"Anybody who wants to marry my John will have to cook as well as I do."

In this adaptation of The Princess and the Pea, Ma Sally cooks the best black-eyed peas in Charleston County, South Carolina. Her son, John, is a highly eligible bachelor, and three local women vie for his hand in marriage by attempting to cook as well as Ma. At the last minute, a surprise contestant named Princess arrives at the door. Princess and John are well-matched, but Princess has her own ideas. When told she has won John's hand, she asks him to scrub the pots and pans before she'll give him an answer. Her answer, it turns out, is that she wants to spend some time getting to know John first.

BIO

Rachel Himes is a museum educator, children's book author, and illustrator. She is a graduate of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. This is her debut children's book. Rachel lives in Brooklyn, New York. is a museum educator, children's book author, and illustrator. She is a graduate of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. This is her debut children's book. Rachel lives in Brooklyn, New York.

REVIEWS

"Himes uses a variety of media—acrylic, watercolor, pencil, ink, and collage—to create a series of double-page spreads that complement her story about a strong and embracing African-American community on the brink of the civil rights movement. Dedicated to "black families everywhere," this heartwarming story, with its fairy-tale tone, will have broad appeal." -- Kirkus Reviews

"This retelling of a classic tale is a fresh interpretation and a fun read-aloud. A first purchase for most collections." -- School Library Journal

[P]  Charlesbridge Publishing  /  October 11, 2022

0.2" H x 11.1" L x 8.5" W (0.4 lbs) 32 pages

For ages 4 to 8