The free-spirited Duchess of Whimsy finds little to recommend the staid Earl of Norm, who is pragmatism personified. However, his adoration of her drives him to engage in outlandish antics to garner her attention. With droll wit, Randall de Sève recounts the tireless efforts of the misguided Earl as he attempts to court the impetuous Duchess. When her cook is stricken with illness prior to dinner, the Duchess learns to appreciate the practical nature of her suitor, with a little help from his grilled-cheese sandwich. Husband Peter de Sève’s illustrations bring the capricious Duchess and her steady suitor to life in his picture-book debut, with frills and furbelows galore, as well as a towering, plume-adorned beehive hairdo for the Duchess. Lavish spreads set against refreshing white space playfully merge the ordinary with the extraordinary, giving readers a fey and enchanting world to peruse—a high-spirited salute to the adage that opposites attract. (Picture book. 4-8)
