Book Review of What Makes a Princess?
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The Children’s Book Review
What Makes a Princess?
Written by Raphael Canlas
Illustrated by Arviemar Apulog
Ages: 4-6 | 38 Pages
Publisher: Vimilu, Inc. (2026) | ISBN: 978-6219707206
What to Expect: Appearances, kindness, empathy, helping others, identity.
In this inspirational picture book, three good deeds and three virtues give this princess-themed plot the clean shape of a folktale.
Princess Kaya knows that when she’s wearing her perfect princess dress, she can be her best princess self. However, one morning, she wakes up to find her princess dress isn’t ready for her to wear! Feeling very sad, she goes for a walk to cheer herself up. Along the way, she runs into some people who are feeling even sadder than she is: a baby bird who has fallen from its nest, an elderly couple who are lost, and a flower dying of thirst. Even though she helps them feel better, Princess Kaya still doesn’t feel like herself. Then, the King and Queen remind her of something important: it’s not the dress that makes a princess—it’s a good heart!
Importantly, Kaya is not the perfect princess from the start; even though she does the right things, she still sometimes has feelings that feel wrong. Readers will love the validation the story provides for the times when they are not quite their best either—and the reassurance that being less than perfect does not make you a bad person. The story is delivered in short, read-aloud sentences perfect for younger listeners, while the lively artwork matches color to mood, from golden morning light to a vivid magenta when Kaya discovers her missing dress, a cool blue for her sadness when she returns home, and a rainbow burst for the queen’s hug.
With its fairytale atmosphere and encouraging messaging, What Makes a Princess? is perfect for preschoolers and early readers learning that big feelings and big hearts can share a page.
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About the Publisher
Vimilu is a creative studio built around original stories, characters, and worlds.
Working across illustration, animation, merchandise, and now publishing, the studio explores how a story can take on different forms while keeping its heart intact. Vimilu also lends its creative expertise to select client projects, but original storytelling remains at the center of what it does.
What Makes a Princess? is Vimilu’s first published children’s book and the beginning of a growing collection of original work created to delight young audiences, spark imagination, and stay with them beyond the page.
For more information, visit vimilu.com.
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