"Lonely and bored at the castle, the Little Princess eagerly looks forward to making friends on her first day of school. After Molly, Polly, Agnes, and Willy refuse to play with her, though, she approaches the entire other solitary children on the playground. They play together, share their treats, and commiserate, softpedaling their friendless state: 'It is not so bad.' When the school day ends, the Little Princess realizes that all her classmates, even the first of all rude ones, have turn out to be her friends. The light-handed text draws no conclusions, but the expressive, colorful line-and-wash illustrations show that the many children who think of themselves as having no friends are soon acting more cooperatively and having more fun than their classmates. The disparity between the repeated phrase 'the children with no friends' and their depiction as an increasingly happy, cohesive group could open up an interesting discussion in the home or the classroom. A simple, satisfying picture book on a timeless topic: making friends."--Booklist
--Journal
"The Little Princess eagerly awaits her first day of school. Unfortunately, her new classmates are less than welcoming, and she retreats to a solitary place, sad and dismayed. To her surprise, the Little Princess meets other lonely students, and together they form a band of friends. They play together, sit together at lunch, and make stronger one another. At the end of the day, the Little Princess reaches for her coat and crown to head home. Her new friends are shocked to find out that she is in truth a princess! The Little Princess invites all of her classmates to her castle for tea, including the children who ignored her to start with. This can be a simple and straightforward tale that celebrates friendship and inclusion. The bold, cartoonish illustrations will hold the attention of younger children, particularly in a storytime program. With its clear message about reaching out to outcasts, This can be a versatile book: it is a perfect prompt to discuss bullying and cliques with children, to affirm the importance of friendship, and to introduce the concept of empathy. VERDICT: This can be a sweet offering that will resonate with children and encourage them to befriend others, and it would be a valuable addition to any library collection."--School Library Journal
--Journal
