The Tiara Club: Princess Charlotte and the Birthday Ball

Author: Vivian French

The first two pages of this book describe “The Princess Academy.” Whose motto is “A Perfect Princess always thinks of others before herself, and is kind, caring and truthful.” When Princess Charlotte first arrives she is extremely excited attend that evening’s Birthday Ball but is soon worried to meet her roommates. As it turns out the princesses roommates, Daisy, Emily, Katie, Sophia and Alice, are all very friendly and caring.
When they discover that their luggage has been left on top of their carriage Charlotte is the only one who chases after it. She inadvertently causes a carriage accident where some luggage is dumped in the river. The principal, Queen Gloriana, sends the girls to the Matron, Fairy G. If she can’t persuade Fairy G to help her she and her friends will be unable to attend the ball and they will lose fifty tiara points (if you get to five hundred you are able to move up to the senior level).Charlotte’s first thought is for her new friends, she is willing to miss out if they can go.
When the girls get to Fairy G’s room they see their soggy dresses hanging up. Charlotte begins to plain the situation when a spark jumps out of the fire and lands on the rug. Without thinking Charlotte grabs her wet dress and quickly puts out the fire (ruining her dress in the process). When Fairy G grants Charlotte a wish for her fast thinking, she immediately wishes that her friend’s dresses were as good as new. When Alice sees that Charlotte’s dress is ruined she offers her one of her extras. The Fairy then restores Charlotte’s dress and all the girls declare themselves best friends. The book closes with a happily-ever-after night of dancing at the ball (sans boys).

Conclusion:
Princess Charlotte always put others before herself and is the embodiment of The Princess Academy’s motto. This book is a great beginning read for six-year olds but adequately appealing for girls as old as nine. The most refreshing part of this book is that the many charming illustrations actually look like they are 8 year old girls (not 20 year old surgically-enhanced ultra-thin supermodels). Most girls will find them engaging and creative; most parents will find them cute and very modest (there were only a few with spaghetti straps).

Buy this book at Amazon.com for $3.99.