The Princesses Have a Ball

Plot Summary

Once upon a time, not so long ago,
There were twelve tall princesses all in a row.
Every night they wore out their shoes.
But where did they go? What did they do?
These girls held no ordinary royal court—
They were playing their favorite sport!
The king wonders what his daughters are up to at night—why aren't they dreaming of princes? But with the help of a clever cobbler, the perfect shoes, and a very special ball, the princesses soon make their own dreams come true!

Awards

Children's Choices for 2003 - IRA/CBC; Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2003

Reviews

"Maybe princesses used to dream of marrying princes and dancing at formal balls, but here are twelve contemporary ones with something else in mind. Their puzzled father can't figure out how they go through elegant shoes so rapidly, but a young cobbler cottons on. ... Cravath depicts smiling princesses of varied hair and skin color in bright, cleanly drawn watercolors; King dad looks like a typical suburban father, wearing a knit shirt under his fur-trimmed cape and ensconced in a Barcalounger with his TV remote. Wisely, the cobbler makes dad his own high-tops since he'll need them as the referee." Kirkus Reviews

"The spirited rhyming text begs to be read aloud, and Cravath's animated illustrations depict the princesses' high jinks in single- and double-page pictures, which tell the story visually for prereaders. Kids will have fun comparing this fresh take with the original story." Booklist

"This 'Twelve Dancing Princesses' update is so inspired and sturdy that a lesser author and illustrator could have simply phoned in their parts. But Bateman's bouncing, bounding rhymes are as taut and economical as a lay-up, and Cravath's mildly cartoony images contain delectable modern details..." The Horn Book

"Bateman's verse uses wordplay and offers a fresh look at the beloved story. Cravath's cartoon pictures have just the right look, adding amusing anachronistic features such as an airplane advertising a big reward while men in tights and women in ball gowns frolic below." School Library Journal

Associated Keywords
fairy tale, fable, basketball, girls, girl, rhyme, princess, prince