Maiden & Princess

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.)

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