"Victorious . . . the premier queer-friendly fairy tale." Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"An illuminating fairy tale for young readers to be able to see that not every prince would like to marry a princess." School Library Journal
"A colorful and entertaining tale exploring sexuality, acceptance, and young love." Booklist
In this modern fairy tale, a noble prince and a brave knight come together to defeat a terrible monster and in the process find true love in a most unexpected place.
"Thank you," he told his parents.
"I appreciate that you tried,
but I'm looking for something special
in a partner by my side."
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far from here, there was a prince in line to take the throne, so his parents set out to find him a kind and worthy bride. The three of them traveled the land far and wide, but the prince didn't quite find what he was looking for in the princesses they met.
While they were away, a terrible dragon threatened their land, and all the soldiers fled. The prince rushed back to save his kingdom from the perilous beast and was met by a brave knight in a suit of brightly shining armor. Together they fought the dragon and discovered that special something the prince was looking for all along. This book is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.
Daniel Haack began writing at a young age, although much of his earliest work centered exclusively around his desire to be a swashbuckling hero. Like the Prince and the Knight, he just wants to save the day and get the boy, too. He has since written for various publications and collections, and Prince & Knight is his debut children's book. He graduated from Ithaca College and now works in children's educational media, for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award. Originally from Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, and formerly a New Yorker, Daniel now lives in Los Angeles, California. Find out more about Daniel at danielhaack.com.
Stevie Lewis has been living on the road for the past two years, furthering her passion for climbing, art, and the outdoors. Striving to live simply and tread lightly on the earth, she gathers inspiration from a variety of adventures, be it climbing in the high desert in central Oregon, hiking in the wilderness of Alaska, or sharing laughs with fellow travelers around a campfire. After working for four years in animation, she now illustrates children's books and creates art based on her travels. Find out more about Stevie at chocosweete.com.
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
