Grilled Cheese and Dragons #1

Nancy Krulik

Book 1 of Princess Pulverizer

Language: English

Publisher: Penguin

Published: Jan 16, 2018

Description:

Meet the princess who'd rather wear a suit of armor than a crown!

Princess Serena (or as she prefers, Princess Pulverizer) doesn't want to be a princess--she wants to be knight! But her father, King Alexander of Empiria, thinks she still has a lot to learn when it comes to exhibiting valiant behavior. So he presents a challenge: the princess must first go on a Quest of Kindness and perform good deeds to prove that she truly deserves to go to knight school. With help from a friendly dragon named Dribble and a perpetually terrified knight-in-training named Lucas, can she complete her quest and discover what it really takes to be a hero? **

From School Library Journal

Gr 1–4—Princess Serena wants to quit attending the Royal School of Ladylike Manners, change her name to "Princess Pulverizer," and become a knight. Her father, King Alexander, is willing to entertain this bold move but insists that she first go on a Quest of Kindness. This task should involve acts of bravery and generally being unselfish and self-sacrificing, which are not this pint-sized dynamo's strong suits. The princess quickly finds the perfect opportunity to make her mark; a smelly, dull-witted troll has stolen the Queen's jewels, and the princess decides to steal them back. She cleverly finds her way into the troll's lair but her plan soon goes horribly awry. A very ineffectual and weepy young knight (along with his embarrassingly gassy dragon, Dribble) attempts to rescue the princess and instead causes them all to end up prisoners. Despite the odds, this unlikely team eventually triumphs and is soon on to the next adventure. Krulik ("Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo") has introduced a spitfire new heroine with plenty of humor and outrageous shenanigans. Balistreri's illustrations display his animation background and enhance the absurdity factor admirably. VERDICT A strong series opener and a solid choice for those looking to increase their early chapter book holdings.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

Review

[]“Very funny series . . .” — Publishers Weekly* , starred review

"A wacky adventure that stands out through highlighting its heroine's foibles, giving her plenty of room to grow in future installments." — Kirkus

"This spirited chapterbook is an obvious choice for Princess in Black grads and Hamster Princess fans." — Booklist

"A strong series opener and a solid choice for those looking to increase their early chapter book holdings." — School Library Journal