The Wise Queen: A Traditional European Folktale

The Wise Queen introduces American readers to a charming European folktale. When the king orders his minister to ""sell two thousand of my sheep'' but ``bring me back the sheep as well as the price you're paid for them,'' the poor minister is at a loss. His clever daughter, however, solves the dilemma so inventively that the king marries her. Eventually her superior skills begin to irritate the king, but their love for one another wins the day. Children, who are fascinated by contradiction, will enjoy the book's puzzles. They will also appreciate its humorous depiction of the gentle sparring that is part of married life. Iwasaki's dramatic pictures focus on the two main characters' humanity: these are passionate people operating against the grand backdrop of a kingdom. (5-up)