King and King

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
De Haan, Linda and Nijland Stern. 2002. KING AND KING. Tricycle Press. ISBN 9781582460611

2. PLOT SUMMARY
King and King is a fairy tale about a Queen wanting her son, Prince Bertie, to marry so she can pass the throne to him. The problem is Prince Bertie doesn’t like any of the Princesses that are presented to him. When all hope is almost lost, Princess Madeleine arrives with her brother, Prince Lee. Prince Bertie replies, “Oh, what a wonderful prince.” The two princes fall in love and get married. After the wedding, the Queen retires and the two princes are known as the King and King and live happily ever after.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
King and King have the familiar fairy tale element where, “everyone lives happily ever after.” The difference in this story is the surprising twist, when the prince falls in love with another prince. Same sex- families and those who are open minded and want to show their children other diversities will delight in this story. For others, this book is controversial due to its homosexual theme. This story does present readers with the idea that everyone is different and it doesn’t matter who you fall in love with as long as you are happy.
The illustrations are vividly done with bold and colorful watercolor pictures with some being done in a collage form. Most of the pictures help to enhance the text but the pages that contained the collages didn’t seem to make a very good connection to the text.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
School Library Journal: “The book does present same-sex marriage as a viable, acceptable way of life within an immediately recognizable narrative form, the fairy tale.”

Booklist: “Here's a winning Dutch import for parents looking for an original tale with a gay slant.”

Kirkus Review: “A joyful celebration that firmly challenges the assumptions established and perpetuated by the entire canon of children's picture books.”

5. CONNECTION
De Haan, Linda. KING & KING & FAMILY. ISBN 9781582461137
Parnell, Pete & Richardson, Justin. AND TANGO MAKES THREE. ISBN 9780689878459
Gregg, Jennifer. FLYING FREE. ISBN 9781594579721