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Duel

by Shawn Harris

A mirrored joust over one hill

Regular price $17.69 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

A mirrored joust over one hill

Two queens each claim the same hill and send a knight to settle the dispute in a joust. The contest leaves an unexpected question about which side the victor belongs to—and opens the possibility of sharing the land. The book’s visual design makes that divided world part of the storytelling: facing pages mirror one another across the gutter, with colors made through squish painting. The symmetry links the rivals even as they compete, giving the conflict over territory a playful visual counterpart.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children ages 4–8 who enjoy picture books about rivalry and sharing.
  • Families and educators interested in books that invite attention to visual patterns and illustration techniques.

Themes

SharingRivalrySymmetry and visual patternImagination and play

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Caldecott Honoree Shawn Harris uses mirrored images to tell the story of two queens, two knights, and a duel over one shared hill in this astonishingly symmetrical picture book.

Two castles sit on a hill, home to two queens. But the queens would rather not share, and each sends a knight to joust for the land.

Two queens is one too many for this hill, the queens concurred.
Let's hold a duel. The one who wins will rule the hill in whole.

There's just one problem--when the winner stands up in the middle of the field, no one is sure which side he came from. Maybe neighborly sharing is back in vogue! After all, they have so much in common.

The illustrations in Duel follow one simple rule. Each pair of facing pages is perfectly symmetrical, mirrored over the gutter of the book. Even the colors are the result of squish painting, wet paint pressed between center-folded paper.

Shawn Harris's self-imposed artistic dare has resulted in a visually arresting and effortlessly funny picture book that kids are sure to ask for on repeat. And to the bold, Duel whispers: what might you create, if you set yourself a challenge?
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