The Nutmeg Princess

Enjoyed by readers of age: 6 to 8

Read the most by: boys and girls

A powerful modern fable about friendship, faith, and the nature of beauty. Best friends Aglo and Petal live on a small island in the Caribbean called the Isle of Spice (based on Grenada). When Petite Mama tells them the story of a mysterious nutmeg princess whom only she has seen, Aglo and Petal decide they must go and ind the elusive princess themselves. The beautiful princess appears, but Aglo is the only one who can see her. As the rest of the village rushes up the mountain in the hopes of acquiring the princess’s riches, Aglo and Petal learn that greed and selfishness aren’t rewarded, and they receive an unexpected reward of their own—the knowledge that true riches come from experiencing beauty and selfessness.

First published in 1992, The Nutmeg Princess has become a well-loved classic. The idea for the story was the result of a school visit where a little girl put up her hand and asked if Keens-Douglas knew a story about a black princess. At the time, he didn’t, but it was all he needed to inspire him. This new edition is fully revised, with condensed text and stunning revised art from Annouchka Galouchko.