A classic adventure, a king, a beautiful princess, leprechauns, magic, mermaids, dragons, creatures, castles, good vs evil, a battle, and a race against time…it has all of the ingredients needed for an epic story. About some American kids that go on a trip to Ireland and see an amazing rainbow with a massive pot of gold. They take the treasure and get whisked away into a parallel realm where they are the guests of a leprechaun king. They quickly find out things are not as they appear in this realm. They discover that Princess Sabrina, the rightful queen-to-be was being held captive in the dungeon of the King's castle. After rescuing her they find out they're in a unique position to help restore this world back to the way it’s supposed to be. An amazing adventure ensues where they will ride magical creatures on a quest to find special weapons that only human children can wield, and to fight alongside Princess Sabrina, a strong female warrior who will lead a battle against the evil Leprechaun King and his army. This is an amazing adventure story that will captivate both boys and girls and make them want to follow every rainbow to find the pot of gold that will lead them to the land of the Leprechauns. - A beautifully curated storybook that playfully pays homage to storybooks of yesteryear; printed on high quality paper with upscale decorative elements on the pages and glitter foil embellishments on the cover.
Princess Sabrina and the Pot of Gold is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award. The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost. Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media trust the MCA Honoring Excellence seal when selecting quality products and services for families and children.
Young readers will find this book engrossing, as it has all the trappings of an epic battle between good and evil: terrifying creatures, magical powers, deceit, and even romance, as Avery, the book’s 15-year-old hero, experiences intense (and mutual) feelings of attraction for Sabrina. Malane Newman’s bright, appealing illustrations give the story meaning and depth, imbuing each character with charisma that is sometimes lacking in the text. The most charming are Sabrina and her brother, Riordan, who have glittering green hair and pointed, elf-like ears. While the characters’ traditional journey won’t feel particularly fresh to older kids steeped in adventure storytelling, Princess Sabrina has plenty of suspense to spark the imaginations of the under-13 crowd.
A medical researcher and film producer, Pellico writes like someone who has spent a lot of time telling stories to kids – particularly his niece, Sabrina, who inspired this tale. The descriptions of the characters and the scenery are straightforward enough for children of all ages to grasp, and the uncomplicated phrasing makes this novel ideal for emerging readers. Pre-teen fantasy and science fiction fans will enjoy this dive into the mythical world at the end of the rainbow and will easily relate to the characters’ experience of self-discovery.
Takeaway: This middle grade fantasy thriller will capture imaginations with its journey through the mythical world at the end of the rainbow.
Great for fans of: Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos’s The Adventurers Guild, Connie Glynn’s Undercover Princess.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: B+
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: B-