Princess Amari is nervous enough about her first day at a new school in the kingdom of Evergreen. Then a trail of dropped peanuts leads a small bear cub straight to her bookbag, and everything changes. An unexpected friendship is just the beginning, because a far greater surprise is headed for Evergreen, and Amari will need courage she never knew she had.

Age Range  6–10

Category  Children (ages 4–8)

Reading Level  Early chapter book to middle grade, ages 6–10, with accessible prose suitable for read-aloud or independent reading by confident young readers

Ideal Reader  Young readers who love princess stories with heart and substance—fans of books like Princess Truly, Islandborn, and Princess Grace—who want to see a relatable, grounded Black princess navigating family, friendship, animals, and gentle magic in an adventurous yet heartwarming story

Some friendships begin where you least expect them.

Princess Amari Agnes-Elizabeth Crystal has just moved to the kingdom of Evergreen, where her father has become king. Tomorrow brings a new school, new faces, and a question that keeps her awake: what if no one wants to be her friend?

Amari is not a typical princess. She loves animals, roasted peanuts with her grandmother, and lying in the castle grass listening to the ocean. Her warmth and kindness are her greatest gifts, though she does not yet know how powerful those gifts truly are.

On her very first day of school, a trail of dropped peanuts leads to an unexpected visitor: a small brown bear cub who follows Amari straight into the library. Suddenly, the new princess everyone was just getting to know is at the center of a commotion she never planned. The headlines practically write themselves.

But this chance encounter is only the beginning. As Amari discovers a bond she never imagined, she will face surprises far greater than a bear cub in a bookbag. Something no one saw coming is headed for Evergreen, and it will take all of Amari's courage, heart, and a superpower she has not yet discovered to protect the family and kingdom she loves.

Amari and Peanut is an uplifting, heartwarming tale of friendship, bravery, and finding your strength in the most surprising places.