MR. KING’S Castle – view on Amazon

by Geneviève Coté; published (2013) by Kids Can Press

An environmentally conscious theme about Mr. King who likes BIG things.

Mr. King lives on top of a Big Hill and wants to build a BIG castle. The bigger the better. Chop! Chop!  Chop!  Mr. King has chopped down the BIG hill on which he lives, block by block, but at his BIG castle window….

“Hmm… there isn’t much of a view,” says Mr. King.

There isn’t much of a hill, either.  It’s gone and his friends aren’t happy!

“What happened to my favourite napping spot?” says Harriet.

“Where are the flowers?” wonders Old Jim Elk.

“What happened to the grass I eat?” asks P.J. 

“…where’s our secret stash of nuts?” cry Skit and Skat.

Everyone is staring at Mr. King looking on from his BIG, BIG window.  Suddenly, he isn’t feeling big t all.  He’ll have to make a BIG decision, too, one that saves the day.

Good job, Mr. King!  And a fine job by author Geneviève Coté bringing home this all important message. No preachiness, just plain sweetness and fun with the utmost simplicity.  And Mr. King, all smug smiles and innocence, is adorable.

Amongst her many other wins, Geneviève has won the Governor General’s Award for illustration (Canada’s highest honor).

Click here for Geneviève’s website.

Read an excerpt of Mr. King’s Castle at Kids Can Press (one of my favourite publishers) or here, at Amazon.