The Puppy Prince Read online

  There, she’d said it.

  Pip sank back into the magic beanbag chair. “Wearing royal attire all the time is pretty uncomfortable,” he admitted. “It’s hot.”

  “And itchy!” Itty added.

  Pip laughed.

  “Prince Pip,” Itty began, “what would happen if you didn’t follow every rule in your rule book?”

  “I have no idea,” Pip said with a shrug. Then he smiled. “But I’m willing to find out!”

  Do-Over Day

  The next day Pip and Itty had a plan. They were going to have a do-over day and Itty would show Pip around Lollyland again.

  “Let’s catch a cloud!” Pip exclaimed as soon as breakfast was over.

  Pip was so excited when they got to Goodie Grove that Itty and her friends could barely keep up with him.

  “What do you think of Lollyland syrup?” Esme asked as Pip sampled a third flavor.

  “It’s delicious!” Pip shouted excitedly. The syrup fairy nodded in approval.

  “It’s almost as delicious as Wagmire syrup,” Pip added.

  “HRRRMPH! Excuse me?” The syrup fairy threw down her wand and stomped away.

  “Oh no!” Pip cried. “Sorry! I meant to say it’s just as delicious.”

  “We’d better go before she tells the other fairies.” Itty giggled. So they jumped off their candy rocks and hurried away.

  “Seems like a good time for a dip at Starfish Falls!” Pip said happily.

  Pip loved swimming at Starfish Falls even more than Itty expected. After saying goodbye to Luna, Chipper, and Esme, Itty decided there was time for one more stop on Pip’s tour.

  “This is downtown Lollyland,” Itty explained as they hopped off their cloud. “All the shops, offices, and restaurants are here. Can you guess what my favorite shop is?”

  Pip looked around the bustling main street. He pointed to Bunny’s Best Books.

  “Yup! You guessed right!” Itty beamed. “Let’s go inside. This is Chipper’s family’s store!”

  Inside the store, Chipper’s mom and dad happily greeted Itty.

  “This is my friend, Prince Pip,” Itty said.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Pip,” Mr. and Mrs. Bunny bowed.

  “I love your store!” Pip replied. “And please call me Pip.” He exchanged a smile with Itty. “All my friends do.”

  Friends Forever

  Later that day Itty and Pip headed to the royal dining room for the farewell feast.

  “I wish I could have worn regular clothes,” Pip whispered.

  “Doesn’t a feast require royal attire?” Itty asked with a laugh.

  But Itty and Pip forgot all about their uncomfortable royal clothing when they saw the delicious food on gleaming silver platters. It was truly a feast fit for two kings, two queens, a prince, and a princess.

  Just before dessert, Pip’s parents raised their bowls of water. “We would like to thank you for this visit,” the King said. “You have made us feel so welcome. Please promise to visit us in Wagmire!”

  A little while later, Itty and Pip changed into their comfiest clothes before going on one last playdate with Esme, Chipper, and Luna.

  Pip told them all about Wagmire.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Itty said. “If there’s no cloud travel in Wagmire, how does everyone get around?”

  “Submarines,” Pip replied.

  “What?” Itty, Luna, Chipper, and Esme exclaimed at the same time.

  Pip laughed. “Wagmire has a lot of water, so submarine travel is the fastest way to get around.”

  “Now I really want to visit!” Itty said excitedly. “Are there any royal events coming up?”

  “Actually… there’s a royal ball next month,” Pip said slowly.

  “That’s exciting!” Luna cried.

  Pip shook his head. “Not really. I don’t know how to dance.”

  “Oh, that’s okay,” Itty assured him. “I just attended my first royal ball. I had to perform a dance, and I was so nervous because I didn’t even know how to dance!”

  “What did you do?” Pip asked.

  “Well, my friends helped me a lot,” Itty grinned at Esme, Chipper, and Luna. “And then when the time came, there was sort of a… happy accident,” Itty said.

  Pip raised his eyebrows.

  “I’ll explain another time,” Itty said with a smile. “But for the rest of the ball, I just did what felt natural on the dance floor. I realized it was easiest to dance whatever way felt right to me.”

  “Dancing how it feels right to me,” Pip repeated. “I think I can do that,” he said, and then he shook his tail. Everyone laughed.

  Itty was really glad to see that her new friend had found his old self again.

  1. A prince/princess shall NOT play with their food.

  2. A prince/princess shall NOT tell jokes.

  3. A prince/princess shall NOT get their clothes dirty.

  4. A prince/princess shall NOT go to non-royal locations.

  5. A prince/princess shall NOT play games.

  More from this Series

  Star Showers

  Book 4

  The Cloud Race

  Book 5

  The Un-Fairy

  Book 6

  The Newest Princess

  Book 1

  The Royal Ball

  Book 2

  Keep reading for a preview of

  Star Showers

  by

  Melody Mews

  Knock-knock-knock.

  Someone was knocking on Itty’s open bedroom door. It was the Queen of Lollyland, also known as Itty’s mother.

  “I came to remind you to tidy up your closet, but I see you beat me to it!” Queen Kitty said with a smile.

  “Almost done!” Itty exclaimed.

  “I’ll see you soon for breakfast then, darling,” the Queen replied.

  Even though Itty was the princess of Lollyland, she still had to do chores, like tidying up her closet when it was messy.

  And her closet was definitely messy after Itty’s friend Luna Unicorn left yesterday. The girls had played dress-up and most of Itty’s clothes had landed on the floor. But now everything was back where it belonged.

  Something still isn’t right, Itty thought. She looked more closely. Her dresses were on hangers, and her shoes were neatly stacked on the shoe rack.

  What can it be? Itty wondered. And then she realized exactly what it was. Her tiara. It was gone!

  Continue Reading…

  Star Showers

  Melody Mews

  About the Author and Illustrator

  Melody Mews is a children’s book writer who lives in New York City with her husband and their two cats. Neither of her cats are of royal descent, like Itty Bitty Princess Kitty is, but don’t tell them that because they definitely think they are!

  Ellen Stubbings is a children’s book illustrator and comic artist based in York, UK. She works in a tiny studio, often accompanied by her large tuxedo cat, Fig. Ellen is obsessed with all things cute, and this is reflected in her illustrations.

  Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids

  www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Melody-Mews

  www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Ellen-Stubbings

  Little Simon

  Simon & Schuster, New York

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  LITTLE SIMON

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  First Little Simon hardcover edition May 2020. Copyright © 2020 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any for
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  Jacket design by Laura Roode

  Jacket illustrations by Ellen Stubbings

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  Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available for this title from the Library of Congress.

  ISBN 978-1-5344-6358-5 (hc)

  ISBN 978-1-5344-6357-8 (pbk)

  ISBN 978-1-5344-6359-2 (eBook)