Ann Estelle feels she would be perfect for the role of queen in the class play.

In Queen of the Class, Ann Estelle anxiously awaits to find out who her teacher, Mrs. McGilligan has chosen to play each of the parts in the class play. Of course, she sees herself as being cast as the queen. There can be no other way, until it isn't her name called as queen. Instead, she has been chosen to act as the play's stage manager. Her teacher feels that Ann Estelle's true talents lie there. By working through her disappointment, Ann Estelle learns that doing her best at whatever task makes her feel like a queen.

This is a beautiful picture book. How can it not be when it is illustrated by Mary Engelbreit? I read this separately to my daughters and they were both captivated by the story and the pictures. My 3-year-old usually can't go a single page without asking a question, but she was (mostly) patiently listening throughout.

The lessons in this book are excellent. Ann Estelle is mortified and pouty when she learns that Josephine will act as the queen, but she takes on her role as stage manager with creativity and heart. She learned something about herself by accepting what her teacher saw from the very beginning. It's okay to feel disappointed when things don't go your way. It's what you do with those feelings that is important. Because Ann Estelle put her heart into her role, her shining moment was all the more brilliant because it was without a jeweled crown or red velvet cape.

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