Peter Bently
Author of King Jack and the Dragon
About the Author
Image credit: via Penguin Random House
Series
Works by Peter Bently
Those Magnificent Sheep in Their Flying Machines (Andersen Press Picture Books) (2014) 35 copies, 1 review
National Geographic Kids Wild Tales: Look Out, Cub!: A Lift-the-Flap Story About Lions (2011) 32 copies
National Geographic Kids Wild Tales: Ella's Bath: A lift-the-flap story about elephants (2011) 23 copies
Lola's Bath 1 copy
Dumper Track Dash 1 copy
O Caso dos Rabos Trocados 1 copy
El libro de los sueños 1 copy
PEDRO CAMPEÃO 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th Century
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Places of residence
- England, UK
Germany
Singapore
Hong Kong, China
Members
Reviews
Although they were twin sisters, witches Rose and Rita had very different approaches to life and to magic, with the former being generous and helpful to all who came her way, and the latter preferring to help only those with deep pockets, who could afford to pay. When the King comes to enlist Rita's aid in making Princess Anna Lucinda Cecilia Grace smile, the rich witch tries every spell she knows, all to no avail. It falls to the "poor" witch Rose to find the solution, in the form of a game show more of tag through the castle's maze . Sometimes, as even Rita must concede, you don't need a wand to work magic...
Pairing an entertaining tale told in rhyme from author Peter Bently with colorful, stylized artwork from illustrator Jim Field—a pair who also collaborated on such titles as Cats Ahoy! and Farmer Clegg's Night Out—Rich Witch, Poor Witch is an engaging witchy fairy-tale, one which highlights the message that wealth and prestige don't always produce the best solution to a given problem. I thought the text read very well, and would make for an excellent read-aloud, especially when combined with the colorful, attention-grabbing visuals. Recommended to picture-book readers who like witchy fare, or who are in the mood for original fairy-tales involving magic, castles and princesses. show less
Pairing an entertaining tale told in rhyme from author Peter Bently with colorful, stylized artwork from illustrator Jim Field—a pair who also collaborated on such titles as Cats Ahoy! and Farmer Clegg's Night Out—Rich Witch, Poor Witch is an engaging witchy fairy-tale, one which highlights the message that wealth and prestige don't always produce the best solution to a given problem. I thought the text read very well, and would make for an excellent read-aloud, especially when combined with the colorful, attention-grabbing visuals. Recommended to picture-book readers who like witchy fare, or who are in the mood for original fairy-tales involving magic, castles and princesses. show less
In a Nutshell: A sweet picture book twisting the fairy tale into a modern and inclusive version. Great intent, pretty decent plot execution though a bit rushed at the end, excellent illustrations. Recommended, though it would help if kids know the original as well.
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Plot Preview:
As you might have guessed from the title, this book takes the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Princess and the Pea” and gives it a somewhat contemporary spin. “Somewhat” because there’s no way a modern prince would feel compelled to marry at just twenty-one. “Contemporary” because of the funky outfits and the pizza takeaways – so much fun to see pizzas in a fairy tale!
I loved this unusual retelling of (IMHO) one of the silliest fairy tales. It does much better than the original, not by eliminating the pea but by incorporating it into the storyline and then tossing out the illogical premise in an utterly logical way. However, I enjoyed this aspect better because I know the original fairy tale and found this a more sensible story in comparison. Kids might still enjoy this modern retake, but they will not appreciate it as a superior retelling unless they know the classic version.
The cover makes it very clear that this story is LGBTQ-friendly. However, I wish there had been some build-up to the relationship. Of course, we aren’t reading a romance, and a picture book has only SO much space. But the story begins by openly declaring the two princes as best friends, and Fredwin even proposes to Ardwenna after the successful completion of his pea test, but then there’s a sudden segue and she suggests that there is someone better suited to Fredwin. The only rationale for this declaration is Zac’s use of “Dearest Fred”, which is too farfetched, especially when she didn’t even interact with Zac directly at any point prior to that. (Also odd that she knows Zac’s pronoun preference of they/them when it hasn’t been brought up in the story at all.) All this means that the final few pages feel too rushed and unconvincing. It is still a cute ending, but I wish we could have seen a more gentle build-up to the transition from best friend to romantic partner, perhaps even got some hint about it at the start.
The story is written in rhythmic prose, often following the AABBCC pattern. This makes the paragraphs look chunky, but they are still easy to read. The rhymes follow the meter perfectly on most pages. There is alliteration and onomatopoeia in the verses, and also many action words and expressions. The text would thus make the book a great readaloud option.
The illustrations are absolutely cute and quirky. There is a lovely rainbow vibe on every page, and the bright splash of colours make the book seem vibrant and delightful. The white background of the pages makes the hues stand out even more. The detailing in the background is as outstanding as the characters in the foreground, including Fredwin’s dog. I loved the rainbow-coloured mattresses!
All in all, I enjoyed most of the story and would even have given this all the stars had the final few pages been better. But the switcheroo of feelings was too abrupt for my liking. Kids however are easier to satisfy, so I hope that this funny story with its eye-catching graphics works better for them. As per Amazon, the book is aimed at readers aged 3-5 years.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the illustrations.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for providing the DRC of “The Princes and the Pea” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook || show less
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Prince Fredwin and Prince Zac are best friends. Fredwin is soon turning twenty-one and hence has to follow the family tradition and get wed. Unfortunately, as he is a prince, he cannot marryshow more
anyone except a “genuine, proper, and perfect princess.” Zac suggests changing the family rule and following his heart, but Fredwin isn't sure if he can change the way things have been since forever.
When Princess Ardwenna seeks shelter at the palace to escape the heavy rains, Fredwin feels like he should capitalise on the chance and propose. But how to check if she is actually a princess? You know what happens next.
Rather… you THINK you know what happens next.
As you might have guessed from the title, this book takes the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Princess and the Pea” and gives it a somewhat contemporary spin. “Somewhat” because there’s no way a modern prince would feel compelled to marry at just twenty-one. “Contemporary” because of the funky outfits and the pizza takeaways – so much fun to see pizzas in a fairy tale!
I loved this unusual retelling of (IMHO) one of the silliest fairy tales. It does much better than the original, not by eliminating the pea but by incorporating it into the storyline and then tossing out the illogical premise in an utterly logical way. However, I enjoyed this aspect better because I know the original fairy tale and found this a more sensible story in comparison. Kids might still enjoy this modern retake, but they will not appreciate it as a superior retelling unless they know the classic version.
The cover makes it very clear that this story is LGBTQ-friendly. However, I wish there had been some build-up to the relationship. Of course, we aren’t reading a romance, and a picture book has only SO much space. But the story begins by openly declaring the two princes as best friends, and Fredwin even proposes to Ardwenna after the successful completion of his pea test, but then there’s a sudden segue and she suggests that there is someone better suited to Fredwin. The only rationale for this declaration is Zac’s use of “Dearest Fred”, which is too farfetched, especially when she didn’t even interact with Zac directly at any point prior to that. (Also odd that she knows Zac’s pronoun preference of they/them when it hasn’t been brought up in the story at all.) All this means that the final few pages feel too rushed and unconvincing. It is still a cute ending, but I wish we could have seen a more gentle build-up to the transition from best friend to romantic partner, perhaps even got some hint about it at the start.
The story is written in rhythmic prose, often following the AABBCC pattern. This makes the paragraphs look chunky, but they are still easy to read. The rhymes follow the meter perfectly on most pages. There is alliteration and onomatopoeia in the verses, and also many action words and expressions. The text would thus make the book a great readaloud option.
The illustrations are absolutely cute and quirky. There is a lovely rainbow vibe on every page, and the bright splash of colours make the book seem vibrant and delightful. The white background of the pages makes the hues stand out even more. The detailing in the background is as outstanding as the characters in the foreground, including Fredwin’s dog. I loved the rainbow-coloured mattresses!
All in all, I enjoyed most of the story and would even have given this all the stars had the final few pages been better. But the switcheroo of feelings was too abrupt for my liking. Kids however are easier to satisfy, so I hope that this funny story with its eye-catching graphics works better for them. As per Amazon, the book is aimed at readers aged 3-5 years.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the illustrations.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for providing the DRC of “The Princes and the Pea” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook || show less
In a Nutshell: A sweet picture book twisting the fairy tale into a modern and inclusive version. Great intent, pretty decent plot execution though a bit rushed at the end, excellent illustrations. Recommended, though it would help if kids know the original as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
As you might have guessed from the title, this book takes the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Princess and the Pea” and gives it a somewhat contemporary spin. “Somewhat” because there’s no way a modern prince would feel compelled to marry at just twenty-one. “Contemporary” because of the funky outfits and the pizza takeaways – so much fun to see pizzas in a fairy tale!
I loved this unusual retelling of (IMHO) one of the silliest fairy tales. It does much better than the original, not by eliminating the pea but by incorporating it into the storyline and then tossing out the illogical premise in an utterly logical way. However, I enjoyed this aspect better because I know the original fairy tale and found this a more sensible story in comparison. Kids might still enjoy this modern retake, but they will not appreciate it as a superior retelling unless they know the classic version.
The cover makes it very clear that this story is LGBTQ-friendly. However, I wish there had been some build-up to the relationship. Of course, we aren’t reading a romance, and a picture book has only SO much space. But the story begins by openly declaring the two princes as best friends, and Fredwin even proposes to Ardwenna after the successful completion of his pea test, but then there’s a sudden segue and she suggests that there is someone better suited to Fredwin. The only rationale for this declaration is Zac’s use of “Dearest Fred”, which is too farfetched, especially when she didn’t even interact with Zac directly at any point prior to that. (Also odd that she knows Zac’s pronoun preference of they/them when it hasn’t been brought up in the story at all.) All this means that the final few pages feel too rushed and unconvincing. It is still a cute ending, but I wish we could have seen a more gentle build-up to the transition from best friend to romantic partner, perhaps even got some hint about it at the start.
The story is written in rhythmic prose, often following the AABBCC pattern. This makes the paragraphs look chunky, but they are still easy to read. The rhymes follow the meter perfectly on most pages. There is alliteration and onomatopoeia in the verses, and also many action words and expressions. The text would thus make the book a great readaloud option.
The illustrations are absolutely cute and quirky. There is a lovely rainbow vibe on every page, and the bright splash of colours make the book seem vibrant and delightful. The white background of the pages makes the hues stand out even more. The detailing in the background is as outstanding as the characters in the foreground, including Fredwin’s dog. I loved the rainbow-coloured mattresses!
All in all, I enjoyed most of the story and would even have given this all the stars had the final few pages been better. But the switcheroo of feelings was too abrupt for my liking. Kids however are easier to satisfy, so I hope that this funny story with its eye-catching graphics works better for them. As per Amazon, the book is aimed at readers aged 3-5 years.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the illustrations.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for providing the DRC of “The Princes and the Pea” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook || show less
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Prince Fredwin and Prince Zac are best friends. Fredwin is soon turning twenty-one and hence has to follow the family tradition and get wed. Unfortunately, as he is a prince, he cannot marryshow more
anyone except a “genuine, proper, and perfect princess.” Zac suggests changing the family rule and following his heart, but Fredwin isn't sure if he can change the way things have been since forever.
When Princess Ardwenna seeks shelter at the palace to escape the heavy rains, Fredwin feels like he should capitalise on the chance and propose. But how to check if she is actually a princess? You know what happens next.
Rather… you THINK you know what happens next.
As you might have guessed from the title, this book takes the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Princess and the Pea” and gives it a somewhat contemporary spin. “Somewhat” because there’s no way a modern prince would feel compelled to marry at just twenty-one. “Contemporary” because of the funky outfits and the pizza takeaways – so much fun to see pizzas in a fairy tale!
I loved this unusual retelling of (IMHO) one of the silliest fairy tales. It does much better than the original, not by eliminating the pea but by incorporating it into the storyline and then tossing out the illogical premise in an utterly logical way. However, I enjoyed this aspect better because I know the original fairy tale and found this a more sensible story in comparison. Kids might still enjoy this modern retake, but they will not appreciate it as a superior retelling unless they know the classic version.
The cover makes it very clear that this story is LGBTQ-friendly. However, I wish there had been some build-up to the relationship. Of course, we aren’t reading a romance, and a picture book has only SO much space. But the story begins by openly declaring the two princes as best friends, and Fredwin even proposes to Ardwenna after the successful completion of his pea test, but then there’s a sudden segue and she suggests that there is someone better suited to Fredwin. The only rationale for this declaration is Zac’s use of “Dearest Fred”, which is too farfetched, especially when she didn’t even interact with Zac directly at any point prior to that. (Also odd that she knows Zac’s pronoun preference of they/them when it hasn’t been brought up in the story at all.) All this means that the final few pages feel too rushed and unconvincing. It is still a cute ending, but I wish we could have seen a more gentle build-up to the transition from best friend to romantic partner, perhaps even got some hint about it at the start.
The story is written in rhythmic prose, often following the AABBCC pattern. This makes the paragraphs look chunky, but they are still easy to read. The rhymes follow the meter perfectly on most pages. There is alliteration and onomatopoeia in the verses, and also many action words and expressions. The text would thus make the book a great readaloud option.
The illustrations are absolutely cute and quirky. There is a lovely rainbow vibe on every page, and the bright splash of colours make the book seem vibrant and delightful. The white background of the pages makes the hues stand out even more. The detailing in the background is as outstanding as the characters in the foreground, including Fredwin’s dog. I loved the rainbow-coloured mattresses!
All in all, I enjoyed most of the story and would even have given this all the stars had the final few pages been better. But the switcheroo of feelings was too abrupt for my liking. Kids however are easier to satisfy, so I hope that this funny story with its eye-catching graphics works better for them. As per Amazon, the book is aimed at readers aged 3-5 years.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the illustrations.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for providing the DRC of “The Princes and the Pea” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook || show less
First sentence: I am Cat. Cat is me. A most superior thing to be. I like stretchy-stretchy paw. I like scratchy-scratchy claws. Cat is hungry. Pad, pad, pad. Human sleeping. That's too bad.
Premise/plot: Cat narrates a lovely rhyming picture book.
My thoughts: I ENJOYED this one oh-so-much. It was a delight. I loved the rhythm and rhyme. I loved the subject! The cat is ADORABLE. The story was amusing. Definitely recommend to cat lovers of all ages.
Premise/plot: Cat narrates a lovely rhyming picture book.
My thoughts: I ENJOYED this one oh-so-much. It was a delight. I loved the rhythm and rhyme. I loved the subject! The cat is ADORABLE. The story was amusing. Definitely recommend to cat lovers of all ages.
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 124
- Also by
- 2
- Members
- 4,631
- Popularity
- #5,442
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 68
- ISBNs
- 536
- Languages
- 11