9 min. Dreamscape. 2017. $38.99. ISBN 9781520087122.
PreS-Gr 3—In this lively video about a not-so-average Princess, fun, funky animated illustrations make the vibrant world of Princess Penelope Pineapple come alive. Penelope is very much a princess, surrounded by frills and beautiful gowns. She loves ruffles, for sure, but she loves pants, too, because she has things to do, of course! Penelope exercises, gardens, encourages work in science, and gets dirty along the way, and her pants help her get these important duties done. Not everyone agrees Penny should be wearing pants, but when an emergency presents itself, she proves sometimes you just have to get work done. Coauthor Savannah Guthrie's strong narration adds humor and emotion at just the right moments, expressing the story's clever rhymes perfectly. A catchy tune accompanies the voice-over, well suited to the scanned pink-tinted illustrations by Eva Byrne. A perfect choice for fans of "Fancy Nancy" and Jane Yolen's Not All Princesses Dress in Pink.
VERDICT A fun addition to animated storybook collections and an especially good choice for fans of princesses.