Once upon a time, in the days of castles and witches and magic spells, there lived a king and queen who longed for a child. When at last their wish was granted, there was joyous celebration throughout the land. The child was as lovely a princess as ever cried.

Now it does not generally matter if a king forgets to invite somebody to his infant's christening—but he must be mindful of whom he forgets. Unfortunately it was the king's own sister who was overlooked, and she was a witch. After waiting in vain for an invitation, she made up her mind to go anyway and make the whole family miserable.

In one evil moment, the atrocious witch-aunt cast a spell and deprived the child of all her gravity. It was no small matter. The little girl floated through the air like a dandelion seed. She laughed when she should have cried. Even for a princess, a life of lightweightedness and light-headedness can present royal problems.

Distinguished fantasy writer Robin McKinley has carefully preserved the fluid style and buoyant spirit of MacDonald's famous nineteenth-century story. Stunning watercolors by Katie Thamer Treherne add just the right touch of majesty—and levity— to this captivating classic.

From the dust jacket