WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THIS?

Romantic, stylized paintings surrounded by gilt-edged borders illustrate a rhyming fairy tale that details one couple’s journey to domesticity. A lonely, dragon-fighting king finds his mate in a queen who defeats pirates and sharks. The power couple parties all night in their castle and travels to distant lands to catch glimpses of unicorns and giants. Sensing that something is missing, they give up the glamorous life for a truly “magical place”—a cottage in the woods and a baby boy: “Nothing is better than this.” The portraiture is inconsistently executed and the text is a bit overextended, yet this attractive picture book has undeniable appeal. The paintings—in a rich yet diverse palette—glow with warmth while the wistful verse is written with immediacy. While this is an idealized depiction of family life, youngsters will find nothing but comfort in these pages. (Picture book. 5-8)