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Friends and Rivals is a powerful and beautifully illustrated bilingual English-Hmong picture book that explores sibling rivalry, conflict, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Written by Tuula Pere and illustrated by Iva Duki¿, this engaging story follows two princes-Victor and Otto-whose childhood friendship turns into bitter rivalry as they grow older. Both want to succeed their father on the throne, and their competition eventually divides the entire kingdom.
When the rivalry escalates, Prince Otto is imprisoned in the dungeon, and King Victor rules alone in fear and suspicion. The once-joyful land becomes troubled and silent. But hope arrives in the form of a courageous child who dares to question the king, seek the truth, and bring compassion back into the royal brothers' hearts. With the help of a mysterious wanderer and a magical lantern, the child inspires the princes to remember their past, forgive one another, and work together to rebuild the kingdom.
This bilingual edition presents the full story in parallel English and Hmong, making it ideal for multilingual families, bilingual education, cultural exchange, and literacy programs.Praise for Friends and Rivals
"Tuula Pere delves into the complex dynamics of sibling rivalry through a captivating children's narrative, enriched by Iva Duki¿'s evocative illustrations."
- Literary Titan
"A truly extraordinary tale about friendship, power, and forgiveness - worthy of a Shakespearian play."
- Outstanding Creator Awards
"An insightful story showing how rivalry for power can corrupt even the closest relationships, teaching children to think before they act and to forgive."
- Readers' FavoriteA Story of Conflict and Hope
Blending emotional depth with vivid artwork, Friends and Rivals gently introduces children to themes of jealousy, power, empathy, and making amends. It highlights the importance of listening, understanding, and believing that even long-broken relationships can be healed.
Perfect for bilingual readers, schools, libraries, and families seeking meaningful stories that open discussions about emotions, forgiveness, and cooperation.
About the author
Tuula Pere (b. 1958) is a Ph.D. in Law and an author from Helsinki, Finland. Her doctoral dissertation published in 2015 examines the limits of the freedom of speech in the Finnish mass media amidst the social and cultural shift of the 1960s and 1970s. Before her doctoral research, Tuula Pere has had a career of over two decades as a lawyer and in various expert and executive positions in the industry.
Since 2010, Tuula Pere has published over thirty children's storybooks which have been translated into Swedish, English, Russian, Estonian, French, Italian and Spanish, for example. She has also published poetry and aphorisms for children and short stories for adults.
Tuula Pere is an avid music and sports enthusiast and a keen baker. She is married and a mother of three.
