The Princess and the Pit Stop: A Picture Book

by Tom Angleberger, Dan Santat (Illustrator)

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger and Caldecott Medal–winning Dan Santat’s picture book The Princess and the Pit Stop is a “turbo charged tribute to girl power” (Booklist, Starred Review).

Once upon a time there was a Princess . . .
. . . who made a pit stop.

While the Birds and Beasts changed her tires, her Fairy Godmother told her she was in last place! With just one lap left! She might as well give up!

Give up? Not THIS princess! Instead, she hit the gas!

Join Her Royal Highness in the driver’s seat for a mad dash to the finish line in this exciting ode to auto racing. With appearances by fairy tale favorites including the Tortoise and the Hare, the Frog Prince, and ALL of the Wicked Witches, this rollicking mash-up of race cars and royalty is a true celebration of both girl power and horsepower.

“Rocket-fueled panel artwork by Santat gleams like carbon fiber. His rendering of Angleberger’s inspired injection of sports-network energy into fairyland produces a shot of gleeful adrenaline whose only fault, like the best of things, is that it’s over too soon.” —Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419728488
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/10/2018
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	294,122
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Tom Angleberger is a beloved children’s book author best known for his bestselling Origami Yoda series. He is also the author of the Qwikpick Papers series, the Inspector Flytrap series, Fuzzy, McToad Mows Tiny Island, and many other books for children.

Dan Santat is a critically acclaimed author-illustrator best known for his Caldecott-winning picture book The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/30/2018
Yes, the princess drives a race car, and why not? This sizzling readaloud starts as the Fairy Godmother tells the Princess that she’s in last place with one lap to go. “She might as well give up!” the narrator threatens. But when readers get a look at the expression of grim determination behind the princess’s goggles, they’ll know all is not lost. As she roars off, a frog with a shiny suit and a shinier microphone provides a breathless account of her progress: “She passed Humpty Dumpty! She passed all the King’s Horses! She passed all the King’s Men!” Practically every major nursery rhyme character makes a cameo appearance: “She blew the doors off the Big Bad Wolf and smoked the Three Little Pigs.” Rocket-fueled panel artwork by Santat (After the Fall) gleams like carbon fiber. His rendering of Angleberger’s (the Origami Yoda series) inspired injection of sports-network energy into fairyland produces a shot of gleeful adrenaline whose only fault, like the best of things, is that it’s over too soon. Ages 5–7. Author’s agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (July)

Publishers Weekly

**STARRED REVIEW**
"The only bump in the road for this turbo charged tribute to girl power is the dilemma that libraries will face in having to choose between the equally compelling jacket and covers. Best-selling Angelberger and Caledecott-winner Santat are proven successes, and this high-energy, girl-powered tale will zoom right off shelves."—Booklist

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Rocket-fueled panel artwork by Santat (After the Fall) gleams like carbon fiber. His rendering of Angleberger’s (the Origami Yoda series) inspired injection of sports-network energy into fairyland produces a shot of gleeful adrenaline whose only fault, like the best of things, is that it’s over too soon."—Publishers Weekly

"Rev those engines and buckle that seat belt—readers are in for a bumpy ride. A high-octane storytime selection."—School Library Journal

"The full-page illustrations are saturated with color and express the action so vividly readers will nearly hear the roar of the racetrack. The emphasis on the Princess' racing skill and zeal for her sport is empowering and refreshing."—Kirkus Reviews

"Relentlessly jolly."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Santat’s vibrant illustrations come so alive that readers can practically hear the squealing tires and the roar of the crowd."—School Library Connection

"With its breakneck speed and massive number of storybook references, The Princess and the Pit Stop is sure to be a story time favorite."—Shelf Awareness

"This speedy freshening up of classic characters from children’s literature honors the power of confidence and determination and puts the Princessin the driver’s seat."—The Horn Book

From the Publisher

**STARRED REVIEW**
"The only bump in the road for this turbo charged tribute to girl power is the dilemma that libraries will face in having to choose between the equally compelling jacket and covers. Best-selling Angelberger and Caledecott-winner Santat are proven successes, and this high-energy, girl-powered tale will zoom right off shelves."

Booklist

"With its breakneck speed and massive number of storybook references, The Princess and the Pit Stop is sure to be a story time favorite."

Shelf Awareness

"This speedy freshening up of classic characters from children’s literature honors the power of confidence and determination and puts the Princessin the driver’s seat."

The Horn Book

"Santat’s vibrant illustrations come so alive that readers can practically hear the squealing tires and the roar of the crowd."

School Library Connection

"Relentlessly jolly."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

**STARRED REVIEW**
"The only bump in the road for this turbo charged tribute to girl power is the dilemma that libraries will face in having to choose between the equally compelling jacket and covers. Best-selling Angelberger and Caledecott-winner Santat are proven successes, and this high-energy, girl-powered tale will zoom right off shelves."

Booklist

04/01/2018
Gr 1–3—Out of the way, Danica Patrick! Princess is coming through! Bombed with bad pit stop news—she's in last place with a mere lap to go—this gutsy gal puts the pedal to the metal, burning rubber, and peeling past a pack of familiar rivals. She catches the Gingerbread Man, "made the Seven Dwarfs grumpy," "beat Jack and Jill down the hill," and just plain "smokes the Three Little Pigs!" Angleberger's nitro-fueled terse text is announced by a goggle-eyed frog called Prince and all is ratcheted up by Santat's brilliant, turbo-charged signature illustrations. The culmination is a whirl of track-donuts and a victory ball. A fun rip for those who have enjoyed Caldecott-winner Santat's illustrations in books like Corey Rosen Schwartz's Ninja Red Riding Hood and Angleberger's "Inspector Flytrap" series. VERDICT Rev those engines and buckle that seat belt—readers are in for a bumpy ride. A high-octane storytime selection.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2018-04-16
A race car-driving princess has something to prove when taking a pit stop leaves her in last place with just one lap to go.While her capable crew of magical creatures gets her ready, the Princess hears her position and reddens with fiery ambition. She zooms ferociously around the track, leaving a rainbow trail of exhaust in her wake. As a track-announcer frog calls out the pun-laced action, the Princess speeds by her famous opponents, recognizable from fairy tales, children's classics, and nursery rhymes. This princess is a force to be reckoned with. She's not afraid of a little rough-and-tumble in the pursuit of victory. After crossing the finish line she celebrates by spinning doughnuts, posing for pictures while covered in grime, and happily accepting an endorsement deal. The full-page illustrations are saturated with color and express the action so vividly readers will nearly hear the roar of the racetrack. The emphasis on the Princess' racing skill and zeal for her sport is empowering and refreshing, which is what makes the end spread all the more disappointing. At her victory party, readers finally get to hear the Princess speak for the only time in the entire book. "C'mon Prince! We've got a dance contest to win!" What a crash and burn. The Princess has light-brown skin and black hair.An exciting ride that unfortunately runs out of steam on the last lap. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews