Given the turbulent times we live in, I can’t fault those who look for art and entertainment that gives them a break from our “BREAKING NEWS” hellscape. I am a news junkie, admittedly, but recently, I’ve been in the mood for something sweet. Last weekend, I read Princess Princess Ever After and I’m still feeling the sugar rush. 

This book collects Katie O’Neill’s popular webcomic series of the same name into one slim, but satisfying volume. Princess Princess Ever After follows Sadie and Amira as they traverse across the kingdom to defeat an evil sorceress. In many ways, it’s your classic “opposites attract” story with a queer POV. Sadie is adorable but prone to emotional outbursts (I love her big Miyazaki tears!). Amira is tough and rocks s a very Revolutionary Girl Utena-esque outfit, complete with some to-die-for epaulettes.

The book blends fantasy and adventure with a narrative about the girls’ personal struggles with appearance, parental expectations, etc in a balanced, sensitive way. It targets younger readers, but should charm older ones as well. I really appreciate seeing queer romance in fairytales, a genre so hetero-centric, it implies queerness cannot be innocent or romantic or “age-appropriate.” Yet, Princess Princess is all of these things — these girls find their much-needed “happily ever after” within each other.

A gentle yet poignant picture book, Always Remember offers young readers a heartfelt look into death and remembrance. Old Turtle—a sea turtle, a species known for its long lifespan—has passed away. And as the gentle waves carry Old Turtle away, other sea animals remember the times they shared with him. The young turtles remember how Old Turtle taught them to swim; the humpback whale remembers how Old Turtle kept her company when she was separated from her pod; the sea otters remember the fun they had playing with Old Turtle; and more. A poetic refrain echoes throughout, reminding readers that the animals will always remember Old Turtle, reinforcing the theme of remembrance and giving the book an appropriately somber—yet hopeful—tone. 

But what is perhaps most interesting about the book is its structure. The book begins at the end of Old Turtle’s life; in fact, the book begins, “In the end . . .” By the book’s end, we have come full circle, with Old Turtle setting off on his new adventure as the ocean carries him away. The book’s circular narrative suits the circle-of-life theme well, and gives younger readers a more hopeful view on death and dying—that even though death is sad, it is also a time of reflection and new hope.