ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 CST 1999)

Levine's retelling of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty has more in common with her hugely successful Ella Enchanted (1997) than with the earlier books in the Princess Tales series: once again, fairies are granting wishes to humorous and thought-provoking effect. In this version, the baby Princess Sonora is not only destined to prick her finger on a spindle but also fated to be 10 times more intelligent than other children. The latter gift turns her into a baby who reads a book while having her diaper changed, apologizing, I am so sorry to bother you with my elimination. The story unfolds with fine wit and comes to a satisfying conclusion when the one person who won't be bored by Sonora's philosophizing awakens her from her 100 years' sleep. This will make a good, not too long read-aloud. (Reviewed November 15, 1999)

Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2000)

This lightweight story manages to embroider very entertainingly on the Sleeping Beauty tale by adding an extra fairy gift (Princess Sonora is so knowledgeable no one can stand to listen to her) and a prince who always wants to know why--specifically, why the sheep in his father's kingdom are going bald. The two are perfect for each other.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Two novellas that are grounded in well-known tales and set in the magical kingdom of Biddle. The Fairy's Mistake is a play on "Toads and Diamonds," a story from Perrault about gifts given by a witch to two sisters, one kind and the other unkind. The Princess Test is based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Princess and the Pea." Illustrated with full-page pen-and-ink drawings, both retellings are delightfully lighthearted, with little doubt that good will ultimately triumph over evil. There is a rich use of language and spirited characters, especially the females. Although "The Princess Tales" lack the complexity of plot and fantastical invention found in Levine's Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997), they make a nice addition to the genre of novels based on and yet departing from traditional tales. Although their short length and sly humor would make the books appeal to reluctant readers, the difficult font makes it hard to recommend them to that audience.-Carol A. Edwards, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.