The Daredevil Princess and the Golden Unicorn (Belinda Murrell, illus Rebecca Crane, Puffin)

The Daredevil Princess and the Golden Unicorn is the first in kid-lit superstar Belinda Murrell’s latest series, with a second book (The Daredevil Princess and the Goblin King) to be released simultaneously. Princess Tillie is a bold and brave young girl, breaking the rules by sliding down bannisters, crinkling her nice dresses and being chronically late—everything a princess shouldn’t do! King Edwin is a befuddled inventor, and little Prince Oskar is a bundle of chaos and relatable little-brother laughs. The royal family is preparing for the Summer Harvest Festival, but somebody has messed with the Queen’s famed roses. While magic solves the central conflict, unicorn Honey Blossom and the royal family are charming as they come together to put on a good festival for the town and show how humans and unicorns might co-exist. Princess Tillie is a loveable character who oozes confidence and wisdom in her self-affirmations, even when she is scared. The illustrations by Rebecca Crane that are scattered throughout are warm and full of movement, helping early readers follow the story. The Daredevil Princess is for young readers aged 6–9 years looking for something a little more adventurous without straying too far from the comfort of a typical princess story. For fans of the series Princess Pearl, Princess in Black, and Fairytale Ninjas.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Clare Millar is a writer, editor and children's bookseller. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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