Maiden & Princess

by Daniel Haack (Author) Becca Human (Illustrator)

Maiden & Princess
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

In this modern fairy tale, a strong, brave maiden is invited to attend the prince's royal ball, but at the dance, she ends up finding true love in a most surprising place.

"The prince is smart and strong,"

she confided in her mother.

"But if I'm being honest,

I see him as a brother."

Her mother said, "Just go!

And have a bit of fun.

The prince might not be right,

but you could meet the one."

Once in a faraway kingdom, a strong, brave maiden is invited to attend the prince's royal ball, but she's not as excited to go as everyone else. After her mother convinces her to make an appearance, she makes a huge impression on everyone present, from the villagers to the king and queen, but she ends up finding true love in a most surprising place.

This book is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.

Select format:
Hardcover
$17.99

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
There is wonderful diversity in the colorful illustrations-the royal family is Black, the visiting princesses come from multicultural backgrounds, and a range of body types are represented. . . . Share widely this sweet, openhearted fairy-tale that gently affirms all kinds of love.

Publishers Weekly

In an eclectic kingdom, a tenacious young woman, who wears an enviable suit of stylish armor and has a dragon for a pet, dreads attending the king and queen's ball, where they hope to "find their son a worthy bride." When she is chosen as the best match for the prince, she is miserable (he's a nice enough guy, but "I see him as a brother"). When she's approached by "a beautiful girl"--the princess--"who took the maiden's breath away," the two form an instant romantic bond. Readers may expect resistance from the king and queen; refreshingly, though, the two wholeheartedly approve of the match. Artist Human dresses the diverse villagers in lavish, jewel-toned gowns and dramatic headpieces, bringing a sense of opulence to the pages. Galupo and Haack joyfully subvert fairy tale tropes while maintaining romance and enchantment. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

A multiracial cast stars in this tale of a kingdom in search of a princess for its prince. A warrior maiden who fights alongside and is friends with the prince reluctantly attends the matchmaker ball with encouragement from her mother that she may find her perfect match, "the one," among the guests. She does indeed find the love of her life, not in the prince but in his sister, the princess. The vibrant, colorful costumes, makeup, and hairstyles of the characters as well as the opulent castle ballrooms effectively set a royal stage for the love story. The maiden's omnipresent ruby-red pet dragon adds a bit of fantastical whimsy to the otherwise earnest love story. A follow-up to the authors' Prince and Knight, this story is co-created by a Lambda Literary Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices participant and a London based artist/filmmaker. The book is a partnership between the publisher and GLAAD, and proceeds from its sales will be used to "accelerate LGBTQ acceptance." VERDICT A positive and affirming picture book, featuring characters of color, a fledgling romance between two girls, and brilliant artwork.-Elaine Fultz, Madison Jr. Sr. High School, Middletown, OH

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Daniel Haack
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.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781499807769
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little Bee Books
Publication date
April 02, 2019
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV057000 - Juvenile Fiction | Stories in Verse (see also Poetry)
JUV012040 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | Adaptations
JUV060000 - Juvenile Fiction | LGBT
Library of Congress categories
Stories in rhyme
Fairy tales
Love
Princesses
Kings, queens, rulers, etc
Princes
Lesbians
Courtship
King and rulers

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