Praise for Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent
2018 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens Spring selection
★ STARRED REVIEW "Irrepressible Princess Pistachio is back in all her enthusiastic glory....Gay's easy, breezy syntax is wonderfully descriptive even as it skillfully addresses life lessons about friendship, self-involvement, and forgiveness. The cast of characters is eccentric and diverse, and teacher Mr. Grumblebrain's name is wonderfully inventive. Ink, watercolor, and colored pencil illustrations are full of life and humor, perfectly complementing the action. Breathless, laugh-out-loud fun."—Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
"This lighthearted story about a young girl and her lazy dog will entice young readers who are venturing into chapter books....VERDICT The child appeal of this tale will keep independent readers chuckling and wanting more; a strongly recommended purchase."—School Library Journal
"For the primary crowd, [Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent ] would likely work best as a read-aloud...Alternatively, it would be a good fit for slightly more developed readers transitioning to chapters. The text is quite humorous, and the silliness in the character's names and antics will delight the young crowd. Whimsical drawings in Gay's signature style are on each page, and the layout of text and illustrations will be very appealing for the targeted age."—Resource Links
"Young readers making the transition to chapter books will once again be thrilled to read about the adventures of intrepid Pistachio and her bored dog, Maurice the Magnificent. The text is easy to read but challenging enough to engage young readers who will definitely be able to relate to the action in the story....Highly Recommended."—CM Magazine
"I am a major Marie-Louise Gay fan so the illustrations done in India ink, watercolor, ink and colored pencils won me over immediately. Maurice is a very cute, lovable, lazy dog and the story is wonderful."—Youth Services Book Review
"Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent is Marie-Louise Gay's third tale about a scheming little red-haired nutter named Pistachio Shoelace. An ode to children's devotion to their pets and their ensuing adventures...Gay's charming pen, ink, and watercolour drawings are scattered throughout the text, and include especially adorable drawings of all kinds of dogs."—Montreal Review of Books
"For fans who have been waiting for a new adventure with Princess Pistachio, your wait is over! She is as feisty and positive as ever...[R]ead this new book from the incomparable Marie-Louise Gay. You won't be disappointed!"—Sal's Fiction Addiction
"I'd join others in applauding Maurice the Magnificent's performance but I think we should extend those accolades to Marie-Louise Gay who can do no wrong in her storytelling or illustrating....Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent is a worthy addition to this absolutely marvelously magnificent [collection] that is ever entertaining and endearing!"—CanLit for LittleCanadians
"I liked the way the book showed that everybody has undiscovered talents, despite first impressions. I also liked the way the situation led to new understanding for both Pistachio and Madeline, and modeled a good way to deal with issues between friends."—Canadian Bookworm
"This book is good for little kids, but they might need other people to read it to them because it has some big words. It is a short chapter book with four chapters. If you like dogs and shows, you'll like this book!"—Clementine, Age 6, Kids' BookBuzz
"[A] wonderful little chapter book with very endearing illustrations starring the Princess and her dog, Dog....Gay's watercolour, and coloured-pencil work bring the text alive and is full of humour, detail and action. The story is very well-written and has a plot that kids can identify with and enjoy tremendously. I highly, highly recommend this book. Storywraps Rating - 5"—Storywraps
"This delightful Princess Pistachio chapter book adventure is deliciously funny and thoroughly satisfying. Pistachio is not daunted when she is presented with a problem, and her optimism is refreshing and inspiring."—Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
"Pistachio is an entertaining character that kids will find relatable as she goes about her daily life. Gay uses easy, humorous syntax that will engage kids as they learn lessons about friendship. This is a funny story with cute, doodle-like illustrations that would be perfect for children ages 5-9."—The Crimson Review of Children’s & YA Literature
For fans who have been waiting for a new adventure with Princess Pistachio, your wait is over! She is as feisty and positive as ever...[R]ead this new book from the incomparable Marie-Louise Gay. You won't be disappointed!
I am a major Marie-Louise Gay fan so the illustrations done in India ink, watercolor, ink and colored pencils won me over immediately. Maurice is a very cute, lovable, lazy dog and the story is wonderful.
Youth Services Book Review
This delightful Princess Pistachio chapter book adventure is deliciously funny and thoroughly satisfying. Pistachio is not daunted when she is presented with a problem, and her optimism is refreshing and inspiring.
Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
I'd join others in applauding Maurice the Magnificent's performance but I think we should extend those accolades to Marie-Louise Gay who can do no wrong in her storytelling or illustrating....Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent is a worthy addition to this absolutely marvelously magnificent series that is ever entertaining and endearing!
CanLit for LittleCanadians
For the primary crowd, [Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent] would likely work best as a read-aloud...Alternatively, it would be a good fit for slightly more developed readers transitioning to chapters. The text is quite humorous, and the silliness in the character's names and antics will delight the young crowd. Whimsical drawings in Gay's signature style are on each page, and the layout of text and illustrations will be very appealing for the targeted age.
This book is good for little kids, but they might need other people to read it to them because it has some big words. It is a short chapter book with four chapters. If you like dogs and shows, you’ll like this book!
Kids' BookBuzz - Age 6 Clementine
I liked the way the book showed that everybody has undiscovered talents, despite first impressions. I also liked the way the situation led to new understanding for both Pistachio and Madeline, and modeled a good way to deal with issues between friends.
Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent is Marie-Louise Gay's third tale about a scheming little red-haired nutter named Pistachio Shoelace. An ode to children's devotion to their pets and their ensuing adventures...Gay's charming pen, ink, and watercolour drawings are scattered throughout the text, and include especially adorable drawings of all kinds of dogs.
This is the third book in the Princess Pistachio series. It is a wonderful little chapter book with very endearing illustrations starring the Princess and her dog, Dog....I truly loved the illustrations, especially adorable Princess Pistachio. Gay's watercolour, and coloured-pencil work bring the text alive and is full of humour, detail and action. The story is very well-written and has a plot that kids can identify with and enjoy tremendously. I highly, highly recommend this book. Storywraps Rating - 5
Young readers making the transition to chapter books will once again be thrilled to read about the adventures of intrepid Pistachio and her bored dog, Maurice the Magnificent. The text is easy to read but challenging enough to engage young readers who will definitely be able to relate to the action in the story....Highly Recommended.
07/01/2017 Gr 1–3—This lighthearted story about a young girl and her lazy dog will entice young readers who are venturing into chapter books. When Pistachio Shoelace's dog's comical and haphazard rise to fame as actor "Maurice the Magnificent" results in a neglected friendship, the girl hilariously learns her lesson. Readers will get a kick out of Maurice's talent: "No one has ever seen an actor sleep or snore with such flair." Such kid-centric humor prevents the plot from veering into didacticism, while still getting a simple, universal message across. Gay has also successfully illustrated for other authors, and inventing her own world with Pistachio, Maurice, Madeleine, and minor but memorable other characters such as Mr. Grumblebrain has allowed her expertise with water-based media to shine. Illustrations depicting Pistachio's classmates' laughter during show and tell and the series of dogs trying out for the Doggone Theater's lead role (from trumpeting Chihuahuas to a beagle balancing a teacup on her nose) all fit perfectly with the text's silly and sweet tone. VERDICT The child appeal of this tale will keep independent reders chuckling and wanting more; a strongly recommended purchase.—Jennifer Gibson, SUNY Cortland
★ 2017-07-03 Irrepressible Princess Pistachio is back in all her enthusiastic glory. Her dog, Dog, is perfectly content to spend his days sleeping on his cushion. He snorts, grunts, and occasionally pulls himself up only to lie down again. He is certainly not interested in playing games or doing anything that involves effort. Redheaded, freckle-faced, white Pistachio is worried that he is suffering from boredom. Since she is not one to accept anything ordinary, she is determined to get some excitement into his life. As usual, she plunges headlong into her project. Even after a hilarious but rather disastrous Show and Tell, Pistachio refuses to give up. A sign advertising an audition for a "talented, intelligent, beautiful dog" gives her new hope. Of course Dog's sleeping ability wins the day, and he becomes a star, renamed Maurice the Magnificent. Pistachio loves the attention and neglects her best friend, brown-skinned Madeline, who is reduced to drastic measures to get Pistachio to remember that friendship. Gay's easy, breezy syntax is wonderfully descriptive even as it skillfully addresses life lessons about friendship, self-involvement, and forgiveness. The cast of characters is eccentric and diverse, and teacher Mr. Grumblebrain's name is wonderfully inventive. Ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations are full of life and humor, perfectly complementing the action. Breathless, laugh-out-loud fun. (Early reader. 4-8)