Princess and the Peas

A reimagining of the classic "The Princess and the Pea" set in an African American community in the South in the 1950s. Now in paperback!

In this adaptation of "The Princess and the Pea," there are no mattresses.  Ma Sally cooks the best black-eyed peas in Charleston County, South Carolina. Her son, John, is a highly eligible bachelor, and three local women vie for his hand in marriage by attempting to cook as well as Ma. At the last minute, a surprise contestant named Princess arrives at the door. Princess and John are well-matched, but Princess has her own ideas. When told she has won John’s hand, she asks him to scrub the pots and pans before she'll give him an answer.

Dedicated to "Black families everywhere," this heartwarming story, with its fairy-tale tone, will have broad appeal.
—Kirkus Reviews

Rachel Himes is a museum educator, children's books author, and illustrator who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her work focuses on material culture, diversity, and intercultural exchange, especially in the ancient and medieval world. She works in a variety of media, but mostly acrylic and collage. Rachel is a graduate of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design.