The Duchess of Whimsy: An Absolutely Delicious Fairy Tale

Author:  Randall de Seve

Illustrator: Peter de Seve

The Duchess of Whimsy: An Absolutely Delicious Fairy Tale is a Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner for 2011.

Exposition:  This is a fairy tale.  It took place in the time of castles and kings.  We meet the Duchess of Whimsy and the Earl of Norm.  The Duchess of Whimsey's daddy is the King, and he is trying to get her to be friends with the Earl of Norm who's kingdoms need to to get together.

Conflict:  The Earl of Norm is fascinated with the Duchess of Whimsy and wants to get to know her, but he is just to 'normal' for her.  She likes extravagant, fanciful, over the top kinds of things.  The Earl of Norm tries everything he can think of to get her attention.

Rising Action:  The cook has taken ill.  Everyone in the castle tries to make the most fabu feast for the Duchess.  But first they need to collect all the ingredients.  Of course the Earl of Norm makes a normal grilled cheese, and glass of milk.

Climax:  The Earl of Norm has given up trying to impress the Duchess so he makes himself a grilled cheese and a glass of milk.  The Duchess of Whimsy notices the Earl of Norm and his absolutely normal grilled cheese and glass of milk.  She asks for a bite and finds she loves something quite ordinary.  She then notices the Earl of Norm.  He is not so normal and ordinary.

Falling Action:  The Duchess of Whimsy and the Earl of Norm begin learning about each other.  They learn more about each other and find that the Duchess likes things that are quite normal, and the Earl is not quite so normal as she thought.

Resolution:  They live happily ever after finding that together they make quite the couple being simply extraordinary.

This was a cute book.  The precise vocabulary is wonderful.  The Duchess uses $100 words as we call them.  Nothing is normal.  It is extravagant, elaborate, and peculiar.  The words in the book made me want to read it with a fancy voice.  :)

Another strong point would be the unexpected insights.  Even the Duchess was surprised to learn the Earl rescued his dog from a traveling circus.  The Duchess liked quite walks which are not extravagant, they are simply quite ordinary.

de Seve, Randall, 2009.  The Duchess of Whimsy: An Absolutely Delicious Fairy Tale.  Illustrated by Peter de Seve.  New York: Philomel Books. 

ISBN:  9780399250958