The Princess and the Grain of Rice
By Tina Cho; illustrated by Honee Jang
Ages 4-8
A sweet, funny Korean Princess and the Pea retelling, written by critically acclaimed Korean American author Tina Cho. A new classic in the making!
In the mountains of Joseon, Jeongsoon has a heart as gentle as jade, but she might just be the clumsiest girl in the kingdom. She wants to be a princess, so she enters the grand princess challenge where she must complete the Manners Test, the Wisdom Test, and finally—the Sleep Test. Throughout each examination, Jeongsoon is far from flawless but in staying true to herself, wins the favor of the queen and the competition itself.
Includes backmatter on the real-life Korean princesses of the Joseon period.
Praise for The Princess and the Grain of Rice
“Jang’s vibrant digital art depicts lush palace grounds, richly colored hanboks, and a royal wedding befitting a princess, all while firmly anchoring the story in Korean history. Young readers will delight in seeing Jeongsoon prevail; her triumph will feel especially poignant for those who share her cultural background.” —Kirkus
“This twist on ‘The Princess and the Pea’ in a historically inspired Korean setting offers a fresh perspective on what makes a fairy-tale princess. [Jeongsoon’s] compassion is as winning as her eventual, well-deserved triumph.” —BCCB
“The artwork features gorgeous details of Korean culture… This charming Korean retelling of a familiar story is refreshingly adapted and will have listeners in story hours clamoring for more.” —School Library Journal
“Jang’s vibrantly intricate and ornate digital illustrations capture palatial splendor… An enchanting retelling.” —Booklist
