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King & King
Once there lived a lovelorn prince whose mother decreed that he must marry by the end of the summer. So began the search to find the prince's perfect match and lo and behold... his name was Lee. You are cordially invited to join the merriest, most unexpected wedding of the year. King & King is a contemporary tale about finding true love and living happily ever after, sure to woo readers of any age. A great gift. Exuberant artwork full of visual play calls for repeated readings. Accelerated Reader quiz available.
Inside/Out Book Club selection. Lambda Literary Award. Honorable mention in the "Most Unusual Book of the Year" category for Publishers Weekly's 2002 "Off the Cuff" Awards, or "Cuffies" selected by booksellers.
Inside/Out Book Club selection. Lambda Literary Award. Honorable mention in the "Most Unusual Book of the Year" category for Publishers Weekly's 2002 "Off the Cuff" Awards, or "Cuffies" selected by booksellers.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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1140 people want to read
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February 11, 2025
إنها قصة الأطفال المعتادة، الملكة التي تحث ابنها على الزواج لأنه لابد أن يتزوج ليخلفها على العرش. ترسل الملكة للممالك المجاورة مطالبة أن يرسلوا أميراتهم ليختار الأمير من بينهن، تصل الأميرات، ويسخر الأمير من واحدة تلو الأخرى، حتى والدته لا تبدي اقتناعها بأي واحدة.
ثم يعلن الحاجب أن ثمة أميرة واحدة باقية، تدخل الأميرة الجميلة ذات الشعر الذهبي في صحبة شقيقها الأمير، فما يلبث أميرنا أن يقع في الحب على الفور، طبعاً مع شقيق الأميرة.
تبارك الأم الزواج، لم تعترض، بل إنها ذرفت دمعتين تأثراً في حفل الزواج، وتنتهي القصة بقبلة بين الأميرين.
المُلاحظ أنه لا ذكر هنا للملك والد الأمير، ربما تكون إشارة إلى نوع أسرة الأمير بعد اتساع مفهوم الأسرة في الغرب، إذ يبدو أن الملكة هي أم عزباء - single mom بالمفهوم الغربي، الملاحظة الأخرى أن الملكة أرسلت في استدعاء أميرات الممالك المجاورة، لم لم تستدع الأمراء من البداية ما دامت لم تتفاجأ بقرار الابن ولم تعارضه؟ ربما يتحفنا خيال كاتب آخر بقصة من هذا القبيل.
مراسم حفل زواج الأميرين
هذه القصة ومثلها العشرات، أصبحت متاحة في مكتبات المدارس للأطفال، يقرأها المدرسون على مسامع الأطفال ويناقشونهم فيها، وهي خطوة متوقعة في ظل الثقافة المهيمنة على الغرب الآن والتي تسعى لغرس هذه الثقافة في أطفالهم منذ نعومة أظافرهم، وقائمة القصص تطول:
1. A Tale of 2 daddies
2. In our mothers' house
3. Daddy's roommate
4. Uncle Bobby's wedding
يبدو من الغلاف أن القصة عن زواج أرنبين من نفس الجنس
حدث أن تفاجأ أب يُدعى دافيد باركر من ولاية ماساتشوستيس من منشورات وزعت على ابنه في الحضانة عن أسرة مكونة من أبّين أو أمين وهما يمارسان الحياة الطبيعية كأي أسرة أخرى. ثار الأب وذهب لإدارة المدرسة وأخبرها أنه يتعين عليهم أن يخبروه قبل أن يوزعوا هذه المنشورات لابنه الصغير، فأجاب المدير في لا مبالاة أنه لا شيء يلزم المدرسة بذلك وعندما رفض الأب المغادرة وظل منتظرا، قاموا بحبسه لمدة ليلة في السجن وفضل الأب قضاء هذه الليلة بالسجن ليثبت موقف، ثار أولياء أمور آخرون ولكن المسؤولين في المدرسة لم يغيروا موقفهم.
صورة للأب وزوجته بعد خروجه من الحبس
في العام اللاحق في المدرسة نفسها قام مدرس بقص قصة "ملك وملك" على أطفال الصف الثاني الابتدائي، وعندما اعترض أولياء الأمور وطالبوا بتنبيههم لمثل هذه المبادرات حتى يتسنى لهم أن يستثنوا أطفالهم من حضورها، كان موقف مسؤولي المدرسة متطابقاً مع ما جرى العام السابق، قالوا في تعجرف أنه لا يوجد ما يلزمهم بإبلاغ الأهل، وعندما رفع الأمر للقضاء رفضت الدعوى بحجة أن الولاية ترعى حقوق الشواذ وتقنن زواجهم ومن ثم فلا ضرر من نشر هذه الثقافة بين الأطفال في المدارس، بل إنه من "واجب" المدارس أن تفعل ذلك.
هذا هو المنحدر الزلق الذي انزلق فيه الأمريكان عندما تسامحوا مع المثلية من البداية ودافعوا عن حقوق المثليين. كان المنحدر زلقاً بما يكفي حتى وصل الأمر إلى أطفالهم في غضون سنوات قليلة، بل أصبح لا سلطان لهم على ما يدرس لأطفالهم، وليس من حقهم أن يستثنوا أطفالهم لأنه لابد من فرض هذه الأيديولوجية على الجميع بما فيهم الأطفال. ومهما قالوا عن احترامهم للمثلية، وأن كل ما يطالبون به أن يبتعدوا عن تدريس هذه الأشياء لأطفالهم في هذه السن الصغيرة، لن يجدوا آذاناً صاغية "تتسامح" معهم، ستُرفض دعواهم، سيُتهمون برهاب المثلية، وسيُدَرس لأطفالهم ما تراه الولاية صالحاً لهم بما يتماشى مع اتجاهاتها هي. الغريب في الموضوع أن هؤلاء الآباء لا يربطون أبدا بين تسامحهم مع المثلية وبين عدم "تسامح" المثليين معهم الآن.
ثم يعلن الحاجب أن ثمة أميرة واحدة باقية، تدخل الأميرة الجميلة ذات الشعر الذهبي في صحبة شقيقها الأمير، فما يلبث أميرنا أن يقع في الحب على الفور، طبعاً مع شقيق الأميرة.
تبارك الأم الزواج، لم تعترض، بل إنها ذرفت دمعتين تأثراً في حفل الزواج، وتنتهي القصة بقبلة بين الأميرين.
المُلاحظ أنه لا ذكر هنا للملك والد الأمير، ربما تكون إشارة إلى نوع أسرة الأمير بعد اتساع مفهوم الأسرة في الغرب، إذ يبدو أن الملكة هي أم عزباء - single mom بالمفهوم الغربي، الملاحظة الأخرى أن الملكة أرسلت في استدعاء أميرات الممالك المجاورة، لم لم تستدع الأمراء من البداية ما دامت لم تتفاجأ بقرار الابن ولم تعارضه؟ ربما يتحفنا خيال كاتب آخر بقصة من هذا القبيل.
مراسم حفل زواج الأميرين
هذه القصة ومثلها العشرات، أصبحت متاحة في مكتبات المدارس للأطفال، يقرأها المدرسون على مسامع الأطفال ويناقشونهم فيها، وهي خطوة متوقعة في ظل الثقافة المهيمنة على الغرب الآن والتي تسعى لغرس هذه الثقافة في أطفالهم منذ نعومة أظافرهم، وقائمة القصص تطول:
1. A Tale of 2 daddies
2. In our mothers' house
3. Daddy's roommate
4. Uncle Bobby's wedding
يبدو من الغلاف أن القصة عن زواج أرنبين من نفس الجنس
حدث أن تفاجأ أب يُدعى دافيد باركر من ولاية ماساتشوستيس من منشورات وزعت على ابنه في الحضانة عن أسرة مكونة من أبّين أو أمين وهما يمارسان الحياة الطبيعية كأي أسرة أخرى. ثار الأب وذهب لإدارة المدرسة وأخبرها أنه يتعين عليهم أن يخبروه قبل أن يوزعوا هذه المنشورات لابنه الصغير، فأجاب المدير في لا مبالاة أنه لا شيء يلزم المدرسة بذلك وعندما رفض الأب المغادرة وظل منتظرا، قاموا بحبسه لمدة ليلة في السجن وفضل الأب قضاء هذه الليلة بالسجن ليثبت موقف، ثار أولياء أمور آخرون ولكن المسؤولين في المدرسة لم يغيروا موقفهم.
صورة للأب وزوجته بعد خروجه من الحبس
في العام اللاحق في المدرسة نفسها قام مدرس بقص قصة "ملك وملك" على أطفال الصف الثاني الابتدائي، وعندما اعترض أولياء الأمور وطالبوا بتنبيههم لمثل هذه المبادرات حتى يتسنى لهم أن يستثنوا أطفالهم من حضورها، كان موقف مسؤولي المدرسة متطابقاً مع ما جرى العام السابق، قالوا في تعجرف أنه لا يوجد ما يلزمهم بإبلاغ الأهل، وعندما رفع الأمر للقضاء رفضت الدعوى بحجة أن الولاية ترعى حقوق الشواذ وتقنن زواجهم ومن ثم فلا ضرر من نشر هذه الثقافة بين الأطفال في المدارس، بل إنه من "واجب" المدارس أن تفعل ذلك.
هذا هو المنحدر الزلق الذي انزلق فيه الأمريكان عندما تسامحوا مع المثلية من البداية ودافعوا عن حقوق المثليين. كان المنحدر زلقاً بما يكفي حتى وصل الأمر إلى أطفالهم في غضون سنوات قليلة، بل أصبح لا سلطان لهم على ما يدرس لأطفالهم، وليس من حقهم أن يستثنوا أطفالهم لأنه لابد من فرض هذه الأيديولوجية على الجميع بما فيهم الأطفال. ومهما قالوا عن احترامهم للمثلية، وأن كل ما يطالبون به أن يبتعدوا عن تدريس هذه الأشياء لأطفالهم في هذه السن الصغيرة، لن يجدوا آذاناً صاغية "تتسامح" معهم، ستُرفض دعواهم، سيُتهمون برهاب المثلية، وسيُدَرس لأطفالهم ما تراه الولاية صالحاً لهم بما يتماشى مع اتجاهاتها هي. الغريب في الموضوع أن هؤلاء الآباء لا يربطون أبدا بين تسامحهم مع المثلية وبين عدم "تسامح" المثليين معهم الآن.
March 1, 2011
After reading this book, I was honestly a little disappointed. The premise seemed so fantastic that I really wanted to like it. And the artwork is fantastical, which made me want to like it even more. But the thing I am reminding myself of, is that as we get more and more lgbtq themed children's literature, some of it is bound to be just okay. And this book was okay. It's nice that their is the premise that a Prince could like and fall in love with another price. But I would have a liked a little more attention to King & King after they meet but before they marry, especially after a multitude of pages about the different women he decided not to marry. They see each other and they marry. Why not give them even a page to fall in love? Also, why does the princess from India get a name which seems to be a mockery of Indian names? Dolly got a traditional (?) Texan/southern/country name. Aria got a name which reflected her singing. Madeleine got a real name for no reason other than the fact that she appears to be pretty and I would guess we are supposed to assume that he would like her. And then the Indian princess gets Rahjmashputtin? Perhaps I am harping on details, but details are important, particularly in children's literature, where we are laying the foundation for the adults they will grow into. On that same note, platform shoes? Is he gay? Is he a cross dresser? Is he both? Any of those are fine, but just tossing platform shoes on him to indicate his gay-ness doesn't sit right with me.
While the collage aspect of the illustrations is an admirable artistic feat, it makes this story less likely to be a suitable read aloud. It would, however, be fun for parents and children to read together and track what the crazy cat is up to in each scene.
While the collage aspect of the illustrations is an admirable artistic feat, it makes this story less likely to be a suitable read aloud. It would, however, be fun for parents and children to read together and track what the crazy cat is up to in each scene.
April 28, 2016
Yay, now my kids can read M/M romance with me :-D
I love that this story is just the classic fairytale plot line but with two princes at the end. I think not changing it up from the typical Disney HEA makes it much easier for younger kids to understand the normality of gay relationships.
Unfortunately the pictures didn't appeal to my kids (or me) very much so they weren't completely engaged.
I love that this story is just the classic fairytale plot line but with two princes at the end. I think not changing it up from the typical Disney HEA makes it much easier for younger kids to understand the normality of gay relationships.
Unfortunately the pictures didn't appeal to my kids (or me) very much so they weren't completely engaged.
April 30, 2012
King & King tells the story of a young prince whose mother (the elderly Queen) would like to retire and demands he marry in order to take the throne (whut???). The Queen sends letters to all the local princesses to get them to come and basically audition to become Queen. Apparently the Prince is gay however, as he falls in love with the Prince that accompanies his sister to audition. There's a happy wedding.
BLAH BLAH. This is a "pro-gay" book in one of the most misogynistic ways possible (and as gay rights are interlinked with dismantling sexism as well as racism and homophobia, it pretty much fails at being pro-gay). The prince is actively rude, while many of the women are shamed by the writing itself. There's also racism in how certain characters of color are treated.
And of course there's the question of why the hell the Queen needs him to marry before he becomes king (she is apparently a single parent and seems to be running the kingdom just fine). All in all, I was actually pretty disgusted by this book.
BLAH BLAH. This is a "pro-gay" book in one of the most misogynistic ways possible (and as gay rights are interlinked with dismantling sexism as well as racism and homophobia, it pretty much fails at being pro-gay). The prince is actively rude, while many of the women are shamed by the writing itself. There's also racism in how certain characters of color are treated.
And of course there's the question of why the hell the Queen needs him to marry before he becomes king (she is apparently a single parent and seems to be running the kingdom just fine). All in all, I was actually pretty disgusted by this book.
June 1, 2017
Milá dětská knížka pro děti o gayích. Víc takových!
March 2, 2009
I loved the way this started out, especially the voice of the queen. But I found the presentation of the princesses rather off-putting: the first three were deliberately made to seem unattractive, and the fourth—the princess from Mumbai—was mocked for her long arms, which actually seemed kind of offensive. I love the idea of the prince falling in love with another prince, but I think making the princesses so unappealing undercuts the concept somewhat. It’s also slightly disappointing that it was love at first sight—I understand there’s not a ton of room for long, drawn-out romances in picture books, but it would have been nice if we got to feel there was some reason he fell in love with the prince other than just the fact that he’s male.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2016
So let me see if I have this right. We want a gay prince love story, so the way they go about that is by making fun of almost all the women in the book? This is terribly disappointing.
August 10, 2015
I didn't especially care for the art, but that isn't really the point. I encouraged the local library to lay it in after a local teacher was fired for reading it aloud to his class. Of course, this was before the Supremes handed down their decision which permitted all consenting adults to choose whomever they want to marry. I have no sympathy with bigots pushing their discrimination in public schools, and I hope that teacher earns a really hefty settlement from the state for wrongful firing.
I will now resume posting books without reviews, because time.
Library copy
I will now resume posting books without reviews, because time.
Library copy
October 3, 2018
I discovered this book on a display of 'Banned Books' at our local library. The LGBT theme and same-sex marriage is the trigger for the request to ban the book, and I am sad that books like this are still considered controversial.
The narrative is fun and humorous and the mixed media illustrations are colorful and whimsical, if a bit rudimentary.
I was charmed by Princess Dolly, of course, and loved how she danced with crown kitty in the church aisle during the wedding, even if she did not capture the prince's affection.
Overall, it was an entertaining take on the classic story of the prince searching for his true love. Not nearly as good as I'd hoped, but well worth a read.
Our oldest commented that she wasn't a fan of the queen who puts her son down, comparing him to all the other princes and insisting that he marry right away. I understand her concern, but this kind of plot/dialogue is a traditional part of this kind of 'the prince must marry' tale.
The narrative is fun and humorous and the mixed media illustrations are colorful and whimsical, if a bit rudimentary.
I was charmed by Princess Dolly, of course, and loved how she danced with crown kitty in the church aisle during the wedding, even if she did not capture the prince's affection.
Overall, it was an entertaining take on the classic story of the prince searching for his true love. Not nearly as good as I'd hoped, but well worth a read.
Our oldest commented that she wasn't a fan of the queen who puts her son down, comparing him to all the other princes and insisting that he marry right away. I understand her concern, but this kind of plot/dialogue is a traditional part of this kind of 'the prince must marry' tale.
October 11, 2017
I felt mix feelings over this book, but overall I liked the message behind it. As you can tell by the title, it was going to be about two kings, and as the book goes on you find out that the prince marries another male. One thing I liked about it was how the prince came to realization that he liked the same sex, and eventually ended up being happy with it and marrying him. I liked this because a lot of the times kids don't know why they don't feel attracted to the opposite sex because they aren't educated about being LGBT. If they were introduced at a younger age that it is okay to be who they are, they would maybe come to turns sooner, so I'm glad Haan wrote this children's book!
August 30, 2012
This beautifully illustrated story is about a young prince whose mother is fed up of him and wants him to get married. The queen brought forward many princesses from far and wide but here was absolutely nothing and nobody that sparked any attraction between them and the young prince. One day a young princess comes along to meet the prince with her brother, “the prince felt a stir in his heart . . . It was love at first sight." (The princess, of course, looks confused.) The story tells of a whirlwind romance between the two princes and at last illustrates the wedding between the two pronouncing them ‘King & King’. To make sure that this has been realised by all readers the final picture shows the pair sharing a kiss, making this point very clear.
I must admit this story did shock me when I read it out loud to a class of year one children through my work as a teaching assistant. It was handed to me by the teacher, so I just thought it was a normal story about a young King, little did I know it was going to spark up some controversial conversation between myself and the class thirty children. I thought this was a wonderful story, outlining some of the truths of today that young children know about these topics to help avoid any sort of prejudice they may formulate through their peers at an older age. I find that the minds of children in KS1 are quite innocent so this was the perfect age group to introduce this sort of story. If any younger they wouldn’t have really understood what was happening, at this age they could understand it and see that there are people that have different kinds of relationships be in heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual. Regardless of whichever one it is, it is a part of our everyday lives.
It was obvious that most of the children did think that the idea of a boy falling in love with another boy was disgusting but some of the other children did listen and think about what the story was telling us. This did bring up a great discussion and many questions which did make everybody think about the world we live in.
As I mentioned before this is definitely a controversial story as some people and parents may not feel comfortable of happy with knowing that their children were learning about such topics at such a young age.
I must admit this story did shock me when I read it out loud to a class of year one children through my work as a teaching assistant. It was handed to me by the teacher, so I just thought it was a normal story about a young King, little did I know it was going to spark up some controversial conversation between myself and the class thirty children. I thought this was a wonderful story, outlining some of the truths of today that young children know about these topics to help avoid any sort of prejudice they may formulate through their peers at an older age. I find that the minds of children in KS1 are quite innocent so this was the perfect age group to introduce this sort of story. If any younger they wouldn’t have really understood what was happening, at this age they could understand it and see that there are people that have different kinds of relationships be in heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual. Regardless of whichever one it is, it is a part of our everyday lives.
It was obvious that most of the children did think that the idea of a boy falling in love with another boy was disgusting but some of the other children did listen and think about what the story was telling us. This did bring up a great discussion and many questions which did make everybody think about the world we live in.
As I mentioned before this is definitely a controversial story as some people and parents may not feel comfortable of happy with knowing that their children were learning about such topics at such a young age.
January 31, 2018
I just read this book which is about a queen who is tired of ruling her kingdom and would like her son to marry a princess so that they can take over the empire. The queen tries to introduce her son to different princesses but the prince is not falling for any of them. Until one day, one princess came with her brother to meet the prince. This is when the prince and the brother fall in love at first sight. The book has a happy ending. They end up getting married and mom is accepting of her son's choice.
This book would be appropriate for children between 5 to 8 years old (from Kindergarten to Second grade).
I enjoyed reading this book because it portrayed real people of our real world. It showed that people should be happy and accepting (just like the prince's mother) of others regardless of their sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc.
I think 'King & King' is a good book for educators to teach young children about same-sex couples, to teach children that it is OK to be different, to love yourself for WHO you are, and to teach others tolerance and respect toward others.
The genre of this book is Children's fiction.
NOTE: This is a banned book. It was banned by the Wake County Schools.
This book would be appropriate for children between 5 to 8 years old (from Kindergarten to Second grade).
I enjoyed reading this book because it portrayed real people of our real world. It showed that people should be happy and accepting (just like the prince's mother) of others regardless of their sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc.
I think 'King & King' is a good book for educators to teach young children about same-sex couples, to teach children that it is OK to be different, to love yourself for WHO you are, and to teach others tolerance and respect toward others.
The genre of this book is Children's fiction.
NOTE: This is a banned book. It was banned by the Wake County Schools.
February 25, 2015
My personal reaction to this book was I thought King and King was a great information book for young children. For example, showing that having two kings is okay really highlight how everyone can love someone different and they do not have to look or be a certain way.
The purpose of the book would be for read aloud enriching purposes. This would be suitable for first grade.I think this would be a good book to read when we are talking about family or how every family can be different. Kind and King outlines how the world is changing and becoming dynamic. After the book talk about real world and how it relates. This book is from a diverse perspective and enhance the meaning of difference. Then create a family tree with children.
The purpose of the book would be for read aloud enriching purposes. This would be suitable for first grade.I think this would be a good book to read when we are talking about family or how every family can be different. Kind and King outlines how the world is changing and becoming dynamic. After the book talk about real world and how it relates. This book is from a diverse perspective and enhance the meaning of difference. Then create a family tree with children.
August 3, 2015
I read this book because it is a very frequently challenged children's book. The story is about a Queen who decides to retire, so she tells her son, the Prince, that it's time for him to get married and take over as King. She calls princesses from all around the world to come meet the Prince, but he doesn't like any of them. Instead, he falls in love with Prince Lee, so they get married and rule the kingdom together as King and King so the Queen can enjoy her retirement.
Obviously, this book gets challenged because it depicts a loving gay relationship. People are the worst. This book was the best. Any parents who want to incorporate positive LGBT stories into their reading for their kids should get this title.
Obviously, this book gets challenged because it depicts a loving gay relationship. People are the worst. This book was the best. Any parents who want to incorporate positive LGBT stories into their reading for their kids should get this title.
November 27, 2018
Again, a very good follow-up book to Tango, A tale of two moms, and A tale of two dads about a prince who "never cared much for princesses." Also, the queen is a fricken hoot. I like the style of the pictures and the way the words are displayed on the page. I am very happy and excited to say that after reading a few gay/lesbian books, the grade 1s now just say randomly "because it's ok for a boy to marry a boy!" And I just say "yes it is" and that makes me super happy!
Very short, too.
The only thing I don't like about this book is that the prince is forced to get married by his mother.
Very short, too.
The only thing I don't like about this book is that the prince is forced to get married by his mother.
December 5, 2017
Meh. I didn't care for the art. I had inflated expectations for this-- in the end, the only thing it subverted was the expectation that the crown prince would marry a woman; otherwise it was a bit paint-by-numbers for my taste. On the one hand, the Queen has been married and remarried and appears to be a single parent and also a ruler in her own right (yay), on the other hand marriage still seems to be a prerequisite for rule?
March 25, 2019
The idea of the fairy tale trope being flipped on it’s head and two princes falling in love is a good one, but I didn’t like the art, and all the women were portrayed in a negative way. Kind of defeats the purpose. There are much better options out there now, thank goodness.
May 3, 2020
Este es un libro muy lindo para leer con los niños y que no por eso los adultos no pueden leer. Escuché acerca de este libro hace un tiempo y me generaba curiosidad. Es un libro corto que enseña a los niños sobre las diferencias y el amor entre personas del mismo sexo. Tiene unos gráficos muy lindos y aunque resulta un cuento más bien convencional en su estructura me parece muy adecuado y respetuoso
November 18, 2018
Be sure to research why each is controversial, and state your view about using it in the classroom (for full credit on Goodreads, you will need to include why it’s challenged, and your opinion on the book in terms of usage)
I read the King and King as my first controversial book. It was a cute story over all, but not really my favorite book.
This book was challenged because of a complaint about the fact that the story is about two princes who fall in love. When this was challenged, people were still not comfortable with the LGBTQ community being referenced in pop culture, much like a lot of people now aren't comfortable with it.
In terms of use in a classroom, I think it could be good to use when doing a unit on fairy tales. As much as I love the fact that the two princes get together, and I think it's important to teach that being different is okay, this book does it in more of a way that disrespects women, as well as not a realistic situation. If we are going to teach differences and families and such, we need to make sure we are making it relatable and respectful. With that being said, the layout, the wording, and the story themselves, follow a very predictable plot line of fairy tales, which makes it an excellent choice when teaching children about the structure, story, and such of that type of story.
Overall it was a cute book, and while it does have good uses for the classroom, I would probably not pick this book to use if there were other books available that helped me better teach my kids in a more respectful, and down to earth way.
I read the King and King as my first controversial book. It was a cute story over all, but not really my favorite book.
This book was challenged because of a complaint about the fact that the story is about two princes who fall in love. When this was challenged, people were still not comfortable with the LGBTQ community being referenced in pop culture, much like a lot of people now aren't comfortable with it.
In terms of use in a classroom, I think it could be good to use when doing a unit on fairy tales. As much as I love the fact that the two princes get together, and I think it's important to teach that being different is okay, this book does it in more of a way that disrespects women, as well as not a realistic situation. If we are going to teach differences and families and such, we need to make sure we are making it relatable and respectful. With that being said, the layout, the wording, and the story themselves, follow a very predictable plot line of fairy tales, which makes it an excellent choice when teaching children about the structure, story, and such of that type of story.
Overall it was a cute book, and while it does have good uses for the classroom, I would probably not pick this book to use if there were other books available that helped me better teach my kids in a more respectful, and down to earth way.
November 13, 2017
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! So due to family stuff, we haven’t been as active in Pride Month this year as we wanted to be. Still, we wanted to make sure we read at least one LGBTQ book before the month was over, so for today we chose King And King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, a fairytale story that proves true love always wins.
The Queen has decided to retire, so she will step down from the throne and leave her son, Prince Bertie, in charge. One problem: the Prince needs to be married to become king, something he has never been interested in. His mother, through a bit of browbeating, convinces him to meet with several princesses to find a bride. And while all the princesses have their own unique flair, the Prince does not feel that certain spark. He is ready to give up, until Princess Madeleine arrives. The Prince falls in love at first sight… with Madeleine’s brother, Prince Lee. The two consent to be married, and invite all the princesses and their friends to celebrate with them. The Queen retires, and King Bertie and King Lee rule the land as husband and husband, happily ever after.
What a sweet story! This has become a staple of LGBTQ kidlit, and it’s easy to see why. The simple fairytale structure is very familiar, which is a great way to introduce the concept of gay relationships to little readers. I loved that once Bertie and Lee fall in love, there is no pushback and no one questioned it; they are smitten, get married, and everyone is supportive. My only complaint is the way that the Queen essentially bullies Bertie into getting married; I’m not sure kids should be taught that marriage isn’t optional, regardless of whom they love. Otherwise, there is some colorful, folksy art that is eye-catching and fun, a good length for baby bookworms, and JJ enjoyed it. Overall, a great read for teaching little ones that love is love, and that everyone deserves a fairytale ending. Baby Bookworm approved!
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
January 21, 2013
'King and King' is a story about a Prince who lives with his mother, the Queen. The Queen has had enough of her son’s bachelor lifestyle and decides to confront him about wedding plans. After some deliberation the Prince agrees to wed and the Queen hastily makes arrangements for courtship with Princesses near and far.
The Prince meets many Princesses’ but none of them seem to make him happy. Suddenly one more Princess arrives, Princess Madeleine and her brother Princess Lee. The Prince’s heart leaps with joy and he falls head over heels in love with Prince Lee. The two Princes marry at once and live happily ever after.
I enjoyed reading the ‘King and King’ because the story depicts a happy ending to a story which relates to parental differences with regards to same sex relationships. The story highlights the belief that same sex relationships are customary and should be equally respected within the rights of the sanctity of marriage.
I first came across this book in a Nursery classroom where a parent was upset about finding a book about gay relationships. I did not share the parent’s point of view however I do feel that Nursery children will not find any benefit from this story, unless they themselves have parents of the same sex. I feel that introducing the ‘King and King’ at Reception might be more of an age-appropriate stage.
I would read this story to a Reception class during a PSED lesson. I would support children with talking about similarities and differences within their families. I would encourage parents to come into school for a morning carpet session where they can discuss with the children, about who lives in their home and what it is like living with; two mums, two dads, a grandma, an aunty/uncle or cousin etc.
The Prince meets many Princesses’ but none of them seem to make him happy. Suddenly one more Princess arrives, Princess Madeleine and her brother Princess Lee. The Prince’s heart leaps with joy and he falls head over heels in love with Prince Lee. The two Princes marry at once and live happily ever after.
I enjoyed reading the ‘King and King’ because the story depicts a happy ending to a story which relates to parental differences with regards to same sex relationships. The story highlights the belief that same sex relationships are customary and should be equally respected within the rights of the sanctity of marriage.
I first came across this book in a Nursery classroom where a parent was upset about finding a book about gay relationships. I did not share the parent’s point of view however I do feel that Nursery children will not find any benefit from this story, unless they themselves have parents of the same sex. I feel that introducing the ‘King and King’ at Reception might be more of an age-appropriate stage.
I would read this story to a Reception class during a PSED lesson. I would support children with talking about similarities and differences within their families. I would encourage parents to come into school for a morning carpet session where they can discuss with the children, about who lives in their home and what it is like living with; two mums, two dads, a grandma, an aunty/uncle or cousin etc.
August 26, 2020
Its greatest strength and its most crippling weakness is the same: the matter-of fact approach ("oh, two men in love, that's fine, whatever"). It's wonderful that there's no conflict at all whatsoever, but as it is this is just an unremarkable story with a... twist.
The illustrations are completely ugly, IMO.
The illustrations are completely ugly, IMO.
April 13, 2008
A prince begins seeing suitors in order to appease the queen. After several visits by eligible princesses, the prince sees someone who catches his eye – a handsome prince.
While I loved the premise of this book, the illustrations are hideous. The drawing styles of the two artists are incompatible and inconsistent – leaving wacky collage style pages that are grotesque and ugly. However, the story is adorable and it’s a nice book for teaching tolerance to children. The two princes’ marriage is treated as a non issue. This is a necessary subject that could be done much better under the care of new artists.
While I loved the premise of this book, the illustrations are hideous. The drawing styles of the two artists are incompatible and inconsistent – leaving wacky collage style pages that are grotesque and ugly. However, the story is adorable and it’s a nice book for teaching tolerance to children. The two princes’ marriage is treated as a non issue. This is a necessary subject that could be done much better under the care of new artists.
January 4, 2013
If I were a kid, I would have not liked this. Main reason? The drawings are just awful... The story's kind of simple an boring (I prefered Andersen and brothers Grimm). And all poor princesses are shown as quirky creatures... I smell something misogynistic.
For me it is not a controversial, just boooring stuff.
If you want to read somenthing so called "pro-gay" I recommend "And Tango Makes Three".
For me it is not a controversial, just boooring stuff.
If you want to read somenthing so called "pro-gay" I recommend "And Tango Makes Three".
March 9, 2018
This is a book that I first encountered a few years ago. This is a classic fairy tale-- a prince comes of age and he needs to find a suitable woman to be his queen. The prince meets a series of women and likes none of them until he meets the brother of one of the princesses.
A touching and poignant version of a stand-by classic this book would be excellent for students up through 4th grade. Not to mention the pictures are beautiful.
A touching and poignant version of a stand-by classic this book would be excellent for students up through 4th grade. Not to mention the pictures are beautiful.
August 2, 2018
The Queen wants to retire, but to do so, her son must marry. But he doesn't like any of the princesses that perform to win his hand, but he does like a prince. I really love the LGBTQ theme. I'm surprised there aren't more children's fairytale picture books with LGBTQ characters. I wasn't a fan of the art, which often didn't depict the words on the page, making it difficult for emergent readers to pick up on what the words mean.
September 12, 2016
I definitely liked where the story went. And I appreciated that it showed the fact that sometimes you just can't help who you fall in love with; however, the artwork was something I was not a fan of at all. I just couldn't get into it and most of the time I felt like a child drew the pictures (may be quite harsh but that's how I felt).
June 6, 2018
This is a children’s book about an old queen who wants her son, the prince, to marry. He finally concedes to her, and she arranged for him to meet a variety of princesses. Princess after princess is not suitable for him, he finally finds that he’s fallen in love with one of the princess’s accompaniments. They marry and become King & King.
August 4, 2020
Čtení (samozřejmě ne autorské) v rámci prague pride live streamu jako náhrada za poslech audioknihy. XD
Stručné a jasné, obrázky i texty polopaticky podané ovšem ne patetické. Prostě obrázková kniha pro děti, která je formou pohádky seznamuje s tím, že se občas najde princ, který je na kluky ne na holky.
Stručné a jasné, obrázky i texty polopaticky podané ovšem ne patetické. Prostě obrázková kniha pro děti, která je formou pohádky seznamuje s tím, že se občas najde princ, který je na kluky ne na holky.
May 2, 2016
A contemporary version of the traditional tale of a prince looking for his princess and ending up finding true love instead. I give it 5 stars because the authors give voice to a group that is often marginalized in children's books, especially of this genre.
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