xiang_1983088d

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.

2020-08-12 08:08