SMILE, PRINCIPESSA!
by Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Jacob Gordon & illustrated by Serena Curmi
Used to being the object of her parents’ affection, a little girl doesn’t like it when her new baby brother gets all the attention. From the time she was born, Principessa’s Papa snapped pictures of her daily—a thousand photos each year! But after her brother Bino arrives, Papa’s picture-taking mania suddenly shifts to the new baby. Principessa tries to smile “her very best smile” whenever Papa takes a photo of her with Bino, but she doesn’t like these new pictures and decides she’s not going to smile for any more. When Papa reads about a photo contest for the boy or girl with the most beautiful smile, Principessa assumes he will take Bino’s picture. Disgruntled, she hides in her closet while everyone searches for her. In the end, Bino finds a way to make his sister smile. With humor and charm, Curmi’s simple pencil-and-watercolor illustrations capture Principessa’s rejection, envy and isolation. Guaranteed to trigger smiles, this gentle saga may provide a reassuring remedy for displaced siblings. (Picture book. 3-6)