Princes Don't Practise
Will be published approx. on 13. August 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
32 pages
978-1-0350-8247-6 (ISBN)
Description
Meet a pompous young prince, who believes he can do anything - without ever needing to practise! That is until he meets a wise, retired witch who teaches him the most magical lesson . . .
Prince Lupin has jousted and feasted and now he's BORED. But when he decides to spend the afternoon 'helping' the gardener and the palace cook, he leaves a trail of chaos and destruction behind him. After all, it takes practise to become good at something, even if you are a prince!
After an embarrassing musical performance live on stage, Prince Lupin flees into the forest where he meets someone rather special - a retired witch with a passion for pottery. With her patience, perseverance and friendship Prince Lupin finally learns that practise makes magic . . . and that it helps to have manners too!
Fantastically warm and funny verse from award-winning poet and writer, Kathryn Simmonds, with richly detailed illustrations from Becky Colvin, the winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2023 and creator of The Great Green Island.
Princes Don't Practise is an incredibly funny and relatable tale with an important message for all - practise makes magic! Perfect for anyone who struggles with NOT being instantly perfect, which is most children.
Prince Lupin has jousted and feasted and now he's BORED. But when he decides to spend the afternoon 'helping' the gardener and the palace cook, he leaves a trail of chaos and destruction behind him. After all, it takes practise to become good at something, even if you are a prince!
After an embarrassing musical performance live on stage, Prince Lupin flees into the forest where he meets someone rather special - a retired witch with a passion for pottery. With her patience, perseverance and friendship Prince Lupin finally learns that practise makes magic . . . and that it helps to have manners too!
Fantastically warm and funny verse from award-winning poet and writer, Kathryn Simmonds, with richly detailed illustrations from Becky Colvin, the winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2023 and creator of The Great Green Island.
Princes Don't Practise is an incredibly funny and relatable tale with an important message for all - practise makes magic! Perfect for anyone who struggles with NOT being instantly perfect, which is most children.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 3 years
Dimensions
Height: 280 mm
Width: 224 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-8247-6 (9781035082476)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Kathryn Simmonds is a poet and author of picture books, including Be My Sunflower (Walker Books) Twenty Bears (Bloomsbury) and Trouble at the Bug Hotel (Walker). She has written all sorts of things - stories for radio, questions for quiz machines, books of poems, sketch comedy, a novel, and now picture books. Kathryn's husband is also a writer and they have too many books in their house. Kathryn's lives with her family in Norfolk, where she loves the beach but is afraid of the seagulls.
Becky Colvin studied illustration at The University of West England in Bristol and went on to win the prestigious Macmillan Prize for Illustration in 2023, publishing her debut picture book, The Great Green Island, in 2025. Becky loves telling stories, capturing both the quiet and the exceptional moments in life and she lives in Bristol.
Becky Colvin studied illustration at The University of West England in Bristol and went on to win the prestigious Macmillan Prize for Illustration in 2023, publishing her debut picture book, The Great Green Island, in 2025. Becky loves telling stories, capturing both the quiet and the exceptional moments in life and she lives in Bristol.