The runaway princess

This fizzy, inventive graphic trio of stories stars Robin, a princess who, in the first episode, skips out on her tutor Elias's etiquette class and sets off for the Aquatic Carnival in nearby Noor, finding four lost brothers on the way. ("I'm Paul," the oldest says, politely. "This is Matt, Lee, and Omar.") The five soon reach Noor, the City of Water, where a mermaid floating in a bubble bewitches Paul and the younger boys disappear ("You sure get lost a lot," Robin says, in the Smiths' natural-sounding translation). In all three tales, new creatures and dilemmas appear as fast as the old ones are dispatched, with opportunities for readers to help out now and then ("Use your finger to find out which path they should follow"). Evildoers are often reassuringly incompetent (one makes a gingerbread house with salt instead of sugar), and famous characters from classic children's books make cameo appearances ("I'm Mr. Mole, and this is Mr. Badger"). Author- illustrator Troïnowski's loopy drawings, brilliant colors, and hectic pacing make this book the perfect companion to while away a long journey. Ages 8--12. (Jan.)