Where is the real Princess in Black? A case of hilarious costume confusion leads some neighborhood trick-or-treaters to discover their inner heroes thanks to the power of a good disguise.It’s a dark and silly night, and Princess Magnolia is wearing her Princess in Black cape and mask over her clothes—just enough to pass as a Halloween costume in a hurry. She can’t wait to go trick-or-treating! This year, Princess in Black costumes are popular, and so are monster disguises, like the little orange guy with horns yelling “GOAT!” as the kids shout “trick or treat!” When the little monster devours an onion, however, along with an eraser and a bar of soap (not to mention a rock), and as he politely asks for a goat at each door, it’s clear to Princess Magnolia that something isn’t quite right. And—oh no—the next house is Duff’s goat shack! With half of her monster-fighting outfit at home, who can come to the poor critters’ rescue? Halloween hijinks meet high-spirited heroics in a special Princess in Black adventure that’s a treat all around.
On sale: July 7, 2026
Age: 5-8 years
Grade: Grades K-3
Page count: 96 Pages
ISBN: 9781536234107
Shannon Hale and Dean Hale are the award-winning husband-and-wife team behind the Princess in Black series, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Shannon Hale is also the author of the Newbery Honor Book
Princess Academy as well as the
New York Times best-selling graphic novels
Real Friends,
Best Friends, and
Friends Forever, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Shannon Hale and Dean Hale live in Salt Lake City, Utah.
LeUyen Pham is the illustrator of the Princess in Black series as well as many other books for children, including
Love Is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer;
Pat-a-Cake by Mary Brigid Barrett;
God’s Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams;
Aunt Mary’s Rose by Douglas Wood; and
Real Friends,
Best Friends, and
Friends Forever by Shannon Hale. LeUyen Pham lives in California.
The narrative unfolds in brief, punchy chapters with controlled vocabulary and plenty of repetition to support emerging readers. . . . Pham’s watercolor-and-ink illustrations brim with motion and good humor. Expressive close-ups and full-bleed spreads heighten both the silliness and the suspense as Magnolia toggles between princess and hero. . . . this Halloween tale offers an inviting middle path between spooky and sweet, delivering a satisfying hero moment without overshadowing the joy of trick-or-treating.
—School Library Journal