Customer Reviews

King and King

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Although I had an amazing childhood, and amazing parents, a book like this in my school's library would have added to my self acceptance as a gay boy. For the people who are concerned that schools shouldn't carry this and that parents should explain homosexuality to their children, sometimes the parents don't explain or accept it soon enough. I know this book would have and will help a lot of children if put in school libraries.

I bought this book to help with my grandchildren. They have a Gay Uncle and I wanted to help make them understand. The book was an opening for a conversation that answered some questions they had. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a child that is curious.

Valley Gay Press Book Reviewer: Liz Bradbury (Author of Angel Food and Devil Dogs - A Maggie Gale Mystery)
Like many fairytales of yore, this one deals with the current ruling monarch trying to marry off the next generation in order to pass along the thrown. In "King and King," the Queen wants her son the Prince to get married, whether he wants to or not. "Why, by the time I was your age, I'd been married twice already," she exclaims at him in exasperation.

She invites a series of princesses with a variety of diverse talents (opera singing, juggling etc.) to meet her son and commands him to pick one. Instead, he chooses the brother of one of the princesses and it's love at first sight. They marry and "everyone lives happily ever after." The post wedding kiss, is covered by a red heart.

The book is 32 pages, with very few words per page. It's illustrated in a cut-out collage style with bright colors and funny line drawings. According to editorial notes, its written at a 4 to 8-year-old reading level. This story presents a same-sex attraction and union in a sweet and child-like way. Its story line is direct and playful. And the out come is presented in a matter-of-fact way.

In this plot, the mother wants the son to conform to social norms and tradition. The son rebels and chooses love over the pressure of his family. And fairly quickly, the mother (and the rest of the Kingdom) comes around, and they live happily ever after.

This is the perfect book for supportive, tolerant families to use to be sure their young children know from the start that they will be accepted if they are gay or lesbian. All a parent has to do is read the book to their kid and then say at the end, "You know, if I were the Queen in this story I'd be happy with any person you wanted to marry, as long as she or he was nice and you loved each other."

This is the perfect story to open a family discussion that ends with both -- "In our family we respect all different kinds of families," and, "I want you to know I'll always love and support you, no matter what." That's why "King & King" should be in every child's home and in every library.

I love this book and think the sequal (King & King & Family) is even better. King & King is a fun story, unlike many of the gay children's books with address serious topics or attempt to explain in vitro, etc. King & King just shows another type of family in a happy tale with very cool drawings. Since my children have a very traditional looking family I think it's nice for them to grow up knowing ours isn't the only option. One thing about the drawings (which I do love), though, is they are very complex for very little kids. My son finds them more interesting as he gets older. I recommend this book for gay and straight families alike.

A nice book for childeren where homosexuality not is the item/problem, but where love rules in a happy setting! More languages please so i can send it to all my young parent friends over the world! '

Another book has already hit my "must haves" for its illustrations - Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland's King and King. The images are great because they are rather atypical collage that I find far more interesting than the story. In it, a queen wants to marry off her prince son so that she can retire from ruling. Turns out he isn't really interested in the princesses paraded in front of him, but a princess' brother makes his heart throb. The feeling is mutual and the two marry. What seems to have caused all the controversy is the very last page - even after the "and everyone lived happily ever after" page. On it, the two princes kiss (we assume, as a heart is covering their lips).

This book was also at the public library, but had been placed in the Parent/Teacher section - making it more difficult to find (I needed help to find the section and then took about five minutes within those shelves to locate the book). I'm pretty sure this storm would have blown over had the kissing scene been eliminated. Oh, and the sequel (which I have not been able to find) where the two go on a honeymoon to the jungle and their dream of raising a child comes true because a runaway hides in their suitcase and they discover the kid when they get home. Yah!

(...) I understand that parents have a right to monitor what their child is reading (and I think its great that parents do that), but really this book could be an opportunity to talk to you children about Homosexuality (maybe not in those words exactly), and begin to prepare the for the world full of different people with a varity of lifestyles. Isn't that what this book is really about. Isn't that the purpose of childrens book to entertain, but also to teach them lessons, and ecourage conversations with their parents. Can we afford to be so narrow minded with our future generations?

Wow, this book has such fantastic pictures and the story is so adorable! I always love a book about love... Keep them coming please! I would love to read more!

Everyone is talking about this book and it deserves all the hype. So many people can't get enough of it. SUCH a dear sweet story.

I bought this book because I was getting so sick of hearing my daughter drone on about the marrying of princes and princesses, kings and queens. This is a child who exists in a world of same-gender couples and post-modern definitions of marriage and partnerhip. I discovered it while researching books that feature same-gender relationships to include in our collection so that our kids' bookcases will truly reflect their world.

The art is layered and textured and sophisticated, but still very age-appropriate and accessible. Exposing kids to this kind of illustration can only deepen their engagement with art and expand their aesthetic capacity.

This book should be in every pre-K and kindergarten classroom in this country. It is simple and straightforward. The fact that it is rooted in a fairy tale (no pun intended) format makes it the perfect antidote to the princess agenda with which a certain entertainment empire is currently poisoning generations of innocent girls and their parents.

Ignore all the bad reviews and open your minds! This is a wonderful book and story. The authors and illustrators do a beautiful job of telling the story of Prince who cannot find his true love in the choices the Queen provides him. There is no corruption in this book. It is a tale of love and the prince in the story just happens to fall in love with another prince. I have read this to my 3 year old son and he enjoys the story. A very good read for all ages.