Today I have a very special guest blog post by Perdita Cargill part of the mother/daughter author duo who wrote the teen novel Waiting for Callback. This is part of the awesome #TommyVCancer blog tour. You can see all the stops on list on my side bar. The tour is about one amazing author Tommy Donbavand and his fight against cancer. I will be doing my own post later on this month so watch out for that.
For now join Tommy’s Army and I’ll hand you over to Perdita.
Princess Frog-Snogger (Once Upon a Time) By Tommy Donbavand
The Kingdom of Bizarnia is in uproar! Princess Ranida has heard the tale of ‘The Frog Prince‘, and is traveling the land, kissing as many amphibians as she can in search of her true love. However, after finding Prince Gallant, she vanishes on their wedding day, having now discovered that she prefers kissing frogs to Princes. Can Prince Gallant track her down, and just what will he use to climb to the top of the tall tower now that Ranida has cut her hair?…
What a joy it was to read Princess Frog-Snogger!
This is a simple short first chapter book for the Badger Learning Once Upon Another Time series (January 2016). Aimed at reluctant readers the print is clear, the passages short, challenging vocabulary highlighted and reading questions supplied – and it is very funny. The publishers describe the series as ‘tweaked’ fairy tales but in Donbavand and Penman’s hands this is more twisted than tweaked – in the best possible way. It’s loosely (very loosely) based on the classic Princess and the Frog fairy tale. It has all the ingredients – Princess Ranida is beautiful and she wears long flowing silk dresses (sometimes covered in slime). Prince Gallant is tall, dark and handsome (‘phwoooaaarrr!) and even better he’s in touch with his sensitive side, he’s the one who swoons at the fairytale wedding (such a boon for the local picture-on-a-mug factory). There’s a wicked witch, Auntie Wartcream, and there’s a whole host of muddy peasants – complete in Penman’s illustrations with poor dental work and snotty noses. In its classic form the story is weird enough but in Donbavand’s hands it becomes even more surreal. The princess likes kissing frogs; she likes kissing frogs even more than she likes kissing the prince in his perfect human form. In fact she gets such a kick out of kissing frogs that she asks Auntie Wartcream to turn her into one. Now we’re deep into Rapunzel territory with the princess locked in a tower, her long hair cut and the Prince on his way to rescue her. I won’t spoil the ending but the last line is laugh out loud funny.
I can’t think of anyone, reluctant or avid reader, who wouldn’t love this book.
GIVEAWAY
We have a copy of the fabulous Princes Frog-Snogger as well as two signed copies of our teen novel Waiting for Callback to give away. We’re throwing in a wand too and may your wishes come true! Enter via the rafflecopter form below.
It’s been a privilege to be part of this blog tour and to support Tommy. Find out more at www.tommyvcancer.com
Perdita Cargill
Thank you Peditra for guest posting for this great cause. Don’t forget to check out the other stops on the blog tour.