Synopsis
...Little Violetta trains in secret to become THE PRINCESS KNIGHT. Fierce Molly is out to show ferocious Captain Firebeard and his motley crew just who really rules the high seas in PIRATE GIRL. And brave Ben, THE WILDEST BROTHER, battles moldy green ghosts and slime-belching monsters--until the sun goes down. That's when he seeks the protection of his big sis! Children everywhere will cheer for the feisty heroes in this happy collection. Meyer's witty artwork and Funke's perfect balance of humor and truth make it a treasury to cherish.
THE PRINCESS KNIGHT: A Fairy Tale for Tomboys!
"Funke has fun skewering the myth of the princess bride....Meyer's pictures are hilarious."--The Washington Post
"Funke and Meyer have illuminated the age-old desire of some girls to do everything their big brothers can."--The New York Times
PIRATE GIRL: A Glorious High-Seas Adventure!
"Girls get top billing in Funke's surprise-ending tale."--Newsday
"Come aboard for a rowdy, satisfying seafaring adventure!"--The Horn Book Magazine
THE WILDEST BROTHER: Even the Bravest Boys Sometimes Need Their Big Sister!
"May such little brothers and big sisters always have each other."--The Chicago Tribune
"Kudos for celebrating the exciting fantasy play of boys."--Kirkus
Children's Literature
Three short stories celebrate the talents and ingenuity of girls. In "The Princess Knight," Violetta's mother dies in childbirth and her father, the king, raises her as he has raised her older brothers, providing lessons in fighting and riding. The brothers laugh at Violetta's efforts, but the determined princess ignores them and quietly practices her skills late into the night. When Violetta turns 16, her father remembers she is female and organizes a jousting match with Violetta's hand in marriage as the prize. Of course, Violetta saves herself through her own skills. "The Pirate Girl" features Molly, an independent young girl who is captured by pirates. When the securely bound Molly is presented to the captain, she refuses to give him the name of her parents, claiming revealing her mother's name would scare them to death. The pirates are disappointed as they had planned on collecting a fine ransom for the girl. Molly works tirelessly doing her assigned chores through the day, but each night she drops a bottle containing a message into the sea. Her mother, Barbarous Bertha, and her ferocious crew of women pirates arrive to rescue Molly and enslave Molly's captors. In "The Wildest Brother," Ben is fortunate to have Anna as an older sister. She lets him think that he is protecting her in all their imaginary games. He saves her from the monster in the wardrobe; he throws the Slime-Burping Monster over the balcony; and he ties up the burglar who appears weekly. His muscles grow big and strong. But when darkness arrives, he crawls into Anna's bed for protection from night noises and biting beetles. Humorous watercolor illustrations capture the moods and emotions of these vibrantcharacters. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.