One day, Hoppie the frog was sitting in the sun on his favorite lily pad, soaking up the warm rays, watching the world go by. Soon he noticed a piece of paper floating by. He grabbed the paper and started to read it.

He could read, Hootie the owl had made a point of teaching all the Puddle children how to read, write and do their sums. On the piece of paper was the story of how the Princess kissed a frog and turned him into a handsome Prince.

Hoppie closed his eyes, and thought. Perhaps if a Princess kissed him he would turn into a Prince as well. All day, he sat dreaming of becoming a Prince. But what Princess would ever want to kiss him?

Suddenly he let out a large "Ribbit". Why, Puddle Town had it's own Puddle Princess. Off Hoppie went to Princess the Bear's house, and when he explained what he wanted, Princess, without hesitation, gave Hoppie a huge kiss. Hoppie sat there, and waited and waited, but no matter how he tried, he did not turn into a Prince.

After a while, Princess leaned over and gave Hoppie an even bigger kiss. "Don't worry Hoppie" she said. "You'll always be a Prince to me."

Barry Eva 2005