Prince and Knight are back.
After their debut in a children’s book that saw a noble prince fall in love and marry a knight who helped him slay a dragon, the characters return in Daniel Haack’s just-released “Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King.”
“Since the first ‘Prince & Knight’ book was published, kids and grown-ups alike have been asking and asking me what happens in the ‘happily ever after.’ It warms my heart that these characters have resonated with so many readers, and I’m grateful for the dedication and support from GLAAD and Little Bee Books to be able to expand this world and continue telling stories of love, heroism, inclusivity and kindness,“ Haack said in a news release. The book is illustrated by Stevie Lewis.
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The book is a component of a partnership between LGBTQ media advocacy organization GLAAD and children’s book publisher Little Bee Books that “represents a commitment to increasing positive representation of diverse gender and sexual identities in children’s books,” the groups said in the release.
“ ‘Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King’ is an exciting adventure that reminds kids that not all princes fall in love with princesses,” said Rich Ferraro, GLAAD’s chief communications officer. “Fairytales are so innate to the experience of childhood, and we’re hopeful that by providing children with stories like this one, we’ll inspire a better future for LGBTQ people.”
“If the first Prince & Knight was about love and following your heart, this one is really about community,” Haack wrote on Twitter, celebrating the sequel’s “birthday.”
While the original book was hailed by many upon its release, it also ran into opposition.
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In April 2020, it was added to the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books. Each year the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles the most-challenged list documenting public challenges and censorship reports from schools and libraries.
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Reasons for its challenge included “featuring a gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ content” and for being “ ‘a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young children with the potential to cause confusion, curiosity, and gender dysphoria; and for conflicting with a religious viewpoint,” the ALA said.
Other books in the GLAAD and Little Bee Partnership include: “Jack (Not Jackie),” a picture book that features a big sister coming to terms with a gender-nonconforming sibling; “Maiden & Princess,” a picture book about a maiden finding love in a surprising place; and “Ellen Degeneres,” a board book that is part of the People of Pride Series.
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“Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King can be purchased at Amazon and other retailers.
For more on Little Bee Books, visit littlebeebooks.com. To keep up with GLAAD, visit glaad.org.
Ilana Keller is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. She highlights arts advocacy and education, theater fundraisers and more through her column, “Sightlines.” Reach out on Twitter: @ilanakeller; ikeller@gannettnj.com
