There is something extraordinarily charming about the stories we first find ourselves drawn to.
The stories, characters and worlds that light a spark in our eyes before we can fully understand or comprehend narratives, or even dissect the messages and lessons a story is trying to demonstrate for us.
Yet there is something about them that ignites a fire and captures our hearts.
For many kids spanning generations, some of those stories have come from storyteller Angela Santomero. It comes as little wonder given the marvelous storytelling, life lessons and imagination behind series such as “Blue’s Clues,” “Super Why!” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” to name a few.
Driven by emotions, problem-solving and other fundamentals of life, Santomero’s work has transcended generations by making learning fun—and sometimes a far more subconscious activity than we might realize.
Recently, we here at BSCKids had the chance to speak with Santomero not only about her career creating such legacy-defining projects, but also her newest creation that is resonating with kids today, “Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things.”
But hearing about the philosophy behind Princess Penelope is only half of the adventure.
Because now it is time to open the pages, reach inside that wonderfully preposterous purse and discover exactly what Princess Penelope has waiting for young readers.
In this newly released series, young fans enter a new world inside the storybook. Narrated by Angela, readers are welcomed into the quaint and idyllically stunning Storybook Meadows, a fairytale kingdom that our adorable animal friends call home.
Among them is our new heroine, a pretty purple kitty by the name of Penelope. With a fondness for twirling and helping her friends, Penelope makes for a trustworthy and reliable lead. Fueled by her kindness, intelligence and curiosity, Penelope strives to help her friends with whatever they might need assistance with, making her a truly wonderful friend—even to the likes of Dragon.
Dragon, as you can probably presume, is an actual dragon. He is known to not dance, laugh or really partake in the merry ways of the meadow. Rather, he is known to roar and breathe fire from his mouth. To Dragon, this is simply his way of being—even if everyone else inside their home is more fearful and less excited to see the flames develop.
That includes Penelope, who, not being a fan of his flames, politely requests that Dragon halt his ways. While she is successful and everyone else is gleeful over the lack of fire, it seems to have a more profound impact on Dragon. It even leaves Penelope herself beginning to ask deeper questions about what is really happening.
And it is her resolve to lead with kindness that brings her face-to-face with something magical—something that will change her life.
In true magical girl fashion, Penelope is cloaked in sparkles and finds herself sporting a crown and purple purse. As though it were a gift, an attached note provides all the context she needs.
Penned by Mother Nature herself, the note declares Penelope the Princess of Kindness. Along with her new title and tiara, she is gifted a purse—but this isn’t just any bag. It is the magical Purse of Preposterous Things.
Whenever kindness calls, the purse can present Penelope with three seemingly preposterous objects that might just help her and her friends solve the problem at hand.
With a wiggle of the bag, the newly crowned Princess Penelope finds her way toward problems and takes action to help others through her kindness-powered acts.
Thanks to her already attentive nature and kind heart, Penelope is able to use her new bag to peel back the layers of Dragon and help him achieve a dream. Her kindness allows the Purse of Preposterous Things to activate and provide three different items that could help her and her friends with their problem.
Better yet, young readers aren’t simply along for the ride.
With the reader’s help, a choice is made about which item might help remedy the problem, allowing Princess Penelope and her friends to celebrate another problem well solved.
At least until the next one appears.
Such is the case in the second book in the series, “Dragon’s Marshmallow Mess.” Like the series opener, “Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things,” we find Penelope and her friends facing another problem together—this time when marshmallows threaten the annual Crystal Ball.
But thanks to Penelope’s kindness and a little transformation, she is once again turned into her princess form and able to help her friends with the various items waiting inside her Purse of Preposterous Things.
How?
Well, that is for you to read and explore in these wonderfully illustrated picture books!
Set inside a storybook kingdom filled with charming backgrounds and adorable character designs that already have us craving plushies of the characters, the earnest nature of Princess Penelope shines through. With fairytale lands being such an enduring part of early childhood fantasy, Storybook Meadows makes for an incredibly cute and timeless backdrop.
All of the residents of Storybook Meadows are not only adorable, but unique in their own ways. Despite his own complicated feelings, readers find themselves enjoying and even relating to Dragon, who sometimes struggles to express his honest feelings and determine the best way to move forward.
Readers of all ages will also be charmed by the Princess of Kindness herself.
Penelope is a truly endearing lead who is incredibly easy to get behind. She is heartfelt, kind, smart and clever—all qualities that feel especially important to place in the driver’s seat of a series created for young children.
From the very beginning, Penelope acts with the kindness only a true friend can bring. Even when magic enters her life, it doesn’t change who she is. Rather, it deepens her resolve to help and gives her another way to act upon the kindness, curiosity and compassion she already possesses.
With a focus on kindness, helping others and simply being a good friend and person, coupled with everyday problem-solving, “Princess Penelope” takes the preexisting framework of early childhood storytelling back to basics for today’s modern kids.
In a day filled with screens and information overload, sometimes it can be hard to get right to the heart and building blocks of life.
And that seems to be the core foundation of this new series.
It is a return to basics that hits the refresh button on life and reminds everyone—regardless of age—just how important those basic principles are. All while being presented inside an idyllic fairytale world that already feels like a cozy second home.
Better still, by inviting young readers to help Penelope decide which of her preposterous items could solve the problem, the books encourage kids to stop, think and become an active part of the adventure. Learning and problem-solving become woven naturally into the fun rather than feeling like a lesson waiting to be taught.
It is a world we can’t wait to see grow and expand.
After all, there are still a great many preposterous things waiting inside Princess Penelope’s purse.