Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut - Tapa dura

Presenting Princess Prunella, the pill. Proud, prissy, and peevish, she lives in a pink palace with her pinheaded parents, her three plump pussycats, and her prize puppydog, Pug. Her aspirations? To marry a pinheaded prince, with piles of pinmoney, who will praise and pamper her. A perfectly plausible plan, until a mysterious old Wise Woman appears, is pooh-poohed by the pompous prince, and promptly puts a spell on her for being spoiled and stuck-up. On the princess's pretty nose sprouts a purple peanut. How putrid!

Margaret Atwood is a born storyteller who spins a delightfully fractured fairy tale. Her incomparable text is perfectly complemented by Maryann Kovalski's hilarious and perceptive illustrations. Revealing in the humor of its impertinent heroine-and an alliteration of p's that gives the story a tongue-twisting energy with surprises at ever turn-PRINCESS PRUNELLA AND THE PURPLE PEANUT is an irresistible story about the pitfalls of pride.

MARGARET ATWOOD is best known as the author of more than twenty-five books of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Her most recent novel, The Robber Bride, was published in 1993, and her newest collection of poetry, Morning in the Burned House, was published in 1995. She has written three other children's books, Anna's Pet (with Joyce Barkhouse), Up in the Tree, and For the Birds. She lives in Toronto, Canada.

MARYANN KOVALSKI has written and illustrated over twenty-five highly acclaimed books, including The Wheels on the Bus, Jingle Bells, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, and Pizza for Breakfast. Maryann Kovalski makes her home in Toronto, Canada.