I'm torn between the hilarious Yiddish fairy (at least four stars) and the poor, useless princess—"love-starved" being secret code, of course, for "exists only as a catalyst for various citizens of the kingdom to get what they deserve" (beaten and kicked out of the palace, to marry a princess, and to live in the castle, respectively)(no stars). So, we compromise.

This hilarious retelling of the French folktale of the Three Perfect Peaches is narrated by unorthodox fairy Libby Gaborchick (spelled with one "c," please!), giving it a distinctly Jewish flavor. When Princess Vera is taken ill, Libby diagnoses her problem immediately: lack of love. The cure? Three perfect peaches, and marriage to the man who delivers them. Enter three brothers (naturally): Sheldon, Harvey and Marvin. The older two are "big hunks," but their lack of filial devotion, and rudeness to their elders - "This is the way to talk to a stranger?" asks Libby, after meeting Harvey - doom them to failure, in their quest to win the princess. It is the youngest - skinny but kind-hearted Marvin - who succeeds, with the help of a special whistle...

Fractured fairy-tales have to be done just right, demonstrating an understanding of, and respect for, the original material, while also presenting an original and entertaining innovation. Sometimes they work, and sometimes (as with Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude) they fall flat. This retelling by Dan Bar-El definitely works, and I found myself laughing throughout. I was surprised, actually, at how much I enjoyed Such a Prince, as I don't usually care for the more "cartoony" fairy-tales, and the cover illustration had me convinced that this was such a one. I was also reminded, in the course of reading, of the Norwegian tale, Herding the King's Hares, which I just read the other day, in the D'Aulaires' East of the Sun and West of the Moon. I'm certainly glad I gave this a chance, and recommend it to fairy-tale fans with a good sense of humor! ( )

Lively, entertaining retelling of the "three peaches" folktale with vibrant illustrations. This book is good for elementary-school-aged kids and positively begs to be read aloud. See a full review at http://www.bostonbibliophile.com/2008/03/jewish-literature-challenge-4-of-5.html ( )