Puzzling plot though beautifully illustrated.

I'm a fan of both author and illustrator but was left scratching my head at this collaboration.

A princess who doesn't like bonnets and dresses, is always being told off, and misses her father the King who is absent since the death of the Queen.

But 5-year-old Clara finds an ogre in a shoe who becomes her best friend (even though he doesn't talk and we have no idea if he's an ogre or not). And when the friend reveals himself, he and his friends chase away all the people who tell Clara off and life is good again. More so when the King returns with a method of completing the family again.

It didn't feel at all like a professionally plotted story to me. I feel I might have missed something? I always love Gravett's illustrations, but they just couldn't make the text make much sense.

There's a great little fairy tale at the heart of this potentially, with these names and writing histories in mind, but this disappointed.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

A funny little story about a princess who likes exploring nature and being outside rather than being a traditional princess.
Lovely illustrations but I wasn't particularly engaged by the story

Two world-beating creators combine in this picture book, which gives us… well, surprisingly little. It doesn't even feature an ogre – only a character that isn't one, as the title kind of gives us. Here is a Princess, who doesn't want to be one – rejecting the prim and proper look for shoeless, hatless galumphing and adventures, and storing critters under her bed that the servants hate. In her ideal world, they would be gone and her father, the King, would be much more attentive and present, oh – and her mother would still be alive. Can the non-ogre have any say in this?

It does look wonderful, however close-up you look at this, but the story kind of left me cold, not doing that much that seemed new, or bold, or re-readable. I mean yes it's certainly worth one look, but did it grab me? No. There was just as much pull to want to return to this as there was ogre. That being the only surprise here makes me feel that yes the young reader will engage with the girl's plight, but the fact the whole plot is "here's an ogre, no there's not, here's what's wrong, here's it put right, the end" is going to be too evident even to young minds.

I love fairytales with spins, and this gorgeously illustrated book was a joy to read. With themes of caring for other animals, love in the family, being your own unique person and more, there's so much to unpick with a group of children. I will be bringing this in one day to read to my class!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Books for this eCopy to review

The Ogre Who Wasn't was a charming tale about Princess Clara who has lost her mummy. She is very sad and lonely as her father is now not at home much. She makes friends with lots of insects and animals but the Palace staff do not like this and are very strict and cross with her all the time. The Ogre Who Wasn't helps the princess get rid of them all and for her father to come back home with a new mother for Clara so that they can be a family again

I loved the illustrations they are beautiful and it was quite moving that happiness can be found again

The one-time children's Laureate has come up with another winner! The Ogre That Wasn't is the delightful story of a lonely young princess who finds consolation in spending time outdoors.

She does this against the instructions of the strict nanny, the major-domo and the gardener who have been left in charge of taking care of the palace (and her) since her mother's death. Meanwhile her bereaved father, the King, has departed for parts unknown elsewhere in the Kingdom.

But luckily, the princess comes up with a brilliant idea that may solve her problems, after she is helped by the tiny ogre she meets in her garden one day, and the other beasts and bugs who are her friends.

But why is the ogre so small...? Read this charming tale - with its absolutely lovely illustrations - to find out! I give it 4.5 stars.