The Princess Knight [Hardcover]

Cornelia Funke (Author), Kerstin Meyer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004 | Age Range: 3 and up

Cornelia Funke, author of the international best-seller THE THIEF LORD, makes her brilliant debut as a picture-book writer with this winning tale of a young princess's adventure!

Violet is a young princess who wishes she could show the world that she is just as brave and strong as her brothers. But her strict father insists that she get married, and her brothers only mock her when she wants to be included in their fun. So Violet decides to use her intelligence and bravery to show everyone--once and for all--what she's made of. Disguising herself as a boy, Violet takes part in a knights' jousting tournament. When she wins the contest, she reveals her true identity--and wins the prize of freedom!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Cornelia Funke, author of the bestselling Thief Lord, tells a short, sweet story about a brave little princess with a mind of her own.

King Wilfred's three sons learn to become big, bad knights the way any boisterous boys would: "They learned riding and jousting, fighting with swords...They learned how to stride proudly and how to shout very loudly." At her father's urging, young Princess Violetta tries to keep up with the same lessons, "even though she was so small she could hardly lift a sword at all!" Despite her brothers' teasing and laughing, Violetta continues to practice--even secretly at night. Soon enough, Violetta becomes "so nimble and quick" that when practicing with her brothers, "their spears and swords just hit the empty air." But then King Wilfred does the unthinkable: For his Violetta's sixteenth birthday, he plans a jousting tournament designed to bring "the bravest knights in the land flocking to the castle" to win…her hand in marriage! Violetta is outraged: "You want me to marry some dimwit in a tin suit?" Fortunately, of course, the princess finds a way to come to her own rescue.

Funke does well in this picturebook format, but Kerstin Meyer's delicate and extremely cute illustrations set the quiet, measured (but still fun) tone of the Princess Knight, as she takes inspiration from a bona fide medieval piece of art--the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2--King Wilfred teaches his daughter the same knightly skills he has taught his three sons. Mocked by her brothers for being smaller and weaker, Violetta grows more determined to succeed. She creeps out at night to practice her sword fighting and horseback riding. With perseverance, the "nimble and quick" Princess becomes an expert jouster. In honor of her 16th birthday, the king announces a tournament with the victory prize being her hand in marriage. Outraged and appalled, Violetta cries: "You want meto marry some dimwit in a tin suit? Just look at your own knights! They whip their horses and they can't even write their own names!" Taking matters into her own hands, she disguises herself in armor and poses as "Sir No-Name." After defeating the other contenders, she reveals her true identity and chooses her prize--independence. Meyer's ink-and-watercolor illustrations run across the pages in panels and were inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry. Children will pore over the medieval details. Pair this spirited tale with Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess (Turtleback, 1980) for a discussion of gender stereotypes.--Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
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Product Details

• Age Range: 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Chicken House; First US Edition edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439536308
• ISBN-13: 978-0439536301
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cornelia Funke is one of today's most beloved writers of magical stories for children. She is the author of The Thief Lord, Dragon Rider, Inkheart, Inkspell, the Ghosthunters series, When Santa Fell to Earth, and Igraine the Brave. She lives with her family in Los Angeles, California, in a house full of books.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funky Funke August 3, 2005

By E. R. Bird HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

You know, if American children's authors aren't careful, Cornelia Funke is going to become the number one most sought after children's author the minute J.K. Rowling finishes Harry Potter #7. She's already become the number one most sought after German children's author (a cupcake to anyone who can name me another who's as well-known in America) and she solidifies her standing every day with books like, "The Princess Knight". I admittedly was a little shocked by parents pooh-poohing the book because it begins with the death of the title character's mother. How on earth do these parents read books like, "Snow White" or "Cinderella" to their kids? Or do they just rely on Disney films instead? And what about such classic picture book titles as "Babar"? Does any and every book get thrown out if someone kicks the bucket? Whatever the case, this is a fine fine book that gives the world a strong-hearted heroine who knows what she wants and how to get it. Think of it as a kind of "Alanna" by Tamora Pierce, but for younger girls.

When King Wilfred the Worthy's three sons were born, he knew exactly how to raise them. They were taught fencing and fighting and horseplay and good manners. When his daughter Violetta was born, however, he hadn't a clue. His wife died in childbirth and rather than ask anyone else for help, Wilfred decided to raise his daughter like his sons. Of course, being a girl she was physically smaller than her brothers. Only through constant training was she able to carry her own and win their amazed respect. When her sixteenth birthday comes up, Wilfred informs his daughter that there will be a jousting tournament for her hand on that day. Apparently he hasn't completely forgotten that Vi's actually a girl. For her part, Violetta is more than a little miffed. Quoth she, "You want me to marry some dimwit in a tin suit? Just look at your own knights! They whip their horses and they can't even write their own names!". This speech doesn't go down well with daddy dearest, but on the day in question Violetta concocts a plan that not only gets her off the hook but allows her to do what she wants for the rest of her life.

I'm amused by the people that dislike this book because of the fact that Vi does indeed marry at the end. The direct quote from the book is, "And who did she marry? Well, if you must know, many years later, she married the rose gardener's son and lived happily ever after". She marries on her own terms when she wants to and who she wants to. So has the book sold out because it ends with the main character getting a man? Dude, the book would have sold out if the author had felt that the character might have wanted a man but shouldn't have one for the greater good. I'm all for books in which the female protagonists live their own lives without reliance on a male in some way. This, however, felt right and worked within the context of the story. Also, there's the fact that the book says, "if you must know", as if this was her own personal choice and not some gossip to be bandied about by loose tongues.

Admittedly, for all the fine writing, Funke's book wouldn't have been half so successful if the book hadn't sported illustrator Kerstin Meyer's pictures. Using the Bayeux Tapestry as her inspiration, the pictures here have a kind of spunk and verve that allow the whole enterprise to work smoothly. The picture of Violetta bawling out her father is worth the price of admission alone.

So, you've got a great story with delightful pictures and a wonderful message about women and their work. There's nothing cloying or cutesy in Funke's tale. Just honest-to-goodness well-written storytelling and a main character with enough verve and oomph to last four or five picture books more, should the author so deem it a good idea (hint hint). A wonderful addition to any and every library. Definitely consider reading it alongside "The Paperbag Princess".

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Why the Wide Range of Ratings?? -- a review of "The Princess Knight" November 26, 2006

By Pam T TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

Quite a varied selection of ratings [Ramseelbird 5 stars; mom's 2.5] and you might be wondering why and how this could be. In my opinion the answer is evident: they've got the age range wrong. This book is not suitable for four year olds, nor six year olds in my opinion (and I have one of the latter). Instead I would put the age range as 9 and up.

My first reason for suggesting this book is not for young children is that the mother dies in childbirth. As multiple mom's have suggested, little children don't understand this concept and don't want to. In fact, most 4 year olds don't even know where babies come from, so how can this make sense.

My second reason for suggesting that this book is for older children is that the arguments and theme are fairly sophisticated and not in line with little kid thinking. At five, little girls don't really understand the social complexities of gender and empowerment. Thus the struggle to compete and find one's way amongst the older males is lost on them.

Now-- for older children I think it would be a good book. The story would no doubt be fresh to them (it certainly wasn't for me) and they could relate to the princesse's accomplishments, and the unfairness of the brothers in the first part of the book, and the father at the end of the story.

So in my opinion....

Three Stars. Despite some rave reviews, I thought the plot was hackneyed. Definitely been there, done that. Okay Read-aloud. Okay art. Would be a good book for the 9 and up age group, but really not all that suitable for small fry and younger children.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute Girl Power Story April 7, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is an enjoyable story, especially for little girls. It crushes gender stereotypes while making you laugh. Within a funny, endearing story is the lesson that girls aren't helpless. I still like reading the traditional fairy tales (Cinderella, et al) to my daughter, but it's nice balancing them with an empowering story like this--and especially "The Paper Bag Princess" (my daughter's favorite).