The Princess and the Three Knights

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books have been developed into a TV series now available everywhere. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty nesters, living in Tennessee near four of their adult children.

Gabrielle Grimard has been drawing since she was a very young child. Born in Montreal, Canada, she studied Fine Arts at Concordia University. She began her career as a muralist, painting numerous walls in commercial buildings in the Montreal area. She now lives in the Eastern Townships with her chickens, two children, and husband, who is a wood boat builder. They share an old barn as their creative studio.

“Readable and offering a pointed message to young girls about what they should expect of their suitors, there's nothing to dislike in Kingsbury's text, and the illustrations by Gabrielle Grimard are gorgeous. Appropriately fairy tale like and romantic, they are also rich and vivid.” -- Christian Childrens Book Review

Kingsbury, a bestselling author of adult inspirational fiction, appeals to a young audience in this original fairy tale with a faith-based message. Deciding that only a knight “who treasured the princess for who she was on the inside” is worthy of her hand, the king sets up a series of trials for his daughter’s would-be suitors, including “essays on loyalty and faith.” In the final challenge, the knights must imagine that they are carrying the princess and race their horses closest to the cliff’s edge. Only the third and last night knight refuses to participate: “I love the princess . . . I wouldn’t take her anywhere near that cliff.” Even by fairy-tale standards, the king’s last test is an odd concept, but it ably illustrates Kingsbury’s strong message: “True love always protects.” Grimard’s cheerful, mixed-media artwork adheres closely to fairytale conventions, starting with the blond, blue-eyed princess, but the bright, attractive scenes will easily hold children’s attention. Families seeking picture books that directly address God and faith will welcome this offering. -- Gillian Engberg, BOOKLIST