The Frog Princess (novel)

Did You Know?

• E. D. Baker followed The Frog Princess with sequels including Dragon's Breath, Once Upon a Curse, and No Place for Magic.
• There is an epilogue series about Emma and Eadric's daughter Millie, with titles The Dragon Princess, Dragon Kiss, and A Prince Among Frogs.
• A prequel titled The Salamander Spell was published in 2008.

Plot summary

Princess Emeralda of Greater Greensward is unhappy with her life: she is clumsy, her laugh sounds like a donkey's bray, and she cannot perform magic as well as her aunt, the Green Witch Grassina. Only a princess's kiss can break the spell. Emma returns home and learns her mother has arranged for her to marry Jorge. She goes back to the swamp and agrees to kiss Eadric, but instead turns into a frog herself. They set off to find the witch who cursed him. They are captured by a witch named Vannabe, who plans to use their tongues and toes for a youth spell. Emma frees the animals held captive, including a bat named L'il Stinker and a snake named Fang. Grassina reveals that Emma was wearing a charm-reversing bracelet when she kissed Eadric, and they must kiss again while wearing it. The bracelet was stolen by an otter, so Emma, Eadric, and L'il head to the swamp to retrieve it.

Reception and reviews

Diane Roback of Publishers Weekly gave a mixed review, noting peppy dialogue and comical scenes but finding the plot underutilized magical elements, resulting in a flat fantasy. Todd Morning of Booklist was positive, calling the ending Shakespearean and the narration amusing. Nancy Menaldi-Scanlon of School Library Journal thought the vocabulary was too sophisticated for the intended primary-to-intermediate audience, though she praised the story's pace and interesting trials.