The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry

Having only read Lois Lowry classics such as The Giver and Number the Stars, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a book titled The Birthday Ball.  Working somewhat off of the classic Prince and the Pauper, the book starts out with a very bored princess, a nearly deaf queen, a king who sits in his counting house admiring his butterfly collection, three horrifying suitors, a handsome village schoolmaster, a variety of singing household staff and a very fat, lazy cat named Delicious.  This zany cast of characters makes for a fun, if extremely silly read.  I would absolutely recommend this book to little girls who love princesses and mothers who love introducing new vocabulary to their young readers.

If you enjoyed The Birthday Ball, try Tales from the Five Kingdoms by Vivian French - another silly tale with princesses.