The Tiny King (Hb)

Fairy tale meets concept book - and a tiny, lonely king welcomes big changes - in this inspired picture book, beautifully illustrated with bold, geometric art. Once upon a time there was a tiny king who lived in a big castle guarded by lots of big soldiers. Every day the Tiny King eats an enormous feast at his big dining table (he can never finish it all), he rides on his big horse (he is so tiny that he's thrown off every time), bathes in his big bath (not much fun), and sleeps, not very well, in his big bed all alone. Everything is just too big, and the Tiny King is sad and lonely. Until one day he meets a big princess and asks her to be his queen. Not long after, they are blessed with children - lots of children! Now everything is just the right size. The enormous meals are always gobbled up, his horse is just the right size for family outings, bath time is a real riot, and the Tiny King sleeps soundly at last. With bright, bold cut-outs and a whimsical use of collage, Japanese artist Taro Miura creates a witty, heart-warming story with huge appeal for readers big and small. This is a refreshingly modern fairy tale with broad appeal for both children and adults. The brightly coloured geometric shapes and the creative use of collage in the artwork will appeal to young children and design-loving adults alike.