His Royal Highness King Baby: a Terrible True Story

Reviewed by: Sarah Cropley - Scarborough Public Library, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 6, 2018

Review

His Royal Highness King Baby: A Terrible True Story is a picture book told from the perspective of a little girl who has just been joined by a little brother. The girl is unimpressed and spends the majority of the book complaining about how she is soooo mistreated and has to make her own breakfast (though illustrations show her mother handing her a plate of food). In the end, the baby brother begins to cry at his first birthday and the girl is the one who soothes him. Though this book begins from a cute concept that will seem familiar to many older brothers and sisters, the turn at the end towards liking the brother is too abrupt. The girl goes from despising her brother for a full year to loving him in a single instant with no reason given about why that happens. The illustrations by David Roberts are wonderful. Roberts draws illustrations as the young girl at the center of the story as well as illustrations that depict what is actually happening. There is plenty of difference between the two to make the distinction clear, and beautiful and complex patterns are paired with broad white space. The result is balanced illustrations that create connection and humor for the viewer.

This book is recommended as an additional purchase.

Overall Book Score: good