Jimmy, the Pickpocket of the Palace - Softcover

Donna Jo Napoli is the author of many books for children and young adults includingThe Magic Circle, Zel, and Stones in Water. She has won numerous awards, including the Golden Kite Award and the Sydney Taylor Award for Stones in Water. She lives in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

Grade 3-6?Pin, the Prince of the Pond (Dutton, 1992), left his frog family unintentionally in Napoli's first amphibious plunge when he was kissed by Marissa, a princess. Now his venturesome son Jimmy leaves home to find the magic ring that will save the family pond from the curse of their old nemesis, the hag. As he hops into the palace, he is captured by the hapless princess Sally, Marissa's preteen sister. When Sally kisses his wounded leg, Jimmy finds himself in unsteady human form. The kindest of the palace inhabitants is Marissa's husband-to-be, a prince whose unusual empathy with frogs includes a taste for bugs. Jimmy must betray this friend to steal the magic ring from his pocket. Of course, the prince is Pin, who faces a bittersweet choice between his human and frog lives and loves. Napoli balances the comic possibilities of Jimmy's struggles with his human form with his deeper feeings of loyalty, courage, and honor. In an echo of his father's plight, he has two female admirers?Gracie, a frog, and Sally, whose rough handling spells doom for all pets. The ultimate strength of the book lies in Napoli's rich descriptive powers that include a respect for biological accuracy. Schachner's black-and-white illustrations enhance especially the transformation from frightened frog to goggle-eyed boy. This sequel is as engaging and unpredictable as its predecessor.?Sally Margolis, Deerfield Public Library, IL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.