From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-- Two knights, both wanting more room, get suited up in their armor and confront each other, saying, `` `I must have your castle, sir!' '' The resulting battle consists of trading rounds with various weapons such as ``twangsuckers'' and ``pikeypokes.'' But while they are busy fighting, they don't notice their castles being struck by lightning and burned by fire-eating dragons. Soon there are only cows left grazing on the hillsides. When the two knights finally see this, they decide to build a new castle together and live there as friends. Both children who are intrigued by weapons and knights and adults who wish to convey a message of peace will enjoy this book. It is concisely yet gracefully written. The conflict, while somewhat abruptly resolved, is given complexity by the intriguing dual natures of Sir Cob and Sir Filbert: one is associated with the sun and one the moon, so in that way they are opposites, but they are also very deliberately undifferentiated, with identical motives and speech. The illustrations, with their soft glowing colors, add both attractiveness and humor. There is a rounded, weighty look to the people and surrounding countryside that lends itself to the medieval setting. Since there are relatively few good picture books about peace (two by Lionni are excellent: Six Crows 1988 and It's Mine (1986 both Knopf), this book will be welcome addition to most collections. --Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
The peace message reduced to essentials: each envying the other his castle, two knights do battle till there are ``only cows where their castles had been,'' then decide to settle down as friends. The war is more cartoonish than gruesome--the logic of the idea is what counts here; but the illustrations, in sturdy black line and outspoken colors, are handsomely designed and, in their creatively selected details, more eloquent than the text. An acceptable additional title on a perennially knotty theme. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
