The Gypsy Princess

Teya Rosenberg teaches children’s literature at the University of
Alberta.

Cinnamon, a gypsy girl, knows how to tell fortunes and how to dance with
her bear, Babalatzzi. But she longs to be a princess, to dance with a
prince, and to encounter dragons and mermaids. Cinnamon believes all her
dreams have come true when Princess Cyprina invites her to live in the
palace. But the palace soon becomes boring: there are no dragons or
mermaids, and the golden crown and “beautiful high-heeled shoes” she
wears are uncomfortable. Soon Cinnamon is dreaming of her old auntie and
of Babalatzzi. The road home beckons, but Cinnamon has to give up the
trappings of the palace and undergo a difficult journey before she can
again dance with Babalatzzi.

The Gypsy Princess is a classic tale about discovering that the life
one has can be more fulfilling than a dream. Gilman’s sumptuous
illustrations add richness to the story. Each spread features a full
picture in a golden frame on one page, which illustrates the text on the
opposite page; but the text has as background other pictures adding more
action to the story. As well, small pictures at the top of each text
page tell another part of the story (at one point they focus on
Cinnamon’s auntie and Babalatzzi when Cinnamon is at the palace). It
is this clever interweaving of the multiple narratives with the fun
details that make this superb book one that all children will enjoy.
Highly recommended.