King and King (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Stern Nijland (Author) "On the tallest mountain above the town lived a queen, the young crown prince, and the crown kitty..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When a grouchy queen tells her layabout son that it's time for him to marry, he sighs, "Very well, Mother.... I must say, though, I've never cared much for princesses." His young page winks. Several unsatisfactory bachelorettes visit the castle before "Princess Madeleine and her brother, Prince Lee" appear in the doorway. The hero is smitten at once. "What a wonderful prince!" he and Prince Lee both exclaim, as a shower of tiny Valentine hearts flutters between them. First-time co-authors and artists de Hann and Nijland matter-of-factly conclude with the royal wedding of "King and King," the page boy's blushing romance with the leftover princess and the assurance that "everyone lives happily ever after." Unfortunately, the multimedia collages are cluttered with clashing colors, amorphous paper shapes, scribbles of ink and bleary brushstrokes; the characters' features are indistinct and sometimes ugly. Despite its gleeful disruption of the boy-meets-girl formula, this alterna-tale is not the fairest of them all. For a visually appealing and more nuanced treatment of diversity in general, Kitty Crowther's recent Jack and Jim is a better choice. Ages 6-up.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grades 3-5--In this postmodern fractured fairy tale, a worn-out and badly beleaguered Queen is ready for retirement. After many hours of nagging, the crown prince, who "never cared much for princesses," finally caves in and agrees to wed in order to ascend the throne. Their search for a suitable bride extends far and wide, but none of the eligible princesses strikes the Prince's fancy, until Princess Madeleine shows up. The Prince is immediately smitten- with her brother, Prince Lee. The wedding is "very special," the Queen settles down on a chaise lounge in the sun, and everyone lives happily ever after. Originally published in the Netherlands, this is a commendable fledgling effort with good intentions toward its subject matter. Unfortunately, though, the book is hobbled by thin characterization and ugly artwork; the homosexual prince comes across as fragile and languid, while the dour, matronly queen is a dead ringer for England's Victoria at her aesthetic worst. Some of the details in the artwork are interesting, including the "crown kitty" performing antics in the periphery. However, that isn't enough to compensate for page after page of cluttered, disjointed, ill-conceived art. The book does present same-sex marriage as a viable, acceptable way of life within an immediately recognizable narrative form, the fairy tale. However, those looking for picture books about alternative lifestyles may want to keep looking for a barrier-breaking classic on the subject.
Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press; illustrated edition edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582460612
• ISBN-13: 978-1582460611
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #190,427 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About Time..., April 27, 2008

By	Maffers87 - See all my reviews

This review is from: King & King (Hardcover)

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.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Open A Dialog, January 10, 2008

By	Valley Gay Press Book Review "VGP Book Reviewer" (Lehigh Valley, PA United States) - See all my reviews

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.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read, December 16, 2008

By	Brenda Davis (Tulsa, Ok. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.