Princesses versus Dinosaurs

An adorably cheeky picture book from beloved Canadian author Linda Bailey with equally charismatic illustrations from Joy Ang, Princesses Versus Dinosaurs is an absolute treasure trove of fun. Two popular storybook titans, princesses and dinosaurs, battle to determine who should star in this laugh-out-loud picture book. With ardent fans certain to passionately cheer for their respective interests in this battle royale, young readers will definitely be invested and engaged in this buoyantly energetic story.

The story starts with princesses skipping across the landscape proclaiming that this book is undoubtedly all about them. However as the page turns, a burgeoning conflict appears as dinosaurs voice their fervent disagreement suggesting that the book is instead a rambunctious romp of prehistoric creatures. And so, the battle begins. First, the opponents trade speech-bubble verbal slights (e.g, “big meanie” and “lizard breath”) and assurances that the other side is astoundingly wrong in their assertions that they are the central characters of the book. When both teams call in their MVP’s – a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Dennis for Team Dinosaur and a tiara-wearing purple dragon named Shirley for Team Princess – it appears that tensions are certain to boil over. However, after pondering building a wall to resolve their differences, the princesses and dinosaurs learn a valuable lesson about open-mindedness and sharing.

Although delights are aplenty in Bailey’s words on the page, it’s Joy Ang’s vibrant digital illustrations that truly steal the show. All characters seemingly leap off the page due to artistically rendered expressive energy that feels alive. Yet, the most impressive images are those of Ang’s princesses thanks to thoughtful representation of a diverse and inclusive collection of identities. Varied body types, skin colours, and gender identities are all shown in full princess gear. Although some may write Princesses Versus Dinosaurs off as a simple dose of silly fun, the equitable representation shown in these illustrations holds greater power. Depicting princesses of all kinds helps to affirm the identity of all readers and works towards breaking stereotypes in a simple yet massively important way.