THE PRINCESS KNIGHT
by Cornelia Funke & illustrated by Kerstin Meyer
After training his three sons in the manly arts of jousting, sword-fighting, and giving orders, the King decides to treat his young (motherless) daughter the same way. Violetta’s brothers tease her because she’s little and laugh as she struggles to mount her horse while wearing heavy armor. Determined, she practices at night until she is better than her brothers, who stop calling her Itsy-Bitsy Little Vi. For her 16th birthday, the King holds a jousting tournament, offering Vi’s hand in marriage to the winner. Vowing not to marry a dimwit in a tin suit, she disguises herself as Sir No-Name and defeats all the knights, declaring she will only marry one who can defeat her. Years later, she does marry—but not the expected knight. Horizontal illustration strips whimsically generate the action in soft colors against white backgrounds. The feisty heroine proves that determination can be mightier than the sword. Droll fun. (Picture book. 4-8)