The King's Equal

A dying king makes his son his heir—on one condition. Vain Prince Raphael must marry a woman who is his equal in beauty, intelligence, and wealth...

A search throughout the kingdom proves fruitless. Then the lovely Rosamund appears at the palace, as if by magic, and Raphael is certain he has found his wife. She is intelligent and wealthy, as well as beautiful—certainly his equal, he thinks.

"Finding a princess who is the 'king's equal' in comeliness, intelligence, and wealth is an order that confounds the wisest, most loyal councilors in this distant realm. Finding a book equal in quality to this one is an even more formidable task. [Newbery medalist] Paterson weaves her story within the structure of familiar fairy tales. . . . Vagin's illustrations are exquisite." —SLJ.

1993 Teachers' Choices (IRA)
1992 Irma Simonton Black Award (Bank Street College of Education)
1993 Children's Booksellers' Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)

Publishers Weekly

PW starred this "entertaining and enchanting" story of a conceited prince in search of a bride who is his equal, and who then discovers he is the one who must prove his worthiness. Ages 7-10. (Feb.)

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.