The Princess in Black

By Shannon Hale, Dean Hale

What is it about?

Princess Magnolia has a secret superhero identity and monsters to stop. Her transformation turns familiar princess expectations into an energetic adventure, illustrated by LeUyen Pham.

Who might enjoy it?

A strong bridge from picture books to chapters for children who enjoy costumes, secret identities and quick action. Invite the reader to predict when Magnolia will need to change roles again.

Things to consider

Cartoon monster battles. The publisher places this series opener at ages 5–8.

A question to take into your reading

Why might someone keep a helpful part of themselves a secret?

Premise and publication context: Publisher: The Princess in Black. Reading-fit suggestions and discussion questions are MWC editorial guidance.

Keep exploring

• Great books for ages 6–8

  Five first chapter books for ages 6–8, from funny pigs to junior detectives. Compare reading fit, illustrations and themes, then explore each book.

• Nate the Great

  A good starting point for a child who likes puzzles more than fantasy. The mystery gives each page a clear job: find one more clue.

• How many words are in a book?

  Multiply the number of pages by an estimated average of words per page. At Million Word Club's transparent default of 250 words per page, a 200-page book is estimated at 50,000 words.

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