highly Recommended
5 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended
My 5 year daughter loves this book! She can almost ready it by herself. Her older brother (7) even enjoys it. It has just the right amount of pink and monsters ;) Full colored illustrations on every page keeps kids interested. I highly recommend this book for any child.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Hi I am 11 years old and I hate reading but this book made reading so much more enjoyable!!! I recommend reading this book to anyone who likes mystery’s, fashion, princess and pink and black!!! I can’t wait to read the next book!!!!!!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It is a great book. It is easy to read and a cute story. My daughter and I enjoyed it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2015
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This is a fabulous beginning reader. It's action packed, and easy to read. Unlike some easy to read books, this book's pages contain the right amount of easy to read words. I felt like each of the words are ones first and second graders should easily be able to read. Each page contains great illustrations that will keep readers engaged with the story.

    My daughter and I loved this book. It's full of adventure, heart, and the best part, is that it is about Princess Magnolia. Princess Magnolia is not a normal Princess. I mean, she is a Princess, and she wears the things you'd except a Princess to wear, and she does the things you'd excerpt a Princess to do. But, she has a secret. Princess Magnolia is also, the Princess in Black.

    The Princess in Black is not afraid of anything. Unlike Princess Magnolia who wears Pink, the Princess in Black wears all black. Since Princess Magnolia lives close to wear the monsters live, it's up to the Princess in Black to stop them. When a big Blue Monster tries to take some goats, it's up to the Princess in Black to save the day. Luckily she doesn't have to face the monsters alone. She has her trusted horse by her side. And yes, he too has his own disguise.

    I love that the story is about a girl who can be both a Princess and a great heroine. It shows kids that they can be whomever they want to, and have fun doing it. My daughter identified with Princess Magnolia, as she loves to dress up as a Princess, as well as done a mask, and dress up in cape, and save the day.

    This is a fantastic book, and one I'd highly recommend picking up. Don't let the beginning reader comment throw you off. This is a fabulous chapter book I think fans of all ages will enjoy. I won't tell you my age, but it's long past the beginning reader stage, and I loved it, and I look forward to reading it again. It's no surprise that it ended up on the New York Times Best Sellers List. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Perfect Princess Magnolia has a secret—her alter ego is the Princess in Black, a superhero figure who protects the kingdom! When nosy Duchess Wigtower unexpectedly drops by Princess Magnolia's castle, Magnolia must protect her secret identity from the duchess's prying. But then Magnolia's monster alarm, a glitter-stone ring, goes off. She must save the day, leaving the duchess unattended in her castle. After a costume change, the Princess in Black joins her steed, Blacky (public identity: Frimplepants the unicorn), to protect Duff the goat boy and his goats from a shaggy, blue, goat-eating monster. When the monster refuses to see reason, Magnolia fights him, using special moves like the "Sparkle Slam" and the "Twinkle Twinkle Little Smash." The rounded, cartoony illustrations featuring chubby characters keep the fight sequence soft and comical. Watching the fight, Duff notices suspicious similarities between the Princess in Black and Magnolia—quickly dismissed as "a silly idea"—much like the duchess's dismissal of some discovered black stockings as being simply dirty, as "princesses don't wear black." The gently ironic text will amuse readers (including adults reading the book aloud). The large print and illustrations expand the book to a longish-yet-manageable length, giving newly independent readers a sense of accomplishment. The ending hints at another hero, the Goat Avenger. Action, clever humor, delightful illustrations and expectation-defying secret identities—when does the next one come out?
    Overview

    Who says princesses don’t wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black!

    Princess Magnolia is having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower when . . . Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! A big blue monster is threatening the goats! Stopping monsters is no job for dainty Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess Magnolia has a secret —she’s also the Princess in Black, and stopping monsters is the perfect job for her! Can the princess sneak away, transform into her alter ego, and defeat the monster before the nosy duchess discovers her secret? From award-winning writing team of Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham, here is the first in a humorous and action-packed chapter book series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2015
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    As an adult, I was fascinated that there are more and more books coming out with strong female protagonists. As a former bookworm growing up, I am also trying to instill the love of reading into my younger school-age cousins. I bought this as a gift for my elementary school age cousin’s upcoming birthday. I haven’t given it to her yet but I read through this book. Beautiful! I would have loved this as a child. The bookcover is beautiful and the art inside is equally awesome. The storyline could be improved but it is a pretty basic story at its core. I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a strong hero, regardless of gender.

    I am debating getting it for my cousin in high school just for the sheer prettiness but I think I’ll find something she’ll actually get more use out of. If my friends had older children, I’d get them this, but right now they are all babies.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • ntalbot
    5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous
    Reviewed in Spain on March 6, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I bought the whole series for my daughter who likes princesses, as I wanted a female rle model with a bit more substance. The Princess in black is perfect as not only is she a princess but also a superhero. My daughter read all three back to back and is asking for more!
  • Emeline Fumasoli
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for little girls
    Reviewed in France on June 2, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I coudn't believe how quickly I received the book. It is a very nice book that my little girl loves reading. It is a great story to empower girls.
  • のだ食堂
    5.0 out of 5 stars ワクワクさせてくれる物語
    Reviewed in Japan on November 13, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    子供向けの作品だが、Princess in Black の活躍ぶりにワクワクして、しっかり楽しめた。Duchess Wigtowerが当たり前のように城の中を漁りそれが咎められなかったり、結構な長い時間待ちぼうけでもそれには文句を言わないあたりも面白かった。
    英語の勉強がてら手に取ったのだが、可愛らしい絵のおかげでわからない単語の意味を類推しやすかった。英語学習目的でもおすすめです。
    Report
  • Rachael
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, Girl-Powered Transitional Chapter Book
    Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The Princess in Black is an absolutely perfect beginning chapter book! My daughter, age 2, has recently become interested in chapter books. We have been working to add new transitional chapter books to our collection for her to enjoy. The Princess in Black was a recent addition and it has quickly become a favourite. We both appreciates the engaging and humorous plot, as well as the colourful and interesting illustrations. I appreciate the dynamic characters, the quality vocabulary, and the varied sentence structure that make The Princess in Black enjoyable to read aloud. I also appreciate the girl-power! I would recommend The Princess in Black as a read-aloud for 2-5 year olds or as a reader for 5-9 year old beginning readers. We can’t wait to read more books in the series!
  • Marcello
    5.0 out of 5 stars Consigliato per le vacanze estive
    Reviewed in Italy on September 13, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Scelto tra un elenco suggerito dalla scuola è l'ideale per allenare l'inglese durante l'estate.
    Acquistato per una bimba di 8 anni. Illustrazioni carine e testo di facile lettura.
    Le è piaciuto molto e lo ha letto in 2 giorni.