THE QUEEN’S FEET

Embarrassed by misbehaving feet that prefer boots or slippers to sedate, queenly shoes, insist on wandering off during boring official events and act up outrageously on the dance floor, Queen Daisy calls in all “sages, wise women, wizards, fairy godmothers and, of course, footmen” for advice. Petricic keeps the focus on the footplay by portraying Daisy from knees down only until the last few cartoon scenes, her wayward tootsies usually facing different directions or flashing colorfully painted toenails. Ending in a compromise, in which the royal feet will mind their manners most of the time in exchange for a daily free hour and an occasional rub from Prince Fred, this episode is plainly intended to be a domestic problem-solver—but the overlaid plot supplies sufficient humor and misdirection to make the strategy persuasive. Required reading for all unruly little kickers, stompers, squirmers and scuffers. (Picture book. 5-7)