The Princess and the Grain of Rice

PreS-Gr 4–This beautiful retelling from the author of God’s Little Astronomer of the story of the princess and the pea is set in the Joseon Kingdom in Korea. The main character, Jeongsoon, is a kind girl who wants to help the children in her village. She sees an avenue for that help by marrying the prince, but first, she has to pass three tests. The final test is to sleep on a stack of one hundred mattresses under which has been placed a grain of rice. This is a lovely version; there is a more fully developed princess character than is usually seen, mostly in the demonstrations of Jeongsoon’s kindness and motivation. The artwork is features with gorgeous details of Korean culture that will help readers visualize important aspects of this particular princess. The author’s notes offer insight into Cho’s process for creating and refining her story int his excellent adaptation for folklore and fairy-tale collections.