In 1942 Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, living in exile after the Nazi invasion of her country, spent the summer in Lee, Massachusetts, with her daughter and granddaughters. The following is based on a true story....
Its summertime in New England during World War II, and a boy named William likes to imagine at bedtime that he is a brave knight fighting great battles to end the war. But in the morning he is always just William again, not big enough to contribute to the war effort like the rest of his family.
Then a real queen moves in just down the road: Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. Williams parents explain that the queen has been forced out of her country because of the war. Now William has his chance to do something. It may not be war work -- its more like peace work -- but that makes all the difference.
Susan Jefferss dramatic illustrations portray the compelling contrast between Williamsimagination and the real events in the story, which are based on an actual incident in John Patersons childhood. Visually stunning, with an evocative, poignant telling, this is the picture-book art form at its finest.
“Only the hardest-hearted will fail to be moved by this skillful presentation of a timeless theme.”
Katherine Paterson was born in China, where she spent part of her childhood. After her education in China and the American South, she spent four years in Japan, the setting for her first three novels. Ms. Paterson has received numerous awards for her writing, including National Book Awards for The Master Puppeteer and The Great Gilly Hopkins, as well as Newbery Medals for Jacob Have I Loved and Bridge to Terabithia. Ms. Paterson lives with her husband in Vermont. They have four grown children.
Distributor: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: 06-15-2004
Pages: 32
Measurements: 11.5in X 9in X 0.25in X 15.84oz
