The Princess and the Grain of Rice

Written by Tina Cho

Reading age: 4 – 8 years
Macmillan | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ISBN: 9780374392253

A sweet, funny Korean Princess and the Pea retelling, written by critically acclaimed Korean American author Tina Cho. A new classic in the making!

In the mountains of Joseon, Jeongsoon has a heart as gentle as jade, but she might just be the clumsiest girl in the kingdom. She wants to be a princess, so she enters the grand princess challenge where she must complete the Manners Test, the Wisdom Test, and finally—the Sleep Test. Throughout each examination, Jeongsoon is far from flawless but in staying true to herself, wins the favor of the queen and the competition itself.

Includes backmatter on the real-life Korean princesses of the Joseon period.

Jang’s vibrant digital art depicts lush palace grounds, richly colored hanboks, and a royal wedding befitting a princess, all while firmly anchoring the story in Korean history. Young readers will delight in seeing Jeongsoon prevail; her triumph will feel especially poignant for those who share her cultural background.
— Kirkus Reviews
This twist on “The Princess and the Pea” in a historically inspired Korean setting offers a fresh perspective on what makes a fairy-tale princess. [...] Jeongsoon’s wide-eyed compassion is as winning as her eventual, well-deserved triumph.
— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
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Coming December 2, 2025: BLACKPINK: A Little Golden Book Biography