Prince & Knight

A prince of marriageable age looks far and wide for a partner who sings the same tune. "Handsome and sincere," the prince accompanies his parents to meet ladies from nearby kingdoms. While the royals are away, a fire-breathing dragon ravages their home kingdom. The prince races home to protect his realm only to find a knight in shining armor battling alongside him. The two work together to defeat the dragon, but in the process, the prince loses his grip and nearly falls to his doom. The visored knight sweeps in to catch the prince, takes off his helmet to reveal his identity, and the two instantly realize their connection. Villagers and royals alike cheer for the two men's relationship and, soon, wedding. Lewis' lush colors and dramatic sequencing clearly show her background in animation and lend a timeless, Disney-like quality to the story. The art notably does not shy away from depicting the intimacy between the men, keeping it on par with images of heterosexual relationships that already dominate children's media. Though the royal family is white, the happy villagers and the prince's new betrothed add some necessary racial diversity to the mix. Victorious-it may even usurp King & King (2001) as the premier queer-friendly fairy tale for this age set. (Picture book. 4-8)-- "Kirkus Reviews, starred review"
K-Gr 2-Haack and Lewis have created a fairy tale in rhyme about a prince who is looking for a partner. The king and queen help their son meet many young ladies in the kingdom, but he is not interested in any of them. After much deliberation, he decides to leave the kingdom to consider his future. While he is gone, a dragon threatens the royal family and villagers. The prince and knight vanquish the dragon and realize they are perfect for one another. The king and queen are so happy their son has found true love. The digital illustrations are rich in color and depth. This is an illuminating fairy tale for young readers to be able to see that not every prince would like to marry a princess. VERDICT A great addition to any library or classroom, especially where fairy tales are in demand.-April Sanders, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL-- "School Library Journal"