
The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas
To read about or purchase Princess, visit my new children’s book website
The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas grew out of an essay I wrote about meeting and falling in love with my wife, Tamsin. It was for a book called ‘How We Met’ and it centres on the fact that we did NOT fall in love at first sight, perhaps because my eyesight is so bad. In thinking about that, I remembered how much I hated the love-at-first-sight story of the Princess and the Pea. In my opinion, the princess had no cause to complain about that pea.
‘Princess’, to date, has been my most successful book. It has been released in the USA, the UK and Canada, and was recently positively reviewed in the Wall Street Journal – which, I think we all agree, is a must read publication for all kids. It’s also had a heap of glowing reviews on Goodreads, including:
“I love this book. I buy this book for birthday presents. I recommend this book to friends. I retell this story to my adult friends and they all enjoy it” Awesome Books
“A fun and perfect fractured fairy tale that will appeal to boys!” Karen
“It’s not perfect–I think he pops the question a little too soon, but this is by far the best picture book about a prince I’ve read.” Kelly
After tiring of the needs of overly demanding princesses, Prince Henrik devises a test to find a girl who s not so sensitive, using a very thin mattress and an entire packet of frozen peas. His dream girl shows up unexpectedly in the form of his old friend Pippa, who is all too happy to pitch a tent or play a hard game of hockey, after which she finds the perfect use for that packet of peas! In this twist on the fairy tale, Tony Wilson and Sue DeGenarro deliver a freshly humorous take on one prince s search for the just-right girl of his dreams.
Maybe you’d like to hear the entire book read by Tiffany, an Atlanta Falcons NFL cheerleader.


Prince Henrik . . . I love you!
Kids Lit Reviews, 19/1/13
See all reviewsThis story about gender stereotypes brings back fond memories of Babette Cole's 'Princess Smartypants', the greatest pre-school feminist literature of all time.
Rochelle Galloway, Burnie Advocate, 11/7/09
See all reviewsThis is a delightfully different and very humorous modern version of a familiar tale.
Stephanie Owen Reeder, Australian Book Review, June 2009
See all reviewsTony Wilson's droll picture book recasting of the old tale of how to distinguish a real princess from an ordinary girl.
Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street Journal, 30/3/12
See all reviewsThis funny tale reminds us all that the perfect princess doesn’t need to be “beautiful and sensitive”
Speak Good English Movement
See all reviewsAs the mother of a five year-old girl who believes princesses must have long blonde hair, blue eyes and stilettos (preferably gem-stone encrusted), this book was a breath of fresh air.
Phillipa Macken, Newcastle's Child, 27/4/09
See all reviewsI love this book for lots of reasons ... Bring on more princesses like Pippa!
Babyology
See all reviewsThe Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas makes an excellent book for teaching story grammar/narrative principles
SpeechLanguage Resources.com
See all reviews