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Princess Priscilla’s life doesn’t start to improve until she switches places with a piglet named Pigmella.
Instead of being raised by uninterested parents and numerous nannies, Princess Priscilla is brought up by loving parents who desperately wanted a child. While living on their farm, Princess Priscilla learns to appreciate nature and all the beauty that surrounds her. Her new parents encourage her independence and teach her the importance of living an honest life.
Author Jonathan Emmett (Foxes in the Snow) contrasts Princess Priscilla’s life in the country with Pigmella’s life in the castle. Poly Bernatene’s (The Tickle Tree) digital illustrations show Pigmella living a lonely life. She is not surrounded by loving parents or friends, and her education is far from successful (she eats books instead of reading them, and her antics at mealtime make the nannies shy away with embarrassment).
This story references Sleeping Beauty, Thumbelina, Puss 'n' Boots, The Prince and the Pauper and The Frog Prince to explain the switch between the princess and the pig.
The clothing appearing on the characters appears to be from the fourteenth or fifteenth century. The women in the castle wear steeple or heart-shaped hennin caps. Dresses have long sleeves and square necklines. Skirts open to reveal petticoats and the newlywed Prince wears a lace ruff around his neck.
Parents and librarians looking for a story starring an admirable princess will welcome this book.
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The Princess and the Pig