Vladimir Vagin

In this amusing, eloquently told story, created by Katherine Paterson specifically for artist Vladimir Vagin to illustrate with his beautifully detailed watercolors, there was born a wise little princess who was different from everyone else. Miranda had been granted the gift of being wide awake all her waking hours. Thus, unlike those before her, she was able to see that the peasants of the kingdom were overworked and starving while the nobles lived in selfish luxury. Miranda, with confidence and determination, forms an innovative plan to help her people overcome their oppression, and in the process reveals the power of words to vanquish ignorance and bring about change.

--- Added from Google Books ---

In this amusing, eloquently told story, created by Paterson specifically for Russian artist Vladimir Vagin to illustrate with his beautifully detailed watercolors. After the death of her self-absorbed parents, a clever princess shows the peasants in her country how to make better lives for themselves.