The Duchess of Whimsy
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Spirited, funny tale of an unlikely friendship.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
The Duchess of Whimsy is the life of the party, but her admirer, the Earl of Norm, is far too ordinary to attract her interest. He goes to great lengths, presenting clumsy poetry and borrowing ill-suited clothes, but nothing works. Until one day, when the cook falls ill and the duchess’ guests scramble to prepare an exotic feast, and the earl’s humble, sensible grilled cheese sandwich draws her attention. The two share the sandwich and find they have much more than tastes in common once they finally start talking.
Is It Any Good?
Randall and Peter de Seve have dished up a charming story that teaches a valuable lesson with a considerable dose of humor and joy. Randall de Seve brings together her odd couple with a sparkling story that evokes both princess fantasies and the grade-school cafeteria social order. The exuberant artwork by Peter de Seve -- well-known for his New Yorker covers, among other work -- are crammed with funny details that will entrance kids.
Like the duchess herself, everything about this book is lavish and extravagant, from the expressive illustrations to the lyrical, elegant language. The latter, however, may put off some younger kids. The first readings will very likely require frequent interruptions to define unfamiliar words: The first few pages alone toss out soirees, attire, rutted, manor, apparel, and joie de vivre. Patient kids who enjoy wordplay will stick with it and feel rewarded, but less eager readers may give up.
Beautiful, funny, and, yes, whimsical illustrations add magic to a fairy tale courtship.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about making friends. Why isn’t the duchess interested in getting to know the earl at first? Why do his attempts to impress her fail?
Have you ever changed your mind about someone you didn’t think you wanted for a friend?
Book Details
- Author: Randall de Seve
- Illustrator: Peter de Seve
- Genre: Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Philomel
- Publication date: October 29, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 32
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Best Fairy Tale Movies
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate