This book is sweet and recognizable and simple. When the Queen of the Netherlands moves into the neighborhood, we see her through the little boy's eyes. When he brings her blueberries and finds her "in disguise as a grandmother" it does not destroy the beautiful imaginings we've been seeing in the illustrations, rather, it just helps add beauty to what the real world can offer. It speaks explicitly about being a little boy who wants to grow up and help the war effort (WWII) and then finding an alternative identity as a peacemaker. Since this is a boy who would be in his 20s in the 60's, that also makes a lot of sense, I think.

When Queen Wilhelmina moves temporarily to a rural town in New England, a young boy imagines what she is like and eventually plucks up the courage to bring her some freshly picked blueberries. Based on a true story!

This is a sweetly written picture book that has some fascinating historical insights to it. John Paterson recalls this extraordinary adventure from his childhood with remarkable clarity and Katherine Paterson fills in the cracks beautifully, developing the story to fulfill all of its potential.
The drawings of Susan Jeffers are exceptional, particularly her rendering of the boy, William. The life that she creates in his bright blue eyes makes William even more personally accessible than he otherwise would be.
All considered, this is a very nice picture book, and I would recommend it.

I love Patterson. Based on true story. Happens in WW II time. The Queen of Netherlands lived in Massachusetts with her daughter and 2 grandkids the summer of 1942. The younger son of the family living down the road picks blueberries for the queen--it's his "peace work". I love the theme of the older brother who needs a lot of practice being a good brother. The authors don't spoon it to you, but you feel inspired to do better by reading about how they are with each other.

A little boy who daydreams of being a knight and fighting dragons wants to bring a gift to the refugee Queen of the Netherlands in 1942. It's a sweet, imaginative picture book.

Based on a real experience by John Paterson in 1942, this book also accurately reflects sibling rivalry and childhood imagination as well. Susan Jeffers illustrations strongly support it all.

This book had a lot of good vocabulary and could potentially go along well with a social studies unit. I thought the plot was well developed and the illustrations were a great addition which showed the power of the imagination. I also thought the story held a great message of staying positive and believing in yourself.

This was not at all what I expected. It's a book about war...who knew? I was looking for a book about blueberries, and this was really more about what it was like to be a civilian in a non-war-ravaged area. And what a queen REALLY looks (and acts) like. Interesting historical notes at the end round out the book nicely, and I very much liked the discussion of how peace work is just as important as war work even during war time.

This was a gentle story with nice illustrations. It didn't hold their attention though.

I cried at the author's note. This was a beautiful book but way to long for storytime. During World War II everyone in John's family is helping with War prep but he is to young. What can he do. Meanwhile a Netherland Queen's family has moved into the area. Everyone wants to meet the queen. One day John goes on a peace mission to the queen's house with a basket of freshly picked blueberries. Will he get to meet her?

This is a true story about a little boy who brings blueberries to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands when they stayed in Massachusetts after being exiled during World War II.

Fun kids book which is based on a true story. Boy picks and delivers blueberries to Queen Willemina while she was summering in the USA before moving to Canada during WWII.