“Complex and gripping. . . . Newcomers to Arcadia will be captivated by the rich history, while those familiar with it will find that Sophia’s legend grants them a new perspective on the earlier tales.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “[The Lizard Princess] encourages big-picture thinking. . . . The combination of a straightforward quest complicated by hindsight, with magic, science, and meditations on the building of myths and the role of stories, makes for a book not like much else out there. . . . Gorgeously written and complex.” —New York Journal of Books “This fantasy quest lends a hand toward making our contemporary world a little better.”—Foreword Reviews “The impressive The Lizard Princess continues Tod Davies' imaginative History of Arcadia series with her trademark brilliant storytelling.”—Largehearted Boy "Look inside this world and find wonder."—Kate Bernheimer, editor of Fairy Tale Review "Blending the magic of fairy tales with the great existential mysteries, Tod Davies leads us into a phantasmagorical world that resurrects the complex lore of times past with vibrant narrative energy."—Maria Tatar, editor of The Cambridge Companion to Fairy Tales "Imaginative."—Jack Zipes, author of The Irresistible Fairy Tale "Innovative form and spellbinding content . . . Stories, as Tod Davies's History of Arcadia novels ultimately suggest, serve as a civilization's backbone, and it is therefore in stories too that we can discover the potential for fundamental change and a better society."—Marvels & Tales Bittersweet. Lush. Human. The Lizard Princess crosses mountains, oceans, deserts, and the Moon Itself to meet her fate and the fate of Arcadia on the Road of the Dead. Her reward is the Key that opens the door to the Domain of Life where wisdom trumps knowledge, as it should in all good tales about the world, whether Arcadia's, or our own. Tod Davies is the author of Snotty Saves the Day and Lily the Silent, the first two books in The History of Arcadia series, as well as the cooking memoirs Jam Today: A Diary of Cooking With What You've Got and Jam Today Too: The Revolution Will Not Be Catered. Unsurprisingly, her attitude toward literature is the same as her attitude toward cooking—it's all about working with what you have to find new ways of looking and new ways of being.

Grandpa called and needed help catching a lizard. Teddy, Charlie, and Lily run to his house to help. The boys try to catch the lizard, but Lily is the one who figures it out.

The Princess and the Lizard is the story of an unconventional and inquisitive princess. She is a young explorer who prefers outdoor explorations to proper manners and High Tea. In poetry rather than prose, her adventures, determination, and strong spirit come to life. Page by page we learn about her daring discoveries and meet her outdoor friends, most notably a lizard who would prefer to be left alone. Underneath the make-believe story of a princess befriending a lizard are themes that encourage a child's imagination, and embolden the natural curiosity of an innocent soul. In it are combined traditional elements of a medieval kingdom, with the spunk of a 21st century, wild and free, nature-loving girl. This sets the stage for the main character to challenge the norms of what might be expected of her, in order to embrace a life full of excitement and discovery. She is strengthened by the freedom that comes from being allowed to be herself, and with this freedom she gains boldness and bravery, and even a new friend.

Ananse the spider thinks he will marry the daughter of the village chief, but instead he is outsmarted by Lizard.

Poor Napoleon. Despite being the spiffiest chameleon in the jungle, he has no friends. And why is that? Because no one can see him! As everyone knows, chameleons blend in with their surroundings. Napoleon is practically invisible. So he tries every trick he can think of, from waving his arms to weaving a welcome mat to making funny faces, to get the other jungle animals to see him. But it's his final trick that really gets him noticed.

This book covers the time from 1547-1620. Which is experienced through the eyes of what may be considered an average family of the time, by the name of Estevan. The first half of the book involves the father, Francisco Estevan, and his struggles of choice between Priesthood or a young female Huguenot. Whether he should stand with the French or Spanish, and then there was the evil Frenchman John Gyrot who refused to give him a moments peace. The second half of the book, begins with the English pirate Sir Francis Drake destroying the village of Francisco and abducting his sons. This second half will be about his son Philip, and his enslavement for the next 20 years at sea. It will be the next forty years through great hardships and adventures before this family is again reunited.

Original Japanese edition published in 2005 by Hakusensha Inc., Tokyo.