Cartea năsoaselor

Three princesses seek a prince, poetry, and beauty in a strange kingdom. Carina has a large nose. Sandrina has a larger one, and Hermina has the largest. Alexandra Rusu tells their story in a funny fairy tale for children. The kingdom prizes looks and repeats tired ideas. Its rules keep changing.

Maurizio Furlini comes by balloon to help the princesses. He tends his whiskers and claws while taking up their cause. His tasks take him through swamps full of bad verse. He makes deals in pharmacies, or shops that sell drugs. He also holds beauty contests.

The tale uses wit to question the quest for thrills and personal gain. It takes aim at vague beliefs and false promises. It also mocks goals based on looks alone. Rusu sees it as a tale about size and not fitting in. Her characters try to change to fit their world. Yet each time they change, the world demands the reverse. This edition has colour art by Ioana Vallimarescu.