Princess Madison and the Royal Darling Pageant

by: Karen Scalf Linamen; Illustrated by Phyllis Hornung

Published by: Revell

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

I hold the belief that all little girls long to be a princess. After her grandpa and I gave her a replica glass slipper recently, my four-year"old granddaughter, Caroline announced: "Oh my, I truly am a princess." Her face glowed with a smile that spread from ear to ear. I couldn't help feeling that while she already thought she was a princess, the little glass slipper seemed to affirm her status.

Princess Madison and the Royal Darling Pageant is the delightful tale of a little girl whose "perfect" big sister, Evangeline, declares Madison can't be a princess because she has freckles, holes in her jeans, marbles in her pocket, dirt under her fingernails and a crown that won't behave.

Madison is determined to prove Evangeline wrong. But kissing a frog didn't work and she didn't win at the pageant. These events only proved to Madison that she might not be royalty.

But when her father, the king, shares the secret of "princess status," Madison understands that it's not about what she does, but the relationship she has with her father, the king.

In a subtle way the author shares with children, through a story, that it is not about what we do that makes us a child of God, but our relationship with God. The message made my heart sing.

"The Father has loved us so much! He loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children."
1 John 3:1 (International Children's Bible)

The illustrations are inviting and thought-provoking. The colors are muted and add to the general beauty of the book.

Armchair Interviews says: There are so many good children's books on the market. But if you want to bring to your child the affirming message of God's unconditional love, Princess Madison and the Royal Darling Pageant should be first on your list.