It's A Smallman World After All: Review of The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman

The Monkey With a Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman
Publication Date: 2009

Smallman "paints" a splendiferous and zany picture of a primate with a passion for the arts in the outrageously bananas tale: The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom.

In this bubbly yarn, a monkey yearns for the rainbow colors of the birds aflight in the crystal clear blue sky. As he peruses a bevy of his ho-hum, so-so and decidedly blah-hued jungle counterparts he stumbles across a palette full of brightly colored hues and goes ape in no time flat.

With the flick of the wrist of this monkey Monet, zebras are dressed divine with black lines, a giraffe becomes quite "square" as his yellow skin is given a checkerboard air, but this little artiste is sure to find that some animals may not find their new coats as sublime.

Be sure to read on to learn that there's no if ands or "butts" about it:  this cheeky little monkey will surely pay his dues.

 Children will enjoy reading this lively and dramatic story that will lead to much laughter and a good dose of monkeying around.

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Totally Tiaras: Princess Stories for Preschoolers

Being a child of the 80's, the whole pretty princess obsession is quite beyond me. I was raised in a time where She-Ra was the princess every girl wanted to be. She was strong-willed, vivacious and always ruled every show. The most girly of cartoons included the adorable Strawberry Shortcake and the lovely ponies of My Little Pony who frolicked in magical meadows.

Princesses were not really on our radar. Disney created the massive phenomenon with their princess-themed movies including favorites such as The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and The Princess and the Frog and their countless toys, straight-to-video DVDs, books, puzzles, and clothing lines.

I can definitely understand how a preschooler can get swept away by the romantic, simplistic and slightly contrived storylines of princesses whose only worries include looking pretty, going to balls and finding the perfect prince to marry. Everything in those stories end happily and are comforting to young children in a world that is ever changing.

Personally, the only royalty I feel I would enjoy being is a queen. Girls, queens have power. They rule nations, make rules, and build their countries fortunes through exploration and discovery.

 They are strong, independent and free-thinking. Yes, they have worries and many a sleepless night, but in the end they accomplished something during their day.

But enough of my anti-princess rant. Long live the princess and all that she encompasses to little girls everywhere: feminine beauty, innocence, love, and  a carefree spirit.

Below you will find some sparkling titles which don't require kissing a frog or losing a glass slipper.

Sofia the First by Catherine Hapka
Publication Date: 2013

Sofia is feeling rather ill-at-ease over becoming a princess after her stunning mother marries a prince. She tries in every way possible to be as perfect as her true royal step-sister Amber.

She studies up to the last minute learning steps for the latest ball, yet she feels majorly tiara-challenged in everything she tries to accomplish.

Just as she thinks her unpolished princess skills will be her downfall her step-sister Amber lends her a pair of shoes for the ball.

Have Amber and Sofia become royally grand step-sisters or will this courtly friendship fizzle before she steps on the ballroom floor?

Little girls will rejoice when a particular princess rock star waltzes into the picture in this pleasingly palace-perfect tale which will whisk them away into a stupendous fairy tale.

Will Princess Isabel Ever Say Please? by Steve Metzger
Publication Date: 2012

Steve Metzger's quirky and outrageous sense of humor and unique spin on classic fairy tales comes to life with a moral message: In order to be polite and win a prince's heart, you must unequivocally, say the magic word: please!

Princess Isabel is quite the looker with a major league attitude problem. Her looks may enchant the princes but her atrocious manners will repulse them from her wiles on any given day.

The story uniquely tangles a mish-mash of fairy tales such as Cinderella, Snow White and The Frog Prince to weave one flamboyant and hilariously regal gem of a yarn!

Hold on to your tiaras girls and get ready for one massively majestic romp!



Princess Pigtoria and the Pea by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Publication Date: 2010

In this takeoff of Hans Christian Anderson's Princess and the Pea, Pamela Duncan Edwards entices readers to enter the world of porcine Princess Pigtoria: the pleasantly pleasing princess whose castle is a pig-sty. In order to rehab her dilapidated palace, Pigtoria answers a personal ad from a swine-worthy prince.

Will this sow win the heart of this handsome porker or will a pesky pea get in the way of their blossoming romance?  Read this darling fractured fairy tale to find out!