The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie (Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

"...and they both lived happily ever after!" is the usual way you expect a book about a Princess and a handsome Prince to end, right? Well stand clear because Princess Sue has other ideas. She's been waiting a very long time for her Prince Charming to turn up, and she won't accept second best.

So when she's finally rescued from her solitude by a Prince, she's overjoyed. For a moment or two at least, until she realises that this particular handsome Prince is a bit of a wet end, and has very firm (and extremely outdated) ideas about how a Princess should behave. Lots of simpering. Lots of trying on dresses. Lots of wringing hands while staring out of the tower window waiting for her Prince to return home from battle.

Princess Sue definitely does not want any of that, so she hatches a plan to enlist the services of a friendly dragon to help her with her plight.

Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie, the team behind the superb "Dogs don't do Ballet" and "Rhinos Don't eat Pancakes" have once again come up with an original twist on well worn themes in "The Worst Princess".

Princess Sue is fantastic, a kick-ass Princess who doesn't mind getting dirty hands in the quest for fun. Ogilvie's illustrations hark back to the classic style of Oliver Postgate so they get the definite thumbs up from me. The rhyming text from Kemp is great too and helps the story to bounce along beautifully.

Let the boys idolise Mike the Knight. Princess Sue could have him for breakfast (with a little help from her fiery red friend!).

Charlotte's best bit: The lovely dresses that Sue is given by her Prince (yes, I'm afraid despite the message in this book, Charlotte is still very much a girly girl!)

Daddy's favourite bit: Princess Sue's choice of footwear. Converses are cool!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, Book of the Week

(Note: This book was sent for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books).