The Tiny King

"Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a Tiny King," Miura (Tools) begins. On the page, the king is no bigger than a fingertip--he's a cross between a Lego man and a king from a deck of cards. He's too small to enjoy the kingly luxuries he's provided with, and he's lonely, too. In his glorious bathtub, "splishing and splashing all by himself was never much fun." A solution appears with gratifying speed. "Then one day, the Tiny King fell in love with a big princess"--she towers over him in a huge red triangle of a dress--"and asked her if she would be his queen. She said yes!" Their 10 children (who are numbered, a bit like playing cards themselves), love the bathtub, help devour the banquet the king is served every night, and fill up his big bed. The simplicity of Miura's story, originally published in Japan, is matched by the blocks-and-toys feeling of the pages, an assembly of cheerful geometric shapes. The lesson that companions are better than possessions is conveyed with bubbly exuberance. Ages 2-5. (Oct.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--The Tiny King lives all alone in his big castle with too much space, accompanied only by an army. When he falls in love with a big princess, they soon have 10 children who share his massive table, ride in a carriage pulled by his giant white horse, splash in the gigantic bathtub, and fill up the once-empty bed. The king is so happy that he sends his army marching home for a holiday. A digital collage of geometric shapes in bold colors shows the the king's small size and the vast emptiness in all he owns. Black backgrounds change to white after the sovereign falls in love, and the bright colors convey the joy of family life. The pacing and spare text create a gentle tone, making this an ideal story to share at bedtime. The final page shows the king fast asleep in his bed, neither sad nor lonely anymore. An engaging read-aloud, the narrative is also well suited for newly independent readers. The story offers a delightful glimpse into castle life, with its strength revealed in the king's realization of wholeness through familial love.--Julie R. Ranelli, Queen Anne's County Free Library, Stevensville, MD

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This graphically cheerful, quietly amusing Japanese import is a celebration of family life in the key of C major.
—The Horn Book (starred review)

Working in digital collage, Miura combines flat blocky shapes, intricate cutouts, photographs, and other bits of iconographic paraphernalia in bright colors, establishing a cohesive and arresting style that references everything from Matisse to Madison Avenue. ... The simple, old-fashioned quality of the story and the modern drama of the illustrations combine to create an especially dynamic and resonant literary experience, simultaneously innovative and nostalgic, sure to charm legions of tiny listeners.
—Booklist (starred review)

Miura's exquisite design and strong graphic illustrations, consisting of simple cut-out shapes in vibrant colors and collages using images drawn from eclectic sources, often on matte black paper to enhance the effect, will appeal to very young children.
—Kirkus Reviews

The simplicity of Miura's story, originally published in Japan, is matched by the blocks-and-toys feeling of the pages, an assembly of cheerful geometric shapes. The lesson that companions are better than possessions is conveyed with bubbly exuberance.
—Publishers Weekly

The pacing and spare text create a gentle tone, making this an ideal story to share at bedtime. ... An engaging read-aloud, the narrative is also well suited for newly independent readers. The story offers a delightful glimpse into castle life, with its strength revealed in the king's realization of wholeness through familial love.
—School Library Journal