What do you think?
Rate this book
Take It to the Queen: A Tale of Hope
With exquisite artwork and evocative text, this original fable explores the events of Jesus' life, and demonstrates the role of the Virgin Mary as the benevolent agent of God's people. Reduced to desolation by a king and prince who feel they have been wronged, the residents of a once-favored village must seek help from the queen, a native of their devastated town. Religious subjects are presented clearly in an allegorical style that proves entertaining, and also serves to provide children with examples of virtue and good behavior.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2008
114 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 10, 2018
"A Tale Of Hope" A moving, deep, story with a strong Catholic message. Plus, fabulous illustrations!
November 1, 2020
Not as good as The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith, but still excellent. I wish Nobisso would write more like these.
January 20, 2019
When a powerful king dreams that the only woman worthy of being his queen will be born in a particular village, he does everything he can to ensure that the village prospers, reserving all manner of blessings for its residents, and promising his son as a future leader of its council. But when the long expected queen is finally united with the king, the villagers begin to forget the source of their blessings, even going so far as to attack the young prince when - true to his word - the king sends him to them. Undermined by greed and distrust, the village is soon in ruins. Is it too late for the people to learn the error of their ways, or do they dare to hope for mercy? In the end, they must "take it to the Queen."
I imagine that, as a non-Catholic, I'm probably one of the few readers to approach Josephine Nobisso's Take It To the Queen with less of an interest in its narrative - intended as a theological allegory explaining (and celebrating) the Virgin Mary's role as intercessor for the sinful - than the illustrations by Hungarian artist Katalín Szegedí. I have a great interest in international children's literature, and a friend who reads Hungarian had recommended Szegedí's work (thanks, Katri!), so I was very happy to run across this title. I am glad to be able to report that I was not disappointed! The illustrations here are lovely, an engaging mix of painted and collage elements. I really liked the fact that they managed to be beautiful, without being "sweet."
All in all, I'm happy to have read this, although I think it is a book that will be of interest primarily to young Catholics, and the adults in their lives. Mary's place in "salvific" history isn't really a casual topic, so I don't see this as having a wider audience, save for those (like me) with an interest in the artist's work.
**Note to adult readers using this book with children: If, like me, you are reading the paperback edition of Take It To the Queen, be sure to look under the cover-flaps (front and rear) for the author's detailed notes on the symbolism of this story, and accompanying illustrations.
I imagine that, as a non-Catholic, I'm probably one of the few readers to approach Josephine Nobisso's Take It To the Queen with less of an interest in its narrative - intended as a theological allegory explaining (and celebrating) the Virgin Mary's role as intercessor for the sinful - than the illustrations by Hungarian artist Katalín Szegedí. I have a great interest in international children's literature, and a friend who reads Hungarian had recommended Szegedí's work (thanks, Katri!), so I was very happy to run across this title. I am glad to be able to report that I was not disappointed! The illustrations here are lovely, an engaging mix of painted and collage elements. I really liked the fact that they managed to be beautiful, without being "sweet."
All in all, I'm happy to have read this, although I think it is a book that will be of interest primarily to young Catholics, and the adults in their lives. Mary's place in "salvific" history isn't really a casual topic, so I don't see this as having a wider audience, save for those (like me) with an interest in the artist's work.
**Note to adult readers using this book with children: If, like me, you are reading the paperback edition of Take It To the Queen, be sure to look under the cover-flaps (front and rear) for the author's detailed notes on the symbolism of this story, and accompanying illustrations.
April 9, 2012
illustrated by Katalin Szegedi
Imagine a kingdom, whose benevolent King gave His subjects fresh water to drink which poured from golden fountains, fields of hearty grain for baking fragrant bread, fine foals in their stables for transportation, and best of all, a beautiful and gentle Queen from among their own people, whose Son would come to visit them. You can only imagine how grateful the King’s subjects would be, thanking Him each day for His kind providence, and enjoying loving fellowship with the Queen and her Son.
Anyone familiar with human nature darkened by Original Sin knows that this scenario could only exist in a fairy tale. The vices of greed and pride would soon take over, spoiling the perfect gift of the King for all. Man would soon find himself in self-imposed misery, and blame the King, doubting his very existence.
Like her popular book, “The Weight of a Mass”, “Take it to the Queen” is a captivating allegory of the life of faith. But don’t let Katalin Szegedi’s whimsical illustrations fool you into thinking that this book solely for young children. “Take it to the Queen” is a story which has a wealth of meaning which challenges readers of all ages, and the more you read the book, the deeper you are able to mine its riches.
Author Josephine Nobisso has included extensive notes under the book flaps to help the reader interpret the deeper meaning of the story and the meticulously crafted, illustrations. She does years of research around the globe for each story she writes. In “Take it to the Queen”, she has incorporated elements of the popular devotion begun by Luisa Piccaretta; the Divine Will. Notes from Mrs. Nobisso at the end of the chapter explain this devotion and how it is incorporated into the story.
After careful reading of this thought-provoking story, I found myself not only questioning my response to the generosity of the King, but whether I trusted my meager gifts to the loving hands of the Queen and her Son who would bring them to the King in the most beautiful form possible
Read this story with the entire family, and enjoy the powerful story without looking at the clues. Have the children suggest any allusions to the Gospel or the life of faith on their own. Then, ask the children to uncover the symbols in the story, and watch their excitement as they recognize elements from each.
I read this story to students from 5th through 8th grade, and was amazed at how enthusiastic were the reactions from each class, though each enjoyed the book on a slightly different level. The children loved the story, and so did their teacher, though I had to fight the tears at the moving depictions of God’s merciful love.
The sign of a masterpiece of children’s literature is that it speaks to all ages and that the book is saved to pass on to the grandchildren. “Take it to the Queen” is on its way to becoming a well-loved Catholic classic like “The Weight of a Mass”.
This book is highly recommended for all children of the Queen!
March 24, 2021
My word! What a beautiful book for children! Age appropriate and beautifully illustrated. This story gently teaches children about Mary and her special role in the church through an allegorical tale.
Summary of the Story: Once upon a time, a King has a dream that a woman worthy to be his Queen would be born from a certain town. The King promises the townspeople that he will take special care of them, make someone from their village Queen and his eventual son will sit on their village council to teach them royal wisdom. In return, the townspeople must promise to serve the King faithfully. The agreement is made. The King gives the townspeople many blessings and they follow his commands, and therein find perfect safety and joy.
As time passed, the finest girl is born in the village. She loves sacrificing and helping others. One day she dreams that she will become Queen and awakes to find the King proposing. She tells the King that his wish has always been her own and they are wed. The townspeople rejoice and eagerly await the birth of a Prince. In the meantime, the Queen travels about the village assisting those in need. Whenever someone has a special need, they would be told "Take it to the Queen"!
Despite the King's faithfulness, the townspeople get tired of waiting for the Prince. Because they knew the Prince would be one of their own, they start taking the King's generosity for granted. They stop following his commands and life in the village begins to degrade. The King sends messengers to the townspeople warning them that they have broken their agreement. He will no longer favor them but, in his mercy, he will still eventually send his son to be with them. When the Prince is finally born, the townspeople's hearts have grown so cold that they barely cared or comprehended it.
In the fullness of time, the King sent the Prince and his mother to the Queen's village to bring the people to their senses. Some townspeople were happy, but many others were not. Instead of giving the Prince his rightful seat on the village council, a mob attacks him, beats him and steals his fine things. Secret admirers of the Queen help her escape with his battered son. The King is furious with the townspeople, but he also longs for townspeople to repent, so that peace could be restored. The villages continued to revolt against the King and things grow worse and worse in the village. The townspeople no longer have the food or resources they need to survive.
Eventually the townspeople become so desperate that they ask the mayor to take their plight to the Queen. The villagers search for a peace offering to send, but can only find a single deformed apple. The Queen receives the mayor with solicitude. She helps clean and prepare the apple, so that it will be pleasing to the King. Then she goes to the King and asks him to see the penitent mayor. The Prince also joins his mother in asking the King to forgive the townspeople's wickedness.
The King grants forgiveness and the villagers welcome the Prince to preside over their village council. The Prince teaches them the secrets of royal wisdom and life in the village improves. Wherever the Prince goes, his mother accompanies him and continues to help her native village.
Summary of the Story: Once upon a time, a King has a dream that a woman worthy to be his Queen would be born from a certain town. The King promises the townspeople that he will take special care of them, make someone from their village Queen and his eventual son will sit on their village council to teach them royal wisdom. In return, the townspeople must promise to serve the King faithfully. The agreement is made. The King gives the townspeople many blessings and they follow his commands, and therein find perfect safety and joy.
As time passed, the finest girl is born in the village. She loves sacrificing and helping others. One day she dreams that she will become Queen and awakes to find the King proposing. She tells the King that his wish has always been her own and they are wed. The townspeople rejoice and eagerly await the birth of a Prince. In the meantime, the Queen travels about the village assisting those in need. Whenever someone has a special need, they would be told "Take it to the Queen"!
Despite the King's faithfulness, the townspeople get tired of waiting for the Prince. Because they knew the Prince would be one of their own, they start taking the King's generosity for granted. They stop following his commands and life in the village begins to degrade. The King sends messengers to the townspeople warning them that they have broken their agreement. He will no longer favor them but, in his mercy, he will still eventually send his son to be with them. When the Prince is finally born, the townspeople's hearts have grown so cold that they barely cared or comprehended it.
In the fullness of time, the King sent the Prince and his mother to the Queen's village to bring the people to their senses. Some townspeople were happy, but many others were not. Instead of giving the Prince his rightful seat on the village council, a mob attacks him, beats him and steals his fine things. Secret admirers of the Queen help her escape with his battered son. The King is furious with the townspeople, but he also longs for townspeople to repent, so that peace could be restored. The villages continued to revolt against the King and things grow worse and worse in the village. The townspeople no longer have the food or resources they need to survive.
Eventually the townspeople become so desperate that they ask the mayor to take their plight to the Queen. The villagers search for a peace offering to send, but can only find a single deformed apple. The Queen receives the mayor with solicitude. She helps clean and prepare the apple, so that it will be pleasing to the King. Then she goes to the King and asks him to see the penitent mayor. The Prince also joins his mother in asking the King to forgive the townspeople's wickedness.
The King grants forgiveness and the villagers welcome the Prince to preside over their village council. The Prince teaches them the secrets of royal wisdom and life in the village improves. Wherever the Prince goes, his mother accompanies him and continues to help her native village.
July 15, 2025
I read this beautifully illustrated book as it came across my library desk because it had an inscription to its recipient. It was written in looping cursive which I can decipher 99.5% of the time. But this one puzzled me. so I read the story to make sense of the inscription, and I did! This story is about a kind king who has a dream that the woman who would be worthy of his love would be born in a certain village. The king promised the villagers that he would take care of them if they would serve him. They did and were blessed with great bounty. However, it took a while for the wife and the son to come along. The people got discouraged and their service waned. With the queens mercy, all ended up good again in the end. The inscription said, " For... who always takes everything to Our Lady. Now I understood.
November 8, 2017
Why I Read This: It was on a Summer Reading list from a Catholic Homeschooling Mom (http://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith...)
Summary: A beautiful tale of a generous king and a kind and beautiful queen who are treated with contempt, the king's gifts spoiled. But it is the King's mercy (with the intercession of the Queen) that will save them.
Review: I had read (and loved) "The Weight of the Mass" by this author. I didn't know that this book existed. I'm not sure that I could tell the impact of Mary on the world or her intercessory power better than this book. Frankly, I know that I couldn't. A great book for children, and a great book for evangelization.
Summary: A beautiful tale of a generous king and a kind and beautiful queen who are treated with contempt, the king's gifts spoiled. But it is the King's mercy (with the intercession of the Queen) that will save them.
Review: I had read (and loved) "The Weight of the Mass" by this author. I didn't know that this book existed. I'm not sure that I could tell the impact of Mary on the world or her intercessory power better than this book. Frankly, I know that I couldn't. A great book for children, and a great book for evangelization.
January 2, 2025
In today's homily on the Solemnity of Mary, The Mother of God, our priest used the phrase "Take it To the Queen" and I realized we hadn't read this book in a long time, so I selected it for a bedtime story - a bit difficult for the youngest - lots of layers of salvation history to reflect on, even for an adult reader - but all helpfully explained on the French flaps.
October 27, 2025
I absolutely love this book. It reads like a fairy tale. This story shows the love of the Lord and His Mother for their children, despite our greed and selfishness. If we but bring our troubles to our queen in heaven she can not help but bring them straight to her son and our heavenly father. She is our mediatrix.
December 27, 2022
This was such a great story. The true meaning behind the story went over my 4 year olds head, but she still listened and enjoyed the story and I’m sure as we read it as she grows up she’ll begin to understand the deeper meaning!
February 9, 2024
Wish I liked this story a little more. Instead, want I love about it, is the pictures. Yet, this is a great book for Catholic parents to read to there children, to get them to understand the role of Mary in the church, and Man's salvation.
March 20, 2018
A retelling of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, but done in a way that sounds like a King Arthur tale of sorts. Beautiful drawings. A tale of hope and of mercy.
April 30, 2019
A sweet story with a moral that's clear but not heavy-handed. An excellent book for children.
January 23, 2022
A most delightful story. Creatively written and beautifully illustrated, it is one of three installments in the Theological Virtues Trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed the series. Happy reading!
May 4, 2022
A little problematic of an allegory, but had some good nuggets in there.
June 22, 2013
"Take it to the Queen" is a tale which involves the relationship of a town and a king. In this story, a king chooses a town to lavish all his goodness upon as he awaits the birth of his future queen who will bear him a prince. The king finally meets his queen and she bears him a son. However, the town has grown selfish and takes for granted all the goodness the king has bestowed upon them.
Like her work, "The Weight of a Mass," Ms. Nobisso writes in allegory. To the adult reader, it is easy to see that the king is God the Father; the queen is Mary; the prince is Jesus; and the ungrateful town represents all of humanity. You might have to point this out to your children, depending on their age, but once they make the connection the story will click on two levels for them. There is a lot of rich symbolism in different aspects of both the story and the artwork. Don't feel bad if you miss a lot of it on your first reading through. I definitely did, but thankfully the inside flaps of the book explains everything to you.
Overall, this was a very good book with a great story and beautiful illustrations. It touched on various theological points including Sacraments, grace, forgiveness of sins, etc. Most importantly though, it will teach your children that Mary is a mediator between Christ and us. This book will show your children that they can turn to her in times of need. I give this book 5 stars. I did like "The Weight of a Mass" better than this book, but it's unfair to compare the two books, as I proclaimed "The Weight of a Mass" to be the best children's book EVER! I also noticed that the first book dealt with faith, and this one dealt with hope. I will have to contact the author to see if a third book is in the works that deals with love.
Like her work, "The Weight of a Mass," Ms. Nobisso writes in allegory. To the adult reader, it is easy to see that the king is God the Father; the queen is Mary; the prince is Jesus; and the ungrateful town represents all of humanity. You might have to point this out to your children, depending on their age, but once they make the connection the story will click on two levels for them. There is a lot of rich symbolism in different aspects of both the story and the artwork. Don't feel bad if you miss a lot of it on your first reading through. I definitely did, but thankfully the inside flaps of the book explains everything to you.
Overall, this was a very good book with a great story and beautiful illustrations. It touched on various theological points including Sacraments, grace, forgiveness of sins, etc. Most importantly though, it will teach your children that Mary is a mediator between Christ and us. This book will show your children that they can turn to her in times of need. I give this book 5 stars. I did like "The Weight of a Mass" better than this book, but it's unfair to compare the two books, as I proclaimed "The Weight of a Mass" to be the best children's book EVER! I also noticed that the first book dealt with faith, and this one dealt with hope. I will have to contact the author to see if a third book is in the works that deals with love.
October 11, 2015
This story does not focus on the life of Mary or Jesus, but rather their role in our lives when we face times of hardship. The story focuses on a family and their prince and the mistreatment of the prince. The king, queen, and prince are all symbols. The people have wronged the prince and his family, not understanding the value in what is given to them. This book has an engaging plot which focuses on symbolism and teaches about behavior and the value of virtues. A quote that focuses on symbolism would be, “But, instead of giving the prince his rightful seat on the village counsel, a mob spirited away his fine horse, and ransacked his rich saddle. They beat him with the branches of the very trees his father had planted.” Children would be able to make connections and ask questions about the illustrations and the story line. Both the illustrations and text represent the culture and represent a wide group of cultures and perspectives.
October 7, 2010
In this original fable, once-favoured villagers transgress against their king, and are reduced to desolation by the king and prince who feel they have been wronged.
The residents of the village seek the intercession of their humble neighbour, a native of their own town, who had become their queen.
With exquisite artwork and evocative text, this allegorical fable evokes the events of Jesus' life, and demonstrates the role of the Virgin Mary as the benevolent agent of God's people.
A beautiful tale – both in a religious sense and in its own right – of bounty, mercy and hope for redemption.
The residents of the village seek the intercession of their humble neighbour, a native of their own town, who had become their queen.
With exquisite artwork and evocative text, this allegorical fable evokes the events of Jesus' life, and demonstrates the role of the Virgin Mary as the benevolent agent of God's people.
A beautiful tale – both in a religious sense and in its own right – of bounty, mercy and hope for redemption.
February 26, 2014
This is a delightful and beautiful picture book with the same incredible illustrations featured in The Weight of a Mass, also by the same author. She has a gift for the beautiful and the noble and it all unfolds in this enchanting tale! Perfect for Christmas, it's a must have for your shelves :)
Reviewed here at my blog: http://www.sweetness-n-light.com/2009...
Reviewed here at my blog: http://www.sweetness-n-light.com/2009...
November 18, 2008
The folks at Gingerbread press have children's books figured out. This is another really fabulous, stunning book. See my review on The Weight of a Mass... The same applies here.
October 25, 2012
Bello... Pero me gustó más : the weight of the mass, solo porque las ilustraciones son mejores.
The Weight of a Mass has better illustrations but this one also has an amazing meaning.
The Weight of a Mass has better illustrations but this one also has an amazing meaning.
February 6, 2013
A must read! Beautiful illustrations!! Devotion to Mary for children.
April 19, 2013
Very imaginative, very cute!
January 1, 2014
Beautiful story and devotion to Mary. Incredible illustrations.
January 28, 2015
Beautiful book. Perfect way to bring Our Lady to life for kids. Wonderful message.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews