What's not traditional is the heroine, Tiana, who - very refreshingly - fends for herself and doesn't need to be rescued as much as learn. Gone are overblown CG effects what's left is good, old-fashioned hand-drawn animation and storytelling that thrums to the beat of a big, old-fashioned heart. This Disney film has an old-fashioned look, in a good way. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly But while the movie is kid-friendly on the whole, the villain and his shadowy spirit henchmen can be quite scary, and one important character does die, which makes it a little too intense for the youngest viewers. While some have been concerned that the movie might reinforce stereotypes - and it's true that many of the supporting characters feel shallow (and the movie's voodoo subplot is far from subtle) - overall the film does a good job of adding diversity to Disney's hit parade. The New Orleans-set story is a spin on the classic fairy tale about the princess who finds true love when she kisses an enchanted amphibian, but there's more to this tale than just romance: Tiana is a resourceful, hardworking heroine who's a strong role model and is one of the first Disney heroines who doesn't have to be rescued by a man.

Along the way, Emma learns about her mother's past and why she treats her the way she does.Parents need to know that The Princess and the Frog is Disney's first movie to feature an African American heroine, Tiana. As they race to the castle to find Aunt Grassina and enlist her help, Emma, Eadric and the other animals form friendships and overcome fears and prejudices that lead toward a happy ending for everyone. With her kind and friendly ways, Emma befriends the other creatures caged in the witch's house and one of them, a bat named Li'l (short for Li'l Stinker, which is what her mother called her) helps Emma to perform a spell that opens all of the cages, including her own.

Emma and Eadric are captured by Vannabe, the wannabe witch who took over the cottage of Mudine, the witch who turned Eadric into a frog. Her interactions with Eadric are funny and Baker goes for a lot of laughs in this book making it a bit more light hearted and an easier read that Ella Enchanted. However, she also comes to realize that, as a frog, her life in constantly in danger. As a frog, Emma finds freedom in her abilities to make her own decisions and revels in her newfound swimming skills.

The two spend the rest of the book trying to make their way back to the witch who cast the spell in the hopes that she can explain why the curse has not been broken. Instead of the desired effect, Emma herself is turned into a frog. Although she doesn't get all her questions answered, Emma returns to the swamp and Prince Eadric and gives him his kiss.

The frog and the princess book