The Strangeness Of The English Language

Some Trivial Word Stuff

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: “abstemious” and “facetious.”

There are only four words in the English language which end in “dous”: tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

“Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt”.

No word in the English language rhymes with month,orange, silver, or purple.

The sentence: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter of the alphabet.

Hetronyms are words spelled the same as another but having different sounds and different meanings, as lead (to conduct) andlead (a metal).

Homographs are words with the same written form as another but different meanings, whether pronounced the same way or not, as row (an argument) and row (paddle the oars) and row (a straight line).

       The dragon wound the cloth around the wound on his leg.

      He could still lead the knights if he could get the thick lead door opened.

     The king had to refuse the dumping of more refuse.

     The princess did not object to the shiny object the dragon brought her.

     The royal carpenter built the door to close to the window—it would not close.

     The royal chef had a tear in his apron and a tear in his eye.

     Upon arrival, the royal dove dove through the window.

     Deserting his dessert in the desert was not in the plan.

     The soldiers got in a row as they tried to straighten the row whilerowing.

      The kingdom’s gardener was summoned to produce lots ofproduce, or else.

     The bass tuba had an etching of a bass on it’s stem.

     The prince, even in his present state, was to present the present to the princess.

     The wind was too strong to wind the kite string.
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multi-awardsDiane Mae Robinson is the author of the multi-award winning, The Pen Pieyu Adventures series. Sign up for
author’s newsletter and receive a free pdf 55-page Sir Princess Petra coloring book as well as updates on contest and giveaway announcements in the Dragon Newsletter:

The Pen Pieyu Adventures – Secret Character Facts

CHARACTERS FROM SIR PRINCESS PETRA – The Pen Pieyu Adventures (book one)

bookpage3illustration

Sir Princess Petra LongstrideLives in The Kingdom of Pen Pieyu in the Land of Pen Pieyu (see map). She is the first and only knight of her kingdom.

Birthday: September 9

Age: 9

Middle name: Brettania (middle name after her grandmother, Brettania May Longstride, the great story teller).

Favorite color: pink

Favorite foods: chocolate, mushrooms, olives, nuts, wild berries.

Favorite activities: archery, jousting, Highland dancing, riding her steed, javelin tossing, home-school lessons, onion throwing, polishing her armour, making mud pies, and her most favorite activity, adventures.

Dislikes: big meanies, eating anything with onions in it, bees.

Parent’s names: King William Kuff Longstride and Queen Mabel Viola Longstride

char_snarls

Snarls the Dragon

Lives nearby and inside and around Dragon Mountain in The Forest of Doom (see map).Birthday: October 23

Age: 3 (that equals 12 in people years).

Middle name: Lotzapuf (middle name after his mother’s father, Singe Burnett Lotzapuf).

Last name: Doom

Favorite color: shiny silver things.

Favorite food: onions.

Favorite activities: cooking, barbeques, parties, adventures.

Dislikes: falling rocks, being chased, indigestion.

char_bograt_the_bog_witch

Bograt the Bog Witch

Lives in the bogs and swamps smack-in-the middle of all the other lands of all of the other kingdoms, and just at the edge of Hobble-Wobble Creek. (see map).Birthday: February 30 (that’s what her birth certificate says).

Age: she counts 10 years by the succession of seasons.

Real name: Marsheesh Mya Mire

Favorite color: black

Favorite foods: onions, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, squash, pretty well all vegetables.

Favorite activities: chasing frogs, scaring people (well, only a little), cooking and eating onion-anything, picking mushrooms, mud baths, making deals, exploring,

Dislikes: frilly dresses, water baths.

char_prince_nastybun

Prince Nastybun

Lives in The Kingdom of Messogie, just east and a little north of The Kingdom of Crablips (see map).Birthday: June 1

Age: 10

First Name: Norton

Middle Name: Hiney (This was very hard information to come by, and nobody, until now, knew of his middle name).

Favorite color: purple.

Favorite foods: asparagus, mushrooms, squid (although he rarely gets to eat squid because squid comes from the sea to the west, and he lives far away from the sea to the west—see map again).

Favorite activities: riding his pony, commanding his puny army, spear throwing, drying off, exploring.

Dislikes: falling off his pony, soggy boots, moss on his armour, scary things.

kingandqueenlongstride

King and Queen Longstride

Rulers, owners, and directors of Pen Pieyu Kingdom where they retain, direct, rule, and pay the bills at Longstride castle. Also, Petra’s parents.King’s name, birthday, age:  King William Kuff Longstride,  January 1, 52 years of age.

Queen’s name, birthday, age: Queen Mabel Viola Longstride, January 3, 41 years of age.

King’s favorite food/ activities: octopus stew, octopus crepes; being the lord over of his kingdom.

Queen’s favorite food/activities:  coconut shrimp, coconut cream pie; practicing a faint that doesn’t mess her hairdo, ruling her husband’s kingdom.

King’s dislikes: women trying to rule his kingdom.

Queen’s dislikes:  octopus stew.

Check out https://dragonsbook.com/for-kids/ for more facts about book two characters in this dragon books for children series.  Kids, print out Sir Princess Petra coloring pages.

Interview With A Dragon

Q&A with Snarls (Star of) from Sir Princess Petra’s Mission

Re-blog from: https://kid-lit-reviews.com/2016/04/16/qa-with-snarls-star-of-from-sir-princess-petras-mission/

Kid Lit reviews is pleased to welcome Snarls, the Dragon from Sir Princess Petra’s Mission, Book 3 of The Pen Pieyu Adventures. The Kingdom of Pen Pieyu is located in a magical kingdom located in author, Diane Mae Robinson’s Garden Kingdom, located in Alberta Canada.

3 book banner

Princess Petra wants to become a knight. Her parents are against it, so King Longstride writes new rules in the Kingdom’s Royal Ryle book designed to trip Princess Petra up, causing her to fail. She doesn’t. Soon, Princess Petra is known far and wide as Sir Princess Petra, the only knight in the Kingdom of Pen Pieyu. Her one test involved taming the ferocious and widely feared, dragon. Petra tamed the loud dragon, making him her steed. That dragon was Snarls.

KID LIT REVIEWS: Hello Snarls. I hope you are fine this good day.

PETRA: “Hey, why are you asking Snarls . . .”

PUSH, SHOVE, “OUCH” SLAM

KLT: Yes, Hello Petra. It’s good to see you, too. The questions are for Snarls this time . If you recall, you were interviewed here a couple years ago and just recently at the Insatiable Reader. You are welcome to sit in, but please, let Snarls answer the questions.

KLT: So, Snarls, you are a real, live, fire-breathing dragon, not a horse, yet Sir Princess Petra rides you as if you were a horse. She calls you her “steed.” What is it like for a dragon to be a steed?

Book 3 Illustration 5SNARLS: “Uhhhumm. Yeah, about that. First things first. I have something to clear up about this steed business. My author girl would have you believe, by her writings in book two, that my pink tassel saddle was all Petra’s idea. NOT SO! I picked out the saddle myself. It’s my way of saying I am a modern dragon. Sort of like the “man purse” thing in your world.

“Secondly, Petra would have you believe I had no choice in the matter of becoming a steed. NOT SO! It was totally my idea from the beginning.”

KLT: What is it like being a dragon-steed? Snarls?

 

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

KLT: Petra, please. Tickling Snarls tail is distracting.

Snarls, do you like being a dragon-steed?

SNARLS: “Oh, what was the question? Oh, never mind that . . . Since it was totally my idea to become the one, and only, and first ever, dragon steed . . . YES!I love my job. It was all my idea. I mentioned that, right?”

KLT: Readers know you are a fantastic cook. When not working as Petra’s steed, or as the chef-extraordinaire of the Kingdom of Pen Pieyu, what do you do to relax?

SNARLS: “I really like being near food, so I’m always happy to do more cooking and barbequing—I am the royal chef at the castle too. On my days off from cooking and steeding, I really enjoy rolling around in the mud. Mud is goopy and silky smooth. And it does wonders for scaly scales. But I have to be careful to clean off all the mud between my toes so Petra doesn’t find any. Petra either doesn’t like muddy toes or she thinks I like her picking mud out of my toes. And just for the record, I am fine with MANLY muddy toes.”

PETRA: Hello!!!!!”      Book 3 Illustration 1

KLT: Petra? Did you want to say something?

PETRA: “I’m sitting right here, Snarls.”

KLT: Yes, you are. Now, Snarls, Onions. King Longstride demands all knight-wannabes empty the onion room—by eating the onions—before deemed fit for knighthood. What is so darn important about onions?

SNARLS: “Well, as you all know, King Longstride is a little bit of a scatter brain and his rules in the royal rule book don’t always make sense. He did, although, make up that rule just weeks before Petra decided she wanted to become a knight.

KLR: “Hmmmm. Pet—

PETRA: Hello!!!!! I’m right here!

KLT: “Hi, Petra. Didn’t see ya.

SNARLS: “I was saying Petra hates onions. Strange, don’t you think?”

KLT: Strange, indeed. I don’t know why anyone would HATE a harmless vegetable, such as an onion. Onions are pretty good in most dishes. Dishes. How many plates did Petra hide onions under when she supposedly ate all those onions?

SNARLS: “No pl-ate-s. What are pl-ates?”

KLT: Never mind. I’m sure your “writer girl” took some literary license with that scene.

SNAELS: “No literary licenses, but she has the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award in Literary Arts (2112) for Sir Princess Petra.”

KLT: Speaking of Petra, on her latest Mission, (Sir Princess Petra’s Mission), Sir Bograt becomes MFA (Missing from Action) while at Hooble-Wooble Creek.

SNARLS: “Hobble-Wobble Creek.”

KLT: Right, right. I heard tell a rogue wave swept Sir Bograt down the river—

SNARLS: “Creek.”

KLT: –off on a wild CREEK-wave. Snarls, you were there. What happened? What caused this freaky wave?

SNARLS: “Ewwwww. Hobble Wobble Creek is a scary place. Rumor has it that sheep have lost ears, cow have lost tails, and the odd peasant has lost a toe or two there—you know, the kind of place a bog witch could go missing in.

“Umm, errrr. Hey, what did you hear?”

KLT: Oh, just that someone or something plopped in the riv, er creek, causing a huge cannonball-like wave, taking Sir Bograt riding a giant wave down the course of Hooble-Wooble River.

SNARLS: “Hobble-Wobble Creek.”

KLT: That’s what I said. So . . .

SNARLS: “Are you blaming me for something?”                           Book 3 illustration 8

KLT: Possibly.

SNARLS: “I know nothing.”

KLT: Are you sure?

SNARLS: “Nope.”

Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. SLAM!

KLT: What was that? [Oh, really? Okay.] It seems Petra has decided to wait for you outside.

SNARLS:  “It’s raining. I should take her an umbrella.”

KLT: Snarls?

SNARLS: “What? Oh, the interview. My interview. Continue.”

KLT: On this last mission, Sir Petra, Sir (now missing) Bograt, and you are to capture a notoriously feared and possibly nonexistent car-panther, bringing it back to King Longstride. We know when not a steed, you can be found in the castle kitchen, just off the royal court, where the king and queen do whatever kings and queens do when sitting on a throne. Voices carry.

SNARLS: “I did overhear something, but it didn’t make sense.”

KLT: Did you hear what the King wants with a fear inducing car-panther?

SNARLS: “I heard the king and queen whispering about the usefulness of car-panthers and how the kingdom should acquire one to CLEAN UP the castle before the next shingding. Then Bograt blabbed about the notorious dragon-eating car-panthers. Well! You can see where I’m coming from when I thought the whole thing was to get rid of me.

“You can see that, right?”

KLT: Maybe Bograt is just upset about Wobble-Cobble Creek.

SNARLS: “Hobble-Wobble Creek.”

KLT: Let’s finish with 5 quick questions.

  1. Favorite person (other than Petra), at Kingdom Pen Pieyu.
    “My favorite person, next to Petra of course, would have to be Duce Craplips. He wears pink armour and he crochets—he’s such a modern-day type prince. I don’t really care for blabber-mouth Bograt, or smarty-pants Norton Nastybun.”

KLT: The same missing Bograt from Hobble-Wobble Creek?

2. Quick question two? Hurry, this is supposed to be quick! Most feared Land or Kingdom.
“The swamp lands we went through in book three were pretty nasty. As you know, I had a misfortunate event there.”

Book 3 Illustration 4

KLT: Yes, I know. At the Creek Hobbled Wobble.

SNARLS: “Geez. Hobble-Wobble Creek. And NO!

“It all had to do with Norton Smarty-Pants Nastybun! He had his puny army stick me with arrows, in my butt! Totally humiliating!!!!! It was just a totally uncalled for scene.”

3. What frightens dragon-steeds?
“Falling rocks, being chased, indigestion. You know, the usual stuff.”

 

4. Favorite Food.
“Onion anything.”

5. Finally, what is Today’s Chef-Extraordinaire Special?
“Crimson-crust-onion-strawberry pie

Bouillabaisse served with leek-onion soufflé

Onion Omelette Ta-Da (my specialty)”

KLT: Sounds, uh, yummy?

Snarls, thank you for stopping by. It is always a pleasure. If she’s out there, say goodbye to Petra for me.

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird

Pick up your own copy of Sir Princess Petra’s Mission
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Follow Diane Mae Robinson and All Her Magical Characters
Website   http://dragonsbook.com/ 
Blog   http://www.dianemaerobinson.com/
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Book 3 illustration 12
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Copyright © 2016 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved

ST. PAUL AUTHOR SETS CRAZY ADVENTURES FOR A KNIGHT-PRINCESS HEROINE IN NEW JUVENILE FICTION

January 12, 2016  ST. PAUL, Alberta — This week marks the nationwide release of “Sir Princess Petra’s Mission,” an enjoyable and adventure-filled new children’s book by author Diane Mae Robinson.Book 3 high res. cover

In “Sir Princess Petra’s Mission,” Sir Princess Petra has already attained her knighthood in the Kingdom of Pen Pieyu and her non-princess-like talent certificate from Talent School — neither of which pleases her father and mother, the king and queen.

The king writes up more silly rules in the royal rule book to deter Sir Princess Petra from her knightly ways and useless talent and to turn her into a real princess once and for all. Will the king finally succeed with this newly written and ridiculous mission for Petra? Find out in “Sir Princess Petra’s Mission.”

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com.

Robinson lives in a small hilltop castle nestled inside an old and magical forest in central Alberta in Canada. This mystical forest is where she finds inspiration to write children’s fantasy and adventures. The author’s first two books in “The Pen Pieyu Adventures” series have won six international book awards and one provincial award. Robinson is also an art teacher and writing instructor. http://news.tatepublishing.com/?p=26784

Book Links:

Amazon, Book 3, Sir Princess Petra’s Mission: http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Petras-Mission-Diane-Robinson/dp/168187072X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451058179&sr=8-1&keywords=sir+princess+Petra%27s+Mission

Barnes & Noble, Book 3, Sir Princess Petra’s Mission: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sir-princess-petras-mission-diane-mae-robinson/1123053860?ean=9781681870724

Goodreads,Book 3, Sir Princess Petra’s Mission: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28329659-sir-princess-petra-s-mission

For more information and review about these multi-award winning dragon books for children: www.dragonsbook.com

Review of Sir Princess Petra’s Mission from Insatiable Readers

              Sir Princess Petra’s Mission – The Pen Pieyu Adventures
Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place to be to feed your need to read no matter how big, small, or somewhere in between it may be.
Today, my fair readers, we are celebrating the BOOK BIRTHDAY of the third addition to The Pen Pieyu Adventures starring none other than, Sir Princess Petra.  Sound the trumpets!  Roll out the red carpet!  Herald her arrival with flash and boom!  This is a princess that challenges the entire whole of princess-hood with a smile on her face, a pink feather in her knightly helmet, and all while sitting astride her chosen “stead” named Snarls…who just so happens to be a dragon.  Have I got your attention yet?  I thought so.  Without further ado, here is today’s book of choice…
by
Diane Mae Robinson
Illustrated by
Michael Bermundo
97816818707224
Tate Publishing
About the book
Sir Princess Petra has already attained her Knighthood in the Kingdom of Pen Pieyu and her non-princess-like Talent Certificate from Talent School, neither of which pleases her father, the king.
The king writes up more silly rules in the royal rule book to deter Sir Princess Petra from her knightly ways and useless talent and turn her into a real princess once and for all.
Will the king finally succeed with this newly written, ridiculous mission for Petra?
AMAZON   |   B&N
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I remember my first adventure through the pages with Petra, oh excuse me…SIR Princess Petra. ^-^  It was magical, mystical, illustrated and wordy fun with every turn of the page AND phrase.  I actually started with book two as part of a blog tour and enjoyed it so much that I then sought out book one to enjoy on my own (which apparently I forgot to review once upon a time…oops!).  When I saw the review request in my INBOX for book three, I immediately responded with an enthusiastic YES as I knew it was not to be missed.  I mentally walked down memory lane and then looked back at ye olde blog to read through the first post only to realize, it was THREE years ago that the adventure had taken place.  Wow.  THREE years.  It seems like a lifetime considering the books we devour on a weekly/monthly/yearly basis, but the good ones stick with you, you know…and this was definitely one of the good ones.
map
Kingdom of Pen Pieyu
Now, being that this is a series, one might wonder if you have to read the preceding books to be “in the know”.  In this case, totally unnecessary (but still recommended for the sheer enjoyment of it all!) because the author has taken care of you with a brief overview of both preceding adventures at the beginning of this installment.  Bookmarks up to the author for that nifty inclusion!  After removing the cobwebs from the past, I dove in feet first (as all good divers should) and discovered Sir Princess Petra and friends waiting for me within the pages as if I had never left, eagerly anticipating their next adventure.  Thanks to the King that wait will be short lived and if he has anything to say about it, so will Sir Princess Petra’s stint as a knight…a very un-princess-like pastime in his opinion.  With her mission in mind, she and her somewhat merry band of friends set forth seeking to capture the illusive car-panther…but what they find is beyond their wildest dreams.
It was great to see the familiar faces of Petra, Bograt, Snarls, and both of the royal Longstride’s again, though the latter is still confoundedly set in making Petra into the princess they want her to be instead of embracing her uniqueness to its full potential.  *grr*  I love how Petra is not afraid to be who she really is and calls her parents out on their shenanigans time and again.  That’s right King Longstride.  Just because you make a rule doesn’t mean it will stick if not grammatically sound.  He he he.  For any of you that have been visiting here for some time, you know that I love word play and am a stickler for word usage/sentence structure so the wordy fun encountered here is right up my alley making Petra an instant literary bestie.  Next up, Snarls!  Yes, that lovable dragon with a heart of gold is back and though he may not be able to spit fire on command but he’s working on it; in the mean time, he’s utilizing his other many talents.  Bograt is…well, Bograt.  Here and there, onion chomping and wave surfing, not much gets her down and the secrets she keeps are too many to number; good thing she’s on our side, right?
bookpage3illustration
Sir Princess Petra
All in all, a wonderful adventure through the Kingdom of Pen Pieyu with a spunky group that I’d call friends any day of the week.  They each march to their own drummer, leaving an impression you won’t soon forget, but that’ part of their charm.  It reminds us that we can do anything we want to do, be anything we want to be…so long as we choose our words carefully.  ^-^  Recommended read for Children’s Fiction fans of all ages.
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About the author…
AuthorHeadshotSmallII
Diane lives in a small hilltop castle in central Alberta, Canada amongst an old and magical forest inhabited by gnomes, fairies, a princess, and a dragon. This magical forest is where Diane creates her characters and gets the inspiration for her stories.
The author has a journalism diploma from the Schools of Montreal, and an advanced diploma from the Institute of Children’s Literature in Connecticut. Diane is also an artist, art teacher, writing instructor at the Creative Writing Institute, and a children’s book editor.
For more information on these dragon books for children: www.dragonsbook.com

Dragon Books For Children – Sir Princess Petra’s Mission First Reviews

BOOK REVIEW By Linda Watkins for: SIR PRINCESS PETRA’S MISSION BY DIANE MAE ROBINSON

(Book 3 in the multi-award winning adventure kids books, The Pen Pieyu Adventures, series.

5 / 5

Reblog from: http://lindawatkins.biz/book-review-sir-princess-petras-mission-by-diane-mae-robinson/#comment-166

Book 3 high res. cover


This was my first venture into the magical kingdom of Pen Pieyu and, I can assure you, it won’t be my last! Thank you, Diane Mae Robinson for creating this quirky, wonderful world and for providing the reader with a brief synopsis of the previous adventures of Sir Princess Petra and her entourage of engaging friends. This was a really fun read and in Sir Princess Petra, Ms. Robinson has created a marvelous role model for young girls.

In this adventure, Sir Princess Petra must again outwit her father who, in his desire to curtail her unprincess-like behavior, has rewritten the “Royal Rule Book” with the intention of stripping her of her knighthood and returning her to more feminine pursuits. Needless to say, this does not deter our brave Princess. Along with her best friends, Snarls the dragon, and Bograt, the bog witch, Petra sets off on a quest to capture a car-panther (a creature no one knows anything about)!

I think my favorite encounter that the young Princess Knight has along the way is with Prince Norton Nastybun and the puny army from Kingdom Mesoggie. This episode had me in stitches throughout.

This is a truly engaging read for children and parents alike and I can tell you I await with great anticipation Ms. Robinson’s next offering which will be entitled GRAMMAR FOR KIDS AND DRAGONS. If there’s anyone who can make grammar fun, I think it will be Ms. Robinson!

This series has won many awards and they are well deserved. Enter the kingdom of Pen Pieyu and I know you will not be disappointed.

Illustrations by Michael Bermundo

Illustrations by Michael Bermundo

A five star delight for sure!

P.S. – The illustrations are great, too!

 

 

 

 

 

For more reviews and awards information of Diane’s multi-award winning dragon books for children: http://www.dragonbooks.com

There is also a current prize giveaway event for reviewers requesting the pdf and willing to post reviews of the new release, Sir Princess Petra’s Mission: http://www.dianemaerobinson.com/2015/12/new-book-release-with-prizes.html

First Review Of Sir Princess Petra’s Mission–Book 3 In The Muliti-Award Winning Children’s Series.

Book 3 high res. cover5 */ 5 *

Sir Princess Petra’s Mission (book 3, The Pen Pieyu Adventures)

by Diane Mae Robinson

 

Author Diane Mae Robinson’s third entry in the Sir Princess Petra series of award-winning chapter books for children rises to the same lovely level of delightfully imaginative storytelling as its predecessors.

 

This time Sir Princess Petra, the king’s daughter who refuses to be confined to girlie pursuits, must confront yet another seemingly impossible challenge. The challenge was designed by her father with the express purpose of relieving her of her ungirlie knighthood. Because she outwitted him before, he has rewritten the royal rule book, which a knight of the realm must adhere to or lose the knighthood.

 

Sir Princess Petra is charged with “venturing into the unventured land” of the Boogy Gobees to capture the first car-panther she encounters and deliver it to the Kingdom. Armed with only a cake knife and onions, the Princess bravely sets off with her best friend, Snarls the dragon, and Bograt, the bog witch. The pursuit sends them desperately splish-splashing their way through bogs and swamps and a spine-tingling forest of tree soldiers.

 

The conundrum of apprehending and delivering a non-existent car-panther is eventually resolved. What saves the day, and Princess Petra’s knighthood, is her appeal to the best of human nature, unselfishness and faith that doing the right thing will lead to a good end, values that are abundant in the previous books.

 

Also abundant in all three books is fun, wonderful, silly fun. The book is delightful.

Review by Wayne Clark, Readers’ Favorite International Award-Winning Author.

Sir Princess Petra’s Mission will be releasing soon. For more information about my dragon books for children, visit: http://www.dragonsbook.com

Chapter One: The Princess

                                    SIR PRINCESS PETRA (book one)

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird for Sir Princess Petra - The Pen Pieyu Adventures, book 1.THE PRINCESS

Petra curtsied to the king and queen of Pen Pieyu, who sat upon their thrones. “Father tomorrow is the ninth day of the ninth year.”

“Yes, my dear princess, it is your royal birthday. And according to royal custom, you may have anything your heart desires, as promised,” declared King Longstride.

“I have thought hard and for many passing moons. Jewels, frocks of lace, and princess games have become boring. The thing I want the most . . .” Petra hesitated and bit on her lip. “I want to be a royal knight.”

“A knight!” The king stood up and seemed to turn pale. The queen swiped her hand over her forehead and moaned. The king’s councilman got so excited he ran around in circles until he bumped into a royal pillar.

“Why, never have I heard such a request,” the king said, pacing and scratching his grey beard.“You are a princess . . . a girl. You must be big and brave and mean and nasty to be a royal knight.”

“Where is it written that a girl cannot be a knight and protect her kingdom?” Petra demanded.

The councilman urgently flipped through the royal rulebook. “It does not say so, Your Majesty. There is no rule.”

The king grinned and gave a quick wink to the woozy-looking queen. “To become a knight of my kingdom, you must choose an act of bravery from the royal list of deeds,” the king proclaimed, turning the page of the royal rulebook. “The choices are: to capture a crocodile and make his skin into a royal leather chair; to hush that howling, nasty dragon, Snarls, in the Forest of Doom; or to eat a roomful of raw onions.”

Petra peeked into the royal onion room. All nine of the palace soldiers were crying and munching away. The princess wrinkled up her nose. “Yuck, I will never eat onions! And the only crocodile I know lives in the moat and is my friend. I have no choice. I will hush the howling dragon, Snarls, in the Forest of Doom,” she announced. Promptly the queen fainted, and the king plopped down on his ragged,7leather royal chair. “But I will take a sack of onions with me,” Petra added.

The royal chef grumbled while he outfitted the princess with a suit of his best royal pots and pans, because the regular armour turned out to be much too large. And her sword seemed to resemble one of the royal cake knives.

Petra clunked out of the palace. “Goodbye, and don’t worry. I will throw onions at the beast until he cries. Then I will stab him with my sword. See, I can be a nasty, big meany.”

For more information on the award winning children’s books, The Pen Pieyu Adventures: dragon books for children, fantasy kids books, visit the Author’s Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Diane-Mae-Robinson/e/B007DKO8SK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1447609615&sr=8-1

My Favorite Reviews For Sir Princess Petra (book one)

Ian S. Rutter, Author, Faeries of Birchover Wood

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird

5 *’s / 5*’s
What a wonderful story. You don’t get many books that can teach qualities such as respect, friendship and trust. This book does that simply by showing through a lovely story.

The author has a great gift at story telling, without telling you how or what you should do to learn the skills that the story teaches. The main character of the book, Petra, shows you what to do when she is placed in certain situations which require her to use her head and not her makeshift sword.

We can all learn something from this story. If you have children, I encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it to them.

I hope there are many more Petra adventures in the future.

This book is next to my copy of Aesop’s Fables.   

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird

Midwest Book Review (They don’t give star ratings)

“Sir Princess Petra: The Pen Pieyu Adventures” is a maverick fantasy, illustrated chapter book for tweens. Princess Petra of the kingdom of Pen Pieyu requests an unusual birthday present from her parents the king and queen: to become a knight! Although her request alarms her parents, they can find no legal objection, so the king proclaims Princess Petra must choose an act of bravery from the royal list of deeds, in order to become a knight of the kingdom. Her choices are: “to capture a crocodile and make his skin into a royal leather chair, to hush the howling nasty dragon Snarls in the Forest of Doom, or to eat a roomful of raw onions(p.13).”

The princess eliminates both onions and crocodile and decides upon the quest to hush Snarls, the nasty dragon in the Forest of Doom. Armed with pots and pans and cutlery from the pantry, Princess Petra sets off. What will happen on this unpredictable princess/knightly adventure? Packed with plot twists and turns, unexpected obstacles and problems, and brilliant flashes of humor and originality, “Sir Princess Petra” charms and entrances the reader.

Enhanced by frequent expressive black and white drawings, the six chapters of “Sir Princess Petra” move swiftly to a satisfying conclusion. Kids age 10 and up will love the rebel heroine and her dragon rehabilitation skills.”

Diane Mae Robison tells a charming tale of Petra, the young Princess of Pen Pieyu, whose birthday wish is to be dubbed a royal knight of her father’s kingdom. Although Petra takes her father, the king, by surprise with her curious royal birthday wish, Petra proves her bravery through a quest to hush the howling dragon.

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 Natalie Schembri, The University of Manitoba Book Review 4 *’s/4*’s

    Sir Princess Petra is a delightfully imaginative storytime read and re-read. Petra’s character is both confident and charismatic. Her good nature conquers the friendship of Snarles, the dragon, and other characters in the Forest of Doom.

Further, Robinson’s empowering story is accompanied by beautifully shaded pencil drawings that illustrate Petra’s royal quest. Both text and illustration combine to create a vivid story of courage and determination.

I highly recommend Sir Princess Petra for school, public, and personal library collections. Diane Mae Robinson coins a tale that invites readers to accompany Petra on a fearless journey towards friendship and self-discovery.

Mother Daughter Book Reviews – Reviewer: Renee Cormier
5 */5*
Sir Princess Petra is a wonderful read-aloud book with a diverse range of characters and a quirky writing style that kept the children completely engaged from the first page to the last. Diane Mae Robinson has created a charming main character in Petra who rejects the stereotype of what a princess should be in favor of serving her kingdom as a royal knight. Petra is precisely the type of role model I love for girls: she’s spunky, she’s brave, she’s kind, and she’s a problem-solver. ‘Nuff said – SHE ROCKS!

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird



The supporting cast of characters are also distinctly quirky and uniquely interesting . . . In short, this book had us laughing out loud as we were reading it.

My bottom line: I really feel that this little book is a gem. It is a relatively short book (70-ish pages) that can easily be read aloud to children in one sitting. My kids and I were completely captivated by this fun, adventure-filled tale about a very charming and unorthodox princess. I highly recommend this book to families with children under the age of 10 and as young as 5 who love a good tale filled with fairy-tale characters such as dragons, witches, princesses, and knights.

Visit my author’s website for more information about my dragon books for children: http://www.dragonsbook.com