Kings and Queens

by Eleanor Farjeon, Herbert Farjeon

First published in 1952, Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon’s Kings and Queens is a children’s classic. The charming poems, each one dedicated to a different king or queen, tell the story of the forty-one English monarchs from William I to Elizabeth II in a humorous and charming way that has delighted generations of children and their parents. This CD, read by actors Isla Blair and Julian Glover, includes Kings and Queens in its entirety, as well as a selection from the Farjeons’ Heroes and Heroines, an account of the deeds of heroes and heroines from around the world, including Alexander the Great, Julius Cesar, Robin Hood, Christopher Columbus, Sir Francis Drake, George Washington, Napoleon, Florence Nightingale, and Buffalo Bill, among others.

Genres: Poetry, History, Historical, Childrens

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Daughter of Benjamin Leopold Farjeon, sister of Herbert Farjeon and J. Jefferson Farjeon.

Eleanor Farjeon was an English author of children's stories and plays, poetry, biography, history and satire. Many of her works had charming illustrations by Edward Ardizzone. Some of her correspondence has also been published. She won many literary awards and the prestigious Eleanor Farjeon Award for children's literature is presented annually in her memory by the Children's Book Circle, a society of publishers.

Awards:
Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (1956)

Reviews

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a poetry book, I finished this in two parts, from William I to Henry VIII, then from Edward VI through to QEII

The poems are clever and funny, and do synopsize the reigns of all of these kings and queens. The illustrations are also humourous charicatures. So a fun read in between some long series that I have ready to begin.

[The Chosen Poet · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don't know if my review is biased because i'm literally studying about the english monarchs and their history in my second year of university as a lit major but god damn is this poetry collection the perfect amount of humour, educational and history lessons all at once,chefs kiss

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this year's ago with an idea of introducing my daughter to the kings and queens in order, but Horrible Histories beat me to it so I read it myself just so it wouldn't go to waste. Patchy. Some of them are great, some are weirdly terrible. Apparently the only interesting thing about Queen Anne is that she's dead. OK, whatever, but I don't think Olivia Colman would have got the Oscar of that was all she'd had to portray.

[Charise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book a lot when studying history in primary school and coming back to if after a number of years away, the poems are still just as great!
I feel very inspired to dig deep into English history now.

[Danielle Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and placing within each poem and rhyme what I knew of the history of the ruler.

[Lyssan Falconet · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child, I pored over Rosamond Thornycroft's diptych illustrations and savored Eleanor Farjeon's crisp and witty rhymes in this wonderful picture book from 1932. It's still a gem - so glad it's been reprinted!

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have essentially no interest in English history, but these poems are hilarious and awesome. Now I may finally be able to remember all of Henry VIII's wives and their fates.

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poetry that describes the life of major historical British royals. Very limited audience, nobody outside of British history students are really going to get this.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is far more interesting than most of the poems.

I liked the one about Henry VIII the best, although the one about Queen Anne is delightfully snarky.

[Isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desert island book.
Someone had a question about a king so I, as always and without fail, *ran* to get my copy.