Tara Campasano Malia

The Special Princess Tara Campasano Malia

The Special Princess , a story first envisioned for a child by a child, gives young people the opportunity to learn through reading and drawing, two activities that should be fostered with all children ranging the spectrum from gifted to those having special needs. Ultimately, the characters in this story realize that teamwork, acceptance, love and optimism result in victory when they witness the transformation of Blacky, their most dreaded bully. Moreover, the reader's personal interpretation and original drawings make The Special Princess different from other children' books. Targeting children ages five through nine, the children in The Special Princess discover how to conquer their fears when Blacky, an evil witch, overtakes their quaint town, halting even the basics of every day routine. Tara and Vinny, the young protagonists, want to stop hiding in their own town and discover how to turn the evil Blacky into a good witch, as they swiftly save the day. When I was a young girl, I always loved reading and creating my own scenarios to accompany stories. I often wished I could explain to other people exactly what I saw in my mind; but instead, often encountered the authors' pictures, so different than my own ideas. Sometimes, I would be so disappointed in the illustrations presented in the book that even my favorite stories became mundane. By creating their "own stories" by drawing what they imagine while reading, children will enjoy books and reading; a concept which is somewhat of a rarity in today's age of technology. This only partially illustrated work includes spaces for a child to create her own story, encouraging success, creativity and pride in one's self. The reader's imaginative pictures drawn inside this book will be preserved, and the child tells the story from his own eyes in a unique illustration of The Special Princess .