APRIL 1989

PRINCESS MARBEL was first published in 1989 by Mrs. Carson’s second grade homeroom.

If you’d like me to read it to you, then please scroll down for an annotated author’s guide.

Once upon a time there was a princess named Marbel. She was very rich. Once, she heard her people were sad and wanted Marbel to be queen because the queen was mean.

The classic storytelling structure sets up an immediate conflict: the mean mother and an unhappy daughter.

In the art, the princess stands below her mother figure, indicating subservience, and holding up her small crown as an indication that she is trying to fulfill her obligation to her mother. But she’s drawn literally a level below - indicating that her efforts haven’t put her on even footing yet.

A beautiful garden tempts from a window: inaccessible to the girl within, whose castle walls are entirely blank. We get the sense that she knows there is more to life than her existence.

Marbel loved animals, especially kittens and birds and dogs. She had 200 kittens …

200 kittens.

Reasonable - royalty level amounts of kittens.

… 400 birds …

… and 600 dogs! But she was not happy.

Her favorite kitten, Erin, was sick, and she loved Erin. Her favorite bird was sick! Her name was Jeannette. Her favorite puppy was sick. Her name was Stephanie.

Marbel was so sad. One day Marbel ran away on her horse, Ryann. Ryann was a white horse, and had such a beautiful lightbrown mane and tail. She bought …

… medicine, food and clothing. Also, a kitchen maid came with pots and pans. They were alone with just each other for company. Well, if you were out there you …

… would feel lonely and they felt that way. After two days a prince came along and took them to his castle. In many years they got married and soon they had a …

I like how I haven’t even drawn the dude at this point.

… little girl and her name was Elizabeth. She had blue eyes, golden hair, and was loved by everyone. She was even loved by animals!

One day a relay was held for …

If you know Sweet Valley High, then you know who this character is based off. Every brunette girl in the 80s knew instinctively that being a blonde was likely just much better.

… marriage for her! The winner would marry her. A young herd lad wanted to win. So he came and won. She really loved him. They were married. As for …

… the mother of the herd lad, she too moved in the castle, and they all lived happily.