King Baby

Babies rule the house. If they could talk, therefore, they would speak the way kings and queens do. Once Beaton (The Princess and the Pony) establishes her Boss Baby-esque premise, she runs with it. "I am King Baby!" a swaddled egg of an infant announces; golden rays emanate from him, and a tiny crown perches on his head. "Yes, come!" he continues, addressing a line of adoring grandparents, friends, and relatives, ready to pay homage. "You have been waiting for me. I will give you many blessings, for King Baby is generous." The young parents, their chests puffed out with pride, stand guard by the infant bed. Later, King Baby sits on a blanket, holding his arms out for toys on the right side of the page. "Ehh bpp," says his speech balloon--it's what his parents hear--but the text reveals his royal instructions: "Now. Bring me the thing." It's less a story than an extended riff, but Beaton offers a sly, hilarious dig at the way young parents bow to their child's every desire. Ages 4-8. Agent: Seth Fishman, Gernert Company. (Sept.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1--Beaton brings her well-honed snarky humor to the arena of new baby books. From the first page, the smug, egg-shaped, crown-wearing infant proclaims, "I am King Baby!" The tiny tyrant's reign of terror follows, as crowds of adoring visitors lavish him with attention and affection while he runs his parents ragged with demands for feeding, burping, changing, and bouncing. As the story progresses, King Baby undergoes important milestones, gradually transitioning from a baby to a walking, trike-riding "big boy." Just when it looks like King Baby is ready to surrender his royal crown, his replacement arrives--a little sister, Queen Baby. Beaton's hyperexpressive cartoon illustrations create a hilarious visual counterpoint to the baby's authoritarian first-person narration; on one spread, exhausted parents slump on the couch as the infant gazes victoriously over the floor strewn thick with baby paraphernalia and says, "It is good to be the king." VERDICT Similar in spirit to Marla Frazee's The Boss Baby, this is a delightful and silly tale for soon-to-be-older siblings and their weary parents.--Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for "The Princess and the Pony"
An ALA Notable Children's Book
*"[H]ip, modern, and absolutely refreshing... [T]his warrior princess breaks the mold — and Beaton is in a class of her own." — "Kirkus Reviews," starred review
*"It's a smart, brisk story that tosses aside conventional ideas of what princesses (and ponies) are 'supposed' to be." — "Publishers Weekly," starred review
*"A highly recommended, charmingly illustrated tale of teamwork and tenderness." — "School Library Journal," starred review
*"The perfect combination of heartwarming and hilarious." — "Booklist," starred review
"I don't know how you make such a pretty book that has heart and wisdom and also a farting pony, but Kate Beaton does, and we are lucky that she does." — Jon Klassen, Caldecott-winning creator of "This Is Not My Hat" and "I Want My Hat Back"
"It is the perfect, perfect book about girls, gender roles, and adorable ponies." — Cory Doctorow, boingboing.net