I read this book as a bedtime story for the 8yo and 6yo, and I have So. Many. Things. to say about it. First, let's talk about the publisher and the book itself.
The Rabbit Room is a online Christian arts community headed up by singer/songwriter/author Andrew Peterson. Amongst other ministries, they publish, republish, and distribute books that fall into their vision of building and supporting a positive creative Christian space. This is one of the books they've republished with their press - Rabbit Room Press. This reprint is beautifully done, an absolute legacy-library type book. The paper quality is thick and luxurious, it has copious woodblock illustrations that are quite well done, and the hardcover is slightly padded. My own preference would have been for a leather binding (or leather-like) over the board because I find the slightly puffy covering distracting, but it is a minor issue. It's a beautiful deep blue and the title and decorations you see in the picture are deep embossing.
I find that beautiful books usually end up being a luxury I have trouble justifying, but in this case the cost was pretty comparable with a hardcover children's book, and I really think this is much better quality than most hardcovers.
Now, the story.
The Light Princess is a fairy tale written in the traditional style of Andrew Lang, which is to say that it is not a Disney story. It is one of those tales that could be enjoyed by the adult reader as much as the children listening because it is full of little hidden puns, deeper meanings, and funny bits that only an adult would find funny. For example, the king at the beginning is annoyed with his queen because 'all the other queens' he knows have children, and they have none. "I feel ill-used", he complains, which will make every woman laugh right there.
The story is easy to follow - a princess is born to the royal couple, and cursed to have no 'gravity' in life. Not only does this means she cannot be serious no matter how hard she tries, but she also floats into the air. This makes for some wonderful and silly scenes in the story, such as when she is 17 and leaps across the lawn to kiss her father on the cheek and ends up veering off to the side and kissing a page boy instead, and simultaneously attempting to push herself back and smacking him in the face with a large toad she had been carrying in the hopes that it would weigh her down.
In fact, the whole thing is delightful. I loved the story, I thought it was hilarious and superbly written and stunningly bound and illustrated...there's just one problem. I hate to even say this, because I don't believe it SHOULD be a problem, and in fact for many people it probably won't be, but...I have to say it.
The language is very archaic and challenging to follow. Here's an excerpt:
"The consultation consisted chiefly in propounding and supporting, for the thousandth time, each his favourite theories, For the condition of the princess afforded delightful scope for the discussion of every question arising from the division of thought..."
You can, perhaps, see what I mean. The story makes sense, certainly, and for the adult reader there probably would be no issues at all, but for a small child who might otherwise find the tale beautiful and funny, the language may very well stand in the way of real comprehension. Should you allow this to stop your reading of the story? I don't think so, no. But it is worth pointing out.
The Light Princess! Amazing! Fantastic! Wonderful!
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