King and King

By Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland

Reviewed by Julia Ransohoff, High School Student Writer

King and King tells the story of a queen anxious to find a princess for her son to marry. The prince reluctantly agrees to search for a princess with his mother, but to no avail. Finally, he meets the brother of a prospective princess and falls in love with him. His mother happily assents to the marriage of "King and King," and the queen now has time to spend for her own enjoyment instead of trying to force her son into an unhappy marriage. The King and King live happily ever after, and all of their loyal subjects accept their dual-rulers. This book tells the positive story of a prince who never expressed much interest in finding a princess, and his mother's open acceptance of his choice to marry a prince. This book teaches open-mindedness on behalf of the queen, and the strong character of the prince to follow his heart. Children will easily understand this book and appreciate the artistic, creative illustrations that accompany the text. King and King is a straightforward, simple story of strong will and acceptance that children will easily comprehend and enjoy.