Author | Daniel Haack |
---|---|
Illustrator | Stevie Lewis |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre | LGBTQ+ children's literature, picture book |
Publisher | Little Bee Books/GLAAD |
Publication date | May 1, 2018 |
Pages | 40 |
ISBN | 9781499805529 |
Prince & Knight is a children's picture book authored by Daniel Haack and illustrated by Stevie Lewis. Prince & Knight tells the story of a young prince who falls in love with a knight after the two work together to battle a dragon threatening the kingdom. At the conclusion of the book, the two wed. [1]
Prince & Knight was originally published in English by Little Bee Books [2] in 2018 and is the inaugural effort of a partnership between Bonnier Publishing USA and media advocacy group GLAAD. [3] The partnership "is aimed at 'integrating and elevating positive LGBTQ representation in children’s literature.'" [4] The book has also been published for Canadian and Japanese audiences with a companion book following its release. [5]
The book has received both praise and opposition due to the nature of its content, winning various awards and contracting several challenges from social conservatives across the United States who challenge the piece of children's literature on the basis of appropriateness and morality given its intended audience.
Once upon a time, a prince is in line to take his kingdom's throne, so his parents — the king and queen — decide he must first find a bride to help him rule. The three travel to nearby kingdoms to meet a variety of potential princess suitors, but the prince does not find what he is looking for in the princesses the trio meet.
While away, the prince receives news that a dragon is attacking his kingdom. The prince rushes back to battle the monster when a knight arrives to assist. Working together, the knight uses his shield to blind the dragon which allows the prince to successfully trap the beast. However, in doing so, the prince loses his balance and falls. The knight rushes on horseback and catches the prince in his arms.
The two thank the other for saving their lives and fall in love. Their marriage is fully supported by the community, who cheer along at the couple's wedding, and the prince's parents, and they lived happily ever after. [1]
Prince & Knight was first released in hardcover on May 1, 2018, as the lead title in a partnership between Bonnier Publishing USA and GLAAD. The launch received significant press attention, including from A Plus, [6] the Chicago Tribune , [7] Gay Times , [8] NewNowNext, [9] PinkNews , [10] PopSugar, [11] The TODAY Show , [12] and TheWrap . [3]
In interviews with GLAAD and HuffPost , Haack noted that he was inspired to write Prince & Knight after seeing a dearth of LGBTQ+ representation in children's media, especially those featuring human characters. [13] [14] In crafting the narrative, he specifically thought "it would be fun to play around with the Prince Charming and Knight in shining armor" archetypes [14] and wanted to show kids that gay people "are just as capable of being the brave heroes, and are just as worthy as anyone of being in love." [15]
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, commenting on the nature of the Bonnier Publishing/GLAAD partnership and importance of queer representation in literature, said, "[Books] are a natural progression to encourage awareness, kindness, and acceptance at an early age" and that "it’s so important that my two kids and others like them see their families reflected in the media." [4]
In addition to the original hardcover copy, French (Le Prince Et Le Chevalier) and Japanese (王子と騎士) editions were published by Scholastic Canada and Oakla Publishing, respectively. [5] A special paperback edition was released in 2019 by Scholastic Corporation for its in-school Scholastic Book Club, and a board book version was released in 2020. [16] [17]
A companion book, Maiden & Princess , co-authored by Haack and Isabel Galupo and illustrated by Becca Human, was released in April 2019. [18] In this children’s book, a brave prince comes of age and a ball is held to find him a bride. A warrior girl attends but does not love the prince, instead falling in love with a girl she meets outside. [19] This girl turns out to be the princess of the kingdom. Maiden & Princess features diverse characters and a message about staying true to oneself. [19] [20]
According to Haack's personal website, the publication description characterizes Prince & Knight as "a children’s picture book" for ages 4–8 (Kirkus Review, 29) that combines text with full-page illustrations by Stevie Lewis. [5] [21]
As noted by Mombian founder Dana Rudoulph, Prince & Knight echoes the name and plot of King & King. Rudoulph argues that opposed to the "frenetic" and "off-kilter" illustrations in King & King , those of Prince & Knight, "have a charming, Disney-like quality to them." [22] Additionally, Booklist , in a review of the piece, states the duo of Haack and Lewis have "constructed a colorful and entertaining tale exploring sexuality, acceptance, and young love." [5]
Prince & Knight has received positive industry reviews since its release. Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review, calling it "victorious" and the "premier queer-friendly fairy tale for this age set." [21] The School Library Journal said, "This is an illuminating fairy tale for young readers...A great addition to any library or classroom." [23] Similarly, the Chicago Tribune wrote that "newcomer Daniel Haack has penned a much-needed LGBT fairy tale [that] hits just the right notes; it’s at once matter-of-fact and alive to the magic of true love." [24] Bookish noted that "Haack has written a beautifully inclusive fairy tale made all the more special by Stevie Lewis’s magical illustrations." [25]
Prince & Knight was named to the American Library Association's 2019 Rainbow List Top Ten. [26] It was also a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Best Picture Book and was named a best children's book of 2018 by Amazon, [27] the Chicago Tribune, [28] Kirkus Reviews, [29] and PopSugar. [30]
According to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, Prince & Knight was the fifth most challenged book of 2019. [31] Oft stated reasons for the book to be challenged include its LGBTQIA+ content; 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. [31]
Deborah Caldwell Stone, executive director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, says, "Our concern [as an organization] is the fact that many of the books are age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate books intended for young people" but are challenged because "they allegedly advance a political agenda or sexualize children." [32] According to findings from the ALA, the challenges came from parents, legislators, and religious leaders. [31] [32]
The Upshur County Public Library in West Virginia removed Prince & Knight from its shelves after Josh Layfield, a Calvary Chapel Mountain Highlands pastor, [33] met with library officials to voice his opposition to the book. [32]
In a since-deleted Facebook post, Layfield said: [34]
This book is a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young children, especially boys, into the LGBTQA lifestyle. This book is deliberately appealing to their imagination, creativity, and their innocence… Children’s books, which are promoted by the state and put into circulation by taxpayer funds, should remain innocent. Unfortunately, this is an intentional leading of children into sin.
Layfield's comments and the decision to pull the book from library shelves prompted responses from local and national LGBTQ+ and censorship advocates. [33] [34] Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO, said in a statement: [33]
The decision to remove Prince & Knight from the shelves of the Upshur County Public Library is an act of discrimination, plain and simple ... inclusive children’s books do not "indoctrinate" but do allow LGBTQ families and their children the chance to see themselves reflected in the world.
Additionally, the National Coalition Against Censorship, the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom, and West Virginia Library Association have all urged Upshur County to return the book to circulation. [33] In a letter to board members, the WVLA stated: [33]
One parent’s — or community member’s — belief that a book is inappropriate for their family should not be grounds for restricting that title when the book may be a treasured favorite for other children and families.
According to the New York Times and the ALA's field report, Prince & Knight "was temporarily removed from the library, but later returned." [32] [31]
In Loudoun County, Virginia, the local school district faced several challenges to pieces of literature that were instated as a component of a "diverse classroom libraries" initiative for elementary and high school classrooms. [35] Most challenges centered on the LGBTQ+ pieces of literature, despite constituting only five percent of designated texts for the program. [35] Specifically, Heather Has Two Mommies , My Princess Boy , and Prince & Knight received the most requests for reconsideration by parents and citizens, according to internal district documents, with Prince & Knight having been moved to the school counseling office while under reconsideration. [36]
Both those opposed and in support of the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ texts in the diversity initiative voiced their positions during a lengthy six-hour board of education meeting to discuss the controversy. [37] Byron Cross, a physical education teacher in the district, said that all books that "could potentially confuse a child of who they are biologically [should be removed]." [35] Another parent in attendance stated during the public comment, "I cannot stomach reading written porn, but my child can?" [35]
The increase in media attention that resulted as the growing controversy grew prompted intervention by the National Coalition Against Censorship, who argued in an op-ed for the local newspaper: [37]
All parents have the right to influence their own child’s education. Equally true: No parent has the right to dictate the education of all children based on their own personal beliefs.
A straight ally, heterosexual ally, or cis ally is a heterosexual and cisgender person who supports equal civil rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ social movements. Individuals may meet this designation through their actions without actively identifying as an ally.
Proposed bans of LGBTQ-themed books in the United States.
King & King is a children's picture book co-authored and co-illustrated by Stern Nijland and Linda De Haan. King & King tells the story of a young prince whose mother is forcing him to find his princess. However, after meeting many princesses, the prince falls in love with another prince. King & King was originally written in Dutch and has since been published in ten languages. The book's illustrations have received both positive and negative reviews, as has the storyline. The book has been analyzed for both its usefulness in the classroom and its challenges to social norms.
And Tango Makes Three is a children's book written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole which was published in 2005. The book tells the story of two male penguins, Roy and Silo, who create a family together. With the help of the zookeeper, Mr. Gramsay, Roy and Silo are given an egg which they help hatch. The female chick, that completes their family, is consequently named "Tango" by the zookeepers. The book was based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins who formed a pair bond in New York's Central Park Zoo.
LGBT representation in children's television is representation of LGBT topics, themes, and people in television programming meant for children. LGBT representation in children's programming was often uncommon to non-existent for much of television's history up to the 2010s, but has significantly increased since then.
Drama is a graphic novel written by American cartoonist Raina Telgemeier which centers on the story of Callie, a middle school student and theater-lover who works in her school's drama production crew. While navigating seventh grade, Callie deals with tween hardship, including confusing crushes, budding friendships, and middle school drama. It is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of friendship, teamwork, inclusion, and determination through Callie and her relationship with the people around her.
The GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids and Family Programming is an annual award that honors children's and family programming for excellence in the treatment of LGBT characters and themes. It is one of several categories of the annual GLAAD Media Awards, which are presented by GLAAD—an American non-governmental media monitoring organization—at ceremonies held primarily in New York City and Los Angeles between March and May.
The Bravest Knight is a Canadian animated television series, produced by Big Bad Boo Studios and a Hulu original which became the first kids original on the streaming service. The first episodes were added to the streaming service on June 21, 2019 and the other eight on October 11, 2019. The show, which was created by Daniel Errico, and directed by Shabnam Rezaei. It is a fantasy and adventure story focused on how a young kid and pumpkin farmer turned into the "bravest knight" through wild adventures across the lands, which he tells his adopted daughter. The series is one of the first all-ages animations to have an "openly gay main character".
Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH), Drag Queen Storytime, Drag Story Time, and Drag Story Hour are children's events first started in 2015 by author and activist Michelle Tea in San Francisco with the goals of promoting reading and diversity. The events, usually geared for children aged 3–11, are hosted by drag queens who read children’s books, and engage in other learning activities in public libraries.
For many years, LGBT representation increased on animated series and animated films. In the 1990s, LGBT characters were depicted in animated series like South Park, The Ambiguously Gay Duo, and The Simpsons. In the early 2000s, LGBT representation increased in Western animation, culminating in GLAAD's "Where We Are in TV" report in 2005, even as representation in such animation was scattered and disparate. In the 2000s, series like Queer Duck, The Oblongs, The Venture Bros., Drawn Together, and Archer would air. It would not be until the advent of shows like Steven Universe, The Legend of Korra, and Adventure Time in the 2010s, that LGBT characters in animation would gain more of a prominent role, leading to shows such as She-Ra and the Princesses of Power in 2018 and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts in 2020, along with other series in the 2020s. This page will show this progress by building off the lists of animated series which contain these characters and explain the History of LGBT characters in animation. It does not focus on LGBT characters in anime series or films, which is examined on the LGBT themes in anime and manga page.
The depiction of LGBTQ characters in animated series in the 2010s changed significantly from the previous decade; especially in Western animation. This included Rebecca Sugar's Steven Universe which aired on Cartoon Network and praised for going "above and beyond when it comes to inclusive storytelling" The 2010s also brought with it shows such as Adventure Time, The Legend of Korra, BoJack Horseman, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Amphibia, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and The Bravest Knight, among others, all of which had strong LGBTQ characters. Representation of LGBTQ characters would only continue to grow in the 2020s.
Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term's use as a reference to male homosexuality may date as early as the late 19th century, but its use gradually increased in the mid-20th century. In modern English, gay has come to be used as an adjective, and as a noun, referring to the community, practices and cultures associated with homosexuality. In the 1960s, gay became the word favored by homosexual men to describe their sexual orientation. By the end of the 20th century, the word gay was recommended by major LGBT groups and style guides to describe people attracted to members of the same sex, although it is more commonly used to refer specifically to men. At about the same time, a new, pejorative use became prevalent in some parts of the world. Among younger speakers, the word has a meaning ranging from derision to a light-hearted mockery or ridicule. The extent to which these usages still retain connotations of homosexuality has been debated and harshly criticized. This page examines gay characters in fictional works as a whole, focusing on characters and tropes in cinema and fantasy.
Netflix has contributed substantially to LGBTQ representation in animation. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, and transgender characters have appeared in various animated series, and some animated films, on the streaming platform. GLAAD described Netflix as a company taking "impressive strides in viewership and impact," when it came to LGBTQ representation. Scholars have stated that LGBTQ characters on streaming services, such as Netflix, "made more displays of affection" than on broadcast networks.
Cartoon Network, an American TV channel which launched in 1992, and Adult Swim, its adult-oriented nighttime programming block which launched in 2001, has regularly featured lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) characters in its programming.
Maiden & Princess is a 2019 picture book written in rhyming verse by Daniel Haack and Isabel Galupo and illustrated by Becca Human. The story, described in some press outlets as a lesbian fairy tale, concerns a maiden attending a ball centered on finding a wife for the prince; at the ball, the maiden instead falls in love with his sister, the princess.
LGBTQ Nation is an American online news magazine headquartered in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 2009 and is currently owned by Q.Digital. The website is primarily marketed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Through its parent company, it is affiliated with three other sites: Queerty,GayCities, and INTO.
Daniel J. Errico is an American children's book author and children's media content creator. He is the creator and executive producer of Hulu's kids TV series The Bravest Knight. He has also published several children's books, including the Journey of the Marmabill, the Journey of the Noble Gnarble, and the Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived, from which the TV show was developed.
Lev A.C. Rosen, also known as L.C. Rosen, is an American author.
Olly Pike is the creator of Pop'n'Olly Ltd and the author of multiple LGBT+ children's books. Starting out by running LGBT+ workshops within schools, his content and resources are now regularly used by schools and charities as part of their diversity and inclusion practises. To date, Pike has distributed over 30,000 copies of his books to children, parents and teachers around the world, collaborating with major brands to help him reach his goals. The Pop’n’Olly YouTube channel has received over 4.5 million views.